Apply for our STEM Ambassador Program

STEM Ambassadors do more than earn volunteer hours. They gain meaningful, real-world leadership experience while making an impact in their community.

Through their work with STEMs Grow, Ambassadors have opportunities to:

Develop Real Leadership Skills
Take on increasing responsibility through event leadership, volunteer mentoring, STEM programming, projects, planning, and other organizational roles.

Build Teamwork & Communication Skills
Work as part of a youth leadership team, collaborate with peers and adults, communicate with volunteers, solve problems, and learn how to contribute effectively in a team environment.

Gain Hands-On STEM & Outreach Experience
Help design, teach, and lead engaging STEM activities for children and families while gaining experience communicating STEM concepts to others.

Make a Meaningful Community Impact
Help bring peer-to-peer STEM programming to schools, camps, community events, and families throughout Ventura County, Northern Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara County.

Build a Strong Volunteer & Leadership Story
Develop a sustained record of service, responsibility, initiative, teamwork, and leadership that reflects meaningful involvement rather than simply a collection of volunteer hours.

Strengthen College Applications & Resumes
Demonstrate long-term commitment, leadership, initiative, reliability, community involvement, and real-world experience through meaningful work within an organization.

Explore Individual Interests & Future Goals
Ambassadors can pursue additional responsibilities that align with their strengths and interests—from STEM education and event leadership to mentoring, communications, program development, nonprofit leadership, and more.

Grow Over Time
The Ambassador Program is designed as a leadership development experience. As Ambassadors gain experience, they can take on greater responsibility, develop new skills, and become increasingly important members of the STEMs Grow leadership team.

The STEM Ambassador Program is STEMs Grow's youth leadership development program for experienced youth volunteers in 8th–12th grade. Ambassadors are selected through a competitive application and interview process and take on meaningful leadership responsibilities within our organization.

Before applying, prospective STEM Ambassadors should have an established background volunteering with STEMs Grow and providing STEM outreach. Applicants should have participated in STEMs Grow events and completed at least one full week as a volunteer at Creative Arts Workshop Summer Camp. Experience across multiple events and different types of outreach opportunities is strongly encouraged.

Becoming an Ambassador is about more than accumulating volunteer hours. We are building a leadership team, and we look for volunteers who have demonstrated reliability, initiative, teamwork, positivity, engagement, and a willingness to learn and take direction. Prospective Ambassadors should be volunteers who contribute to the success of the entire team, help where needed, work well with others, and are ready to take on greater responsibility within the organization.

You do not need to enter the Ambassador Program already knowing how to lead an event, teach an activity, mentor volunteers, or manage a project. The program is designed to help volunteers develop those skills. We do, however, look for applicants who have demonstrated the maturity, commitment, and collaborative mindset that provide a strong foundation for leadership.

Meeting the experience expectations does not guarantee selection. STEM Ambassador selection considers each applicant's demonstrated readiness for leadership, ability to contribute to a collaborative team, and overall fit with the needs and responsibilities of the Ambassador Program.

Interested in becoming a STEM Ambassador but still building your experience? Start by volunteering with STEMs Grow! Every event is an opportunity to learn more about our organization, work with our team, develop your STEM outreach skills, and demonstrate your readiness for greater responsibility.