get involved
student opportunities
The Caltech Y coordinates a variety of programs each term; some designed to heighten awareness of ethical, social, and political issues; some to serve the community, and some just to promote fun and relaxation. At the heart of Caltech Y programming is student leadership. Regardless of your level of experience or availability, the Caltech Y has an opportunity in leadership for you.
community service
opportunities
rise tutoring
Monday - Thursday | 4:30 - 6:00 PM | On Caltech's campus, online, and at John Muir High School
The Rise Program is an afterschool math and science-focused tutoring program serving public school
students. The Caltech Y has been administering the program since 2006 and the program has been successful at helping students who struggle with math and science. The tutoring is provided by Caltech undergraduate
and graduate students. Undergraduate students can use their Federal and Caltech Work-Study
allotment to get paid for tutoring.
reading partners
Reading Partners’ mission is to help children become lifelong readers by empowering communities to provide individualized instruction that produces measurable results. Volunteers are matched with a student and meet weekly to improve reading skills.
Volunteers tutor students who are reading behind grade level using Reading Partners curriculum and are expected to contribute at least 1.5 hours weekly.
For more info visit: www.readingpartners.org and email caltechy@caltech.edu.
union station
Prepare and serve dinner to the residents at Union Station Adult Center in Pasadena. Food and materials are provided. The Adult Center provides shelter, meals and supportive services for more than 150 homeless men and women each year. For more information and to RSVP email caltechy@caltech.edu
youth of promise
Tutor Pasadena & Altadena youth ages 11-18. Tutors work with students, one-on-one, for 30 minute blocks. The Youth of Promise (YOP) program invests deeply in youth exposed to trauma and adverse childhood experiences. YOP supports youth academically, socially, and emotionally. All youth receive one-on-one case management and participate in a curriculum of program activities that include academic support, mentorship, life skills, enrichment activities, caregiver engagement sessions, mental health services and more. For more info about YOP services, visit their website at: https://www.flintridge.org/our-programs/youth-of-promise/. For questions or to get started volunteering, email caltechy@caltech.edu.
LEAP PROJECT
Donate your time or your lab equipment to the LEAP Project. The The Lab Equipment Access Program, or the LEAP project, aims to address the social issue that many public high schools lack resources like lab equipment, which are critical to students' hands-on science education. For more info and to get involved visit https://leap.caltech.edu/
make-a-difference day
The Caltech Y is partners with agencies from all over Pasadena and the greater LA region for one day of community service. All members of the Caltech community are invited to participate in one of a variety of community service projects at the Boys and Girls Club, Monrovia Canyon, Habitat for Humanity, LA Food Bank, Hillsides Home for Children, and many more sites. You can choose to work with kids or animals, do construction or outdoor projects or visit with the elderly. Projects are led by other students and will be 3.5 to 6 hours - including travel, depending on the project. Meals, transportation, and t-shirts are provided.
Alternative spring break
Explore a new place, meet new people, serve a community, and have fun!
Join other Caltech students for a non-traditional spring break experience and volunteer for a worthy cause. From the desert to the Sierras to more local urban experiences, there are a number of different community service trips that change from year to year.