Whether or not they're able to find summer jobs in this year of recession, there are ample opportunities for local teens to volunteer in the Tri-State.

Much help is needed with the soccer tournament coming up in July and Weed and Seed community garden projects planned in Huntington. Also, the Highlands Museum in Ashland is looking for actors of all ages to bring its exhibits to life, similar to the movie "Night at the Museum."

Not only are these a way to meet people and get involved in the community, but they can help students earn community service credits needed to graduate or to build their resumes.

Cabell County students, for example, need 10 hours of community service to graduate, and students in the honors program need 100, said Pam Artrip, lead counselor at Cabell Midland High School.

Many students get involved in their churches -- helping with Vacation Bible School or going on mission trips, she said. Sometimes, if they have an interest in the health field, they might volunteer at local hospitals, which offer ample opportunities for student volunteers, she said.

"It's really interesting, some of the community service that comes through," she said. Some students might mow the lawn of an elderly neighbor.

"I think they feel good about themselves when they've done something that has helped someone else," Artrip said. "It's a good thing for them realize that feeling is important and valuable, and you don't have to be paid for everything you do. There are kids who -- if we didn't say they have to -- might not go out and do something. They might think that they're not talented and don't have anything to offer."

Plenty of organizations in the community beg to differ. Here are just a few volunteer opportunities for area young people this summer:

MANNING THE SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS: The U.S. Youth Soccer Region I Championships are planned for July 2-7 in the area. Events are scheduled at Marshall's Edwards Stadium, as well as the Kennedy Center of W.Va. 2 and Village of Barboursville City Park. Kheng Yap-McGuire, who is helping coordinate volunteers for the event, said older students -- such as rising high school seniors and college students -- are needed for a variety of tasks, such as directing parking, cleaning up, filling water coolers for the players and many other jobs.

About 272 soccer teams from 13 states are participating, meaning about 5,000 players ages 12-17 are expected, as well as about 15,000 parents, coaches and referees. For more information on how to help, contact Yap-McGuire at 304-525-6042 or khengmcguire@aol.com.

COMMUNITY GARDENS: Students volunteers can be valuable assets in helping make the Huntington community a more beautiful place, said Jenn Williams, coordinator of the Huntington Community Gardens, which is a project of the city's new Weed and Seed program.

"We've got some more projects that have come up for us, and we definitely need volunteers," Williams said. "We're going to be working at Northcott Court, building a community garden. And we're going to do some work near the Carter G. Woodson statue."

Volunteers are needed to help do the heavier labor of preparing a garden, as well as planting flowers and vegetable plants. Also, volunteers can help pass out fliers to community members so they know what's going on and are invited to be part of the maintenance of the garden. Anyone interested in grant-writing is invited to help the Weed and Seed program acquire some more funding.

Also, workshops are planned to teach adults and children about gardening -- things like planting flowers and how to compost, Williams said.

"We're going to be doing a kids garden on Minton Street, and we'll need people to help us in working with kids," she said. They'll teach them how to make stepping stones for their gardens and plant flowers.

"The biggest part of doing a community garden is it brings together people you might not hang out with in a normal setting," Williams said. "Everyone is from a different background and has a different skill set. Another thing you get out of it is taking pride in Huntington. Right in that moment, you can see how you made it more beautiful."

Deshae Hendricks, a 12-year-old from Beverly Hills Middle School, helped put in flowers at Marcum Terrace and said it turned out to be fun.

"You're helping people," she said. "It was all dead. We dug it up and put new flowers in there. It was beautiful."

For more information on how to get involved with the gardens, contact Jenn Williams at 304-840-2500, by e-mail at seedsoflove76@yahoo.com or visit www.huntingtoncommunitygardens.com.

NIGHT AT THE HIGHLANDS: The Highlands Museum & Discovery Center in Ashland is hosting "Night at the Highlands" from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 24. It's going to be similar to the movie "Night at the Museum," in which exhibits come to life. The museum needs actors of all ages to portray a variety of characters: Civil War and World War II soldiers, Rosie the Riveter, Elvis, Einstein, cavemen, Miley Cyrus, Wynona and Naomi Judd and more. Rehearsals will be the week of the event, and costumes and a script will be provided, said Leigh Ann Heineman, the museum's new director.

For more information, contact Jennifer Crisswell, the museum's office manager, at jennifer@highlandsmuseum.com or 606-329-8888.

HILLTOP BOOKS ONLY SALE: The Huntington Museum of Art works with several student volunteers throughout the year, and public relations Director John Gillispie said in August, it's likely to need help getting ready for its Hilltop Books Only Sale Aug. 22 to 23.

"We need volunteers to sort thousands and thousands of books," Gillispie said. "Volunteers come in two weeks before the sale and sort the books by categories and help arrange the used CDs and DVDs."

For more information, call the Huntington Museum at 304-529-2701.

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