Frequently asked questions

A: This program is for Arizona high school students who will become an incoming junior or senior in the 2026–27 school year. Current seniors should not apply. Students must have completed 10th grade and be at least 15 years old at the start of the program on June 1, 2026. High school seniors may complete the adult volunteer application starting Wednesday, April 15.

Please note: The minimum age and grade requirement has changed beginning in 2026.

A: The program is a seven-week session that runs Monday, June 1, through Friday, July 17. Additionally, there are mandatory onboarding dates during the month of May. Prior to applying, teens should carefully consider the required time commitment and note the important dates in their calendar. Important dates include:

• Mandatory Parent Orientation is virtually on Zoom Tuesday, April 21 from 5 - 6 p.m. and Saturday, April 25 from 9 – 10 a.m. (parents choose one of the two)
• Mandatory Teen Orientation is in-person on Thursday, April 30 from 5 - 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 2 from 9 -11:30 a.m.  (teen volunteers choose one of the two)
• Campus Training date depends on the campus. Campus training dates are below:
  • HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center: May 27, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. or May 29, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. (Deer Valley teens can pick one of the two options. Do not attend both.)
  • HonorHealth Four Peaks Medical Center: May 28, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
  • HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center: May 27, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. or May 28, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. (JCL teens can pick one of the two options. Do not attend both.)
  • HonorHealth Osborn Medical Center: May 29, 2026, 8 - 11:30 a.m.
  • HonorHealth Sonoran Crossing Medical Center: May 27, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
  • HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center: May 22, 1 - 4 p.m. or May 29, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. (Shea teens can pick one of the two options. Do not attend both.)
  • HonorHealth Tempe Medical Center: May 29, 2026, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
  • HonorHealth Thompson Peak Medical Center: May 28, 2026, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
     

A: The program requires a weekly commitment of eight hours as two (2) four-hour shifts. Volunteer hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Teens joining for their first summer of service will not be placed on a weekend or evening shift. Teens can miss two shifts during the seven-week program. Most campuses do not offer “make-up” shifts. Once the third shift is missed, the teen may be removed from the program. Teens must volunteer consistently for 6 of the 7 weeks. For example, if your family is taking a two-week vacation between the program dates (Monday, June 1, through Friday, July 17) you will not be eligible for the program.

A: The application deadline is noon on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

A: There are two steps complete your application.

Step one: Fill out an online application by Wednesday, February 25 at noon. When you submit your application online, you will be required to upload an unofficial transcript and a student statement answering the questions below. Please have your unofficial transcript and student statement ready to upload prior to starting the online application.

Student statement questions:

• What is one aptitude or personal trait that will make you a great volunteer?
• HonorHealth is guided by our ICARE values of innovation, collaboration, accountability, respect, and empathy. Which of these ICARE values is most important in your own life and why?
• If you are accepted to the Summer Teen Volunteer Program, you will volunteer two four-hour shifts each week for seven weeks (all shifts are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Teens in their first summer are not allowed weekend or weeknight shifts.) If you miss three shifts, you may be removed from the program. How will you prioritize this commitment and balance your other summer activities, which may include family time, work, time with friends, sports, clubs, etc.?
   

Step two: After submitting your online application (with your unofficial transcript and student statement), please email your recommendation form to studentvolunteers@honorhealth.com. The online recommendation form must be completed by someone outside of your immediate family. This should be someone who can speak to your work ethic and/or character. Your recommendation form is due by Wednesday, March 4 at noon.

A: Explorers who do not currently volunteer at a medical center must apply for the program. Those who are currently providing volunteer services do not need to apply.

A: No. Students who were part of the program the previous year do not need to re-apply. Current teen volunteers should work directly with their supervisor to express their interest in serving again.

A: Teens who wish to move from their previous medical center to another facility should email their request to studentvolunteers@honorhealth.com. Transfers are not guaranteed and are considered on a case-by-case basis.

A: Yes. HonorHealth team members providing recommendations must complete the online recommendation form. Any provided reference must be familiar with the teen’s character and fitness for volunteer service and should not be a direct family member. Telephone calls, emails and other personal contact with the selection committee are not allowed. Immediate family members cannot complete the recommendation form, but they can be listed on the online application under the HonorHealth Employee Relations section.

A: No, the teen should be applying for themselves with their own email address for both the Explorers Club Program and the Summer Teen Program.

A: Acceptance to summer service is a competitive process, with teens applying from around the Valley. More applications are received than there is space for volunteers. The application and interview are the only criteria used for the selection process, so we encourage applicants to take their time and diligently fill out the application to give them the best chance of acceptance into the program. When completing the application and interview, we encourage applicants to:

• Fully read and answer all parts of the questions: Many applicants do not fully answer the questions. If a question had two parts, be sure the answer reflects all the requested information.
• Interacting and connecting with strangers is important in this role: Please don’t attend the interview and only speak with friends or people known to you. It is important to see how potential applicants interact with others, as volunteers may have some patient interaction once accepted to the program.
• Consider your availability: One of the factors we use to determine acceptance is applicants’ availability. Take time to carefully consider your obligations this summer, and make sure to list your full availability – not just your preferred times to volunteer.

A: Applicants will receive a confirmation email after submission of their online application (including their student statement and unofficial transcript). After submitting your online application, please email your online recommendation form to studentvolunteers@honorhealth.com.

All applicants must attend a group interview for your first-choice campus on the date selected on your application. In-person interviews will be held at the end of March. Due to the volume of applications, we cannot guarantee alternative interview times.

A: Email is the primary form of communication used to connect with volunteers. Please ensure a valid email address is listed on the application and this email account is checked regularly during the application timelines. As this is a program that promotes teen accountability, we strongly encourage the applicant’s email account be used, instead of one belonging to a parent/guardian.

A: Volunteer Services will notify applicants of acceptance after group interviews are completed using the email listed on the application. It is strongly recommended that this is the applicant's email address and not the email of a parent or guardian.

A: We ask that you consider choosing your group interview date carefully and noting it on a calendar. We may not be able to accommodate date change requests.

A: No. This is a very competitive program with limited volunteer positions available at each campus.

A: If accepted, all onboarding steps must be completed before starting the program. Onboarding includes visiting Employee Health, attending mandatory orientations for both parent/guardian and teen, and completing Volunteer Services paperwork.

A: A parent/guardian must attend one of two mandatory, 60-minute online Zoom orientations:

• 5 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21 or
• 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 25

Teen volunteers must attend one of two in-person orientations:

• 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 30 or
• 9 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 2

Teens are also required to attend a two-hour on campus training between Tuesday, May 26 and Friday, May 29. The dates and times are listed below for each campus.

• HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center: May 27, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. or May 29, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. (Deer Valley teens can pick one of the two options. Do not attend both.)
• HonorHealth Four Peaks Medical Center: May 28, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center: May 27, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. or May 28, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. (JCL teens can pick one of the two options. Do not attend both.)
• HonorHealth Osborn Medical Center: May 29, 2026, 8 - 11:30 a.m.
• HonorHealth Sonoran Crossing Medical Center: May 27, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
• HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center: May 22, 1 - 4 p.m. or May 29, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. (Shea teens can pick one of the two options. Do not attend both.)
• HonorHealth Tempe Medical Center: May 29, 2026, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• HonorHealth Thompson Peak Medical Center: May 28, 2026, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

A: On your application, please select your preferred location. We will do our best to place you at your desired campus or medical center of choice. At times, alternative service locations are selected by HonorHealth based on availability and campus need.

A: Volunteers are a valuable part of HonorHealth’s daily operations and are counted on by team members to support our healing environment. If you’re unable to commit to the time requirement, we ask that you reconsider applying for the program. If you miss three shifts, you may be removed from the program.

A: The COVID-19 vaccine is optional, but HonorHealth continues to advocate strongly for all team members, clinicians, and volunteers to keep their COVID-19 vaccinations up to date. The seasonal influenza vaccine is required during flu season (medical or religious exceptions are available.) The parent or guardian of accepted applicants will receive an email from Employee Health to access an online portal to upload immunization records.

A: No, carpooling with other summer teen volunteers is not recommended, as we are unable to coordinate shifts with other teen volunteers. If accepted to the program, it is up to the volunteer and/or family members to ensure safe transportation to and from the assigned campus location.

A: Currently, we are not able to coordinate volunteer service schedules.

A: We do not guarantee that teens can continue during the school year. They must earn this opportunity by successfully completing the Summer Teen Volunteer Program.

A: The steps to becoming a volunteer are:

• Complete an application
• Interview
• Attend an orientation
• Employee Health screening
• Background check
• On-campus training

A: It typically takes several weeks to complete all of the necessary steps. Email Volunteers@HonorHealth.com with questions about the onboarding process.

A: You can volunteer at one of our nine medical centers or Desert Mission.

A: Volunteer age requirements are:

• Adult volunteers: 18+ years old
• Teen Explorer Club: Must be entering their freshman year of high school and 13 years old when the Club year begins.
• Summer Teen Volunteer Program: Must have completed their sophomore year of high school and be at least 15 years old. Teens are accepted through their senior year.

A: All volunteers will receive a free health screening through Employee Health which will include a TB test. All volunteers must be up to date on their MMR vaccinations, and must receive an annual flu shot.

A: The COVID-19 vaccine is optional, but HonorHealth continues to advocate strongly for all team members, clinicians and volunteers to keep their COVID-19 vaccinations up to date. The seasonal flu shot vaccine is required during flu season (medical or religious exceptions are available).

A: Volunteers and staff are required to follow hand hygiene protocols. High touch surfaces are disinfected frequently, and masks are always available to team members, volunteers, guests and patients. Contact the Volunteer Services Office for more information on how HonorHealth keeps our facilities and volunteers safe.

A: Call the Volunteer Services Department at 480-587-5097 or email Volunteers@HonorHealth.com.

A: Yes. You’ll attend an orientation before your first shift and receive on-the-job training with your leader and current volunteers.

A: An HonorHealth polo shirt and ID badge are provide at no cost. Full-length khakis or slacks that are solid tan, black or navy and closed-toe shoes are required. Jeans are not permitted in any hospital service areas. Desert Mission Food Bank volunteers may wear jeans or shorts with an HonorHealth polo.

A: No. Volunteers are not guaranteed placement in their desired roles. Your leader will review scheduling and campus needs to determine placement.

A: No. Volunteering does not guarantee job placement or availability.

A: Volunteer shifts are available between 7 a.m. - 7 p.m., seven days a week.

A: Use your Volgistics.com login to change, remove or add shifts to your schedule.

A: If possible, please provide two weeks’ notice to allow for schedule adjustment.

A: No. Volunteers are not required to work on federal holidays.

A: Yes. Your leader will assist you with planning your schedule after the onboarding process is complete.

A: HonorHealth requires visiting pets be certified therapy animals (i.e. Alliance of Therapy Dogs, Therapy Dogs International and Pets on Wheels). Contact Volunteer Services to learn more about the therapy animal program.

A: Accommodations are available for a wide range of volunteer positions. Contact Volunteer Services to discuss specific needs.

A: NICU volunteer positions are limited, with few openings. Volunteer positions are not guaranteed at this time.

A: Yes. HonorHealth can provide yarn for the Tender Loving Crafters program. Please fill out this crafting interest form. Then, a member on our team will reach out to you with more details on crafting for HonorHealth.

A: HonorHealth has two programs for teen volunteers:

• Summer Teen Volunteer Program: Runs in June and July; applications open mid-January and close late February.
• Explorers Club: Runs in August and May; applications open mid-May and close mid-June.

A: No, the applications and programs are entirely separate. Acceptance in one program is not contingent on your acceptance in the other program.

A: Shadowing is not a part of either of our teen programs. We do not allow students 17 or younger to shadow in our facilities.

A: No. Teens (under 18) must begin their service in either the Summer Teen Volunteer Program or the Explorers Club.

A: No, we do not allow students to begin volunteering during the school year. We only accept new teen volunteers through our Explorers Club program and through our Summer Teen Volunteer program.

A: Yes. Summer-only volunteers must be fully onboarded by May 20. Email Volunteers@HonorHealth.com to inquire about summer-only service.

A: Yes. Teen programs are only available to Arizona residents attending school in the state.

A: HonorHealth Explorers Clubs are student-run and expose students who are interested in healthcare careers to a variety of hands-on events, learning opportunities and chances to interact with healthcare professionals. Meetings are held once per month and teens must be in high school, grades 9-12 during the academic year, to participate.

The program begins with an application process in mid – May with a due date in mid – June. Completed applications are sent to be reviewed by the elected student boards for each club. Applicants are informed via email if they have been accepted or not accepted in mid-July.

A: Any returning Explorer Club member must reapply each year unless they are an elected member of the board.

A: No, the Explorers Club is very competitive as there is limited space in each Club. We frequently have to turn away over 50% of applicants. We encourage applicants to take their time on their application. When responding to the essay questions, be thorough and provide examples when possible.

A: If accepted, membership is contingent on completing the onboarding prior to the deadline. Onboarding includes visiting Employee Health, completing Volunteer Services & Explorers Club specific paperwork, and attending the mandatory first Club meeting. New members have a non-refundable club due of $55. For returning members, there is a non-refundable club renewal fee of $45. Financial aid is available upon request.

A: The Club runs from August to May. The meetings are as follows:

• Medical Explorers Club at HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center Meets the second Wednesday of each month from 5 to 7 p.m. at 19829 N. 27th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85027.
• Medical Explorers Club at HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center Meets the second Thursday of each month from 5 to 7 p.m. at 250 E. Dunlap Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85020.
• Medical Explorers Club at HonorHealth Scottsdale Thompson Peak Medical Center Meets the first Thursday of each month from 5 to 7 p.m. at 7400 E. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ 85255.
• Nursing Explorers Club at HonorHealth Center of Clinical Excellence Meets the first Wednesday of each month from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 19602 N. 23rd Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85027.

A: Club members are allowed three excused absences over the course of the Club year (August to May). An excused absence requires advance notice provided to the Club secretary. Additional policies on attendance will be shared in the first meeting of the year. If you think you will miss more than three meetings, please do not apply for the Explorers Club.

A: Community service hours are not available at any HonorHealth campus or facility.

A: Desert Mission accepts volunteers Monday – Thursday for morning shifts from 8 a.m. – noon and afternoon shifts from noon – 4 p.m. On Friday, Desert Mission accepts volunteers for the morning shift from 8 a.m. – noon. The Food Bank is closed on Saturday and Sunday.