Summer is nearing its end, and the beginning of a new school year soon will be upon us. Many older teens, like me, may be looking to fill out the mandatory volunteer hours needed for graduation. Of course, if you're of an altruistic bent, you may be looking to volunteer out of the goodness of your heart. Either way, this guide has got you covered.

Volunteering is always a wonderful way to give back to your community and gain important life and work experience. It can be enriching, inspiring, and empowering. Here on the Island, opportunities to volunteer are as varied as the day is long. For any avenue you might be interested in B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·“ however you want to give back B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·“ there is an option to pique your interest.

Community Cleanup Initiatives B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·“ Consider, for instance, the Colwood Neighbourhood Litter Pickers. You can book kits that include 10 litter pickers, gloves, and garbage bags, allowing you and a group of like-minded humanitarians to clean up your community.

Environmental Conservation Opportunities B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·“ Maybe you'd like to have a bigger environmental impact? Sign up to help out with The Greater Victoria Green Team. It is a regional volunteer program focused on restoring the environment. In this program, you can expect to work with a variety of organizations including municipal and provincial parks, charities, and non-profits. Plus, volunteers can work on farms to promote local and sustainable agriculture.

No experience is needed to work with this program, only enthusiasm to help the environment. You'll weed out dangerous and invasive plants and replace them with struggling native ones, prepare and harvest some delightful vegetables, build nest boxes for birds, and so much more. This program is a fantastic learning experience and a great chance to give both yourself and the environment some growth.

Arts and Culture Volunteering B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·“ Perhaps you're more of an indoor sort of person? Understandable.

Intrepid Theatre is putting on the one and only Victoria Fringe Festival, and they can't do it alone. You could volunteer for several different positions, including box office, program distribution, and usher. And for your troubles, you get a cool shirt, passes for free shows, and an invitation to Artists' Volunteer Appreciation shows. If you're looking for a wacky, wild, and fun community and experience, look no further.

Animal Welfare Volunteering B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·“ And if you're an animal fan B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·“ a "fanimal", if you will B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·“ you could volunteer at the Victoria Humane Society, the BCSPCA, or one of the pounds dotting the Island. There's truly no more rewarding and affecting experience than helping these animals in need. You will not regret it, and I could not possibly recommend it more.

Neighborhood Support and Local Volunteering B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·“ Of course, on a very, very, very local level, you can help out your neighbours.

Mowing lawns or dog walking, even babysitting or tutoring kids in your community all count towards those valuable volunteer hours.

Finding More Volunteer Opportunities B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·“ If you want to learn more, check out Volunteer Victoria and the City of Colwood's Volunteer Opportunities page for further details and even more opportunities to help out your community.

I hope this guide leaves you with, at the very least, a newfound inspiration and desire to help your community flourish B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·“ or at worst, a vague knowledge of how you can get enough volunteer hours to skate towards graduation. Volunteering is just about one of the best things you can do for your community and for yourself, so get out there and make the world a better place.

Gabriel Mackintosh is a high-school student in West Shore.

Remember: All these activities count towards your graduation volunteer hours!