The 2026 IRC Newcomer Youth Summer Academy will engage approximately 100 newcomers in middle and high school from Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. Programming will focus on school readiness, social-emotional development, youth leadership, and college and career preparation through structured lessons and enrichment experiences.

 

Dates:

The Summer Academy will run July 6 – August 6, 2026, Monday through Thursday, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM, at a school site in Landover Hills, Maryland. Exact location will be shared with volunteers following onboarding.

  • Middle School Cohort: July 6th – July 16th
  • High School Cohort: July 27th – August 6th

 

Commitment:

We are seeking volunteers who can commit to the full day during the cohort(s) they select. We understand this may not be feasible for everyone—please note your availability in the scheduling section of the application below. 

  • 9:30 AM – Volunteers arrive
  • 9:45–10:20 AM – Student arrival
  • 10:30–11:45 AM – Morning Learning Block
  • 11:45 AM–12:45 PM – Lunch & Recess
  • 12:45–2:00 PM – Afternoon Learning Block
  • 2:00–2:20 PM – Daily reflection
  • 2:30 PM – Student dismissal
  • 2:30–3:30 PM – Staff & volunteer debrief / cleanup

 

Roles

Below are the three volunteer roles available. 

  • Morning Classroom Lead: Facilitate pre-designed lessons focused on school readiness, social-emotional learning, youth leadership, college/career preparation. Responsibilities include leading a warm-up activity, delivering the main lesson, and conducting a knowledge check or review.
  • Afternoon Classroom Lead: Design and facilitate enrichment activities for the afternoon session. IRC staff will provide a lesson plan template and review plans prior to program start.
  • Classroom Support Volunteer: Assist with classroom facilitation, student supervision, and provide general support during daily activities.

You may apply for one or multiple roles. Students will be divided into three classrooms based on English language level. Each classroom will include one IRC staff member, one Classroom Lead, and a minimum of two Classroom Support Volunteers. We are seeking at least 9 volunteers per day per cohort.

 

How to Volunteer

Requirements:

  • All volunteers must be at least 18 years old.
  • All volunteers must complete a background check and attend an in-person training on Monday, June 29th from 10AM-2PM.
  • All volunteers must provide their own transportation to and from site. 

 

Apply for a volunteer role here! 

For questions related to this opportunity, contact IRC Youth & Education Program Manager, McKayla Lyons, at mckayla.lyons@rescue.org.