Overview of Spark the Wave

Spark the Wave empowers youth through educational programs to be great volunteers and community leaders.

Spark the Wave is a 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in Pennsylvania that primarily serves the Philadelphia and Washington, DC communities. Spark the Wave offers after-school and weekend seminars that provide an opportunity for middle and high school students to develop their skills in effective communication, leadership development, service learning, project planning and diversity awareness.

For students who wish to pursue advanced training, Spark the Wave offers a 6-day summer residential and day camp for a nominal fee. This fee covers room, board, and educational materials. In keeping with our mission to promote service, most of our staff are volunteers. The summer camp, called Wave Week, is for students entering grades 8-12 and is held on a college campus near Philadelphia.

To maintain the momentum generated at Wave Week and our seminars, students who complete our trainings are invited to participate in a long-term mentoring program. Each student has access to adults with expertise in areas such as non-profit management, fundraising, and volunteer programming. Through mentoring, we help increase each student’s likelihood for success in the world of service.

Every year, thousands of teens perform millions of hours of service. Few of these youths receive any specialized training that could improve their ability to make a greater impact in the community. It is our belief that the young adults who complete our programs will return to their service groups—school, religious and/or community-based—better prepared to make a greater impact in their communities. This impact will eventually reach far beyond the youth participants of the program. As young leaders with the commitment and skills to turn caring into action, these teens will undoubtedly make positive contributions to their communities for many years to come.

For more information about Wave Week, our seminars or the Big Ripple process, please visit the Programs section.