Bright Futures and Volunteer Opportunities

Bright Futures Information

In order to obtain Bright Futures:
Students must apply to and send their SAT/ACT scores to at least one 4-year Florida Public University. They must continue to send their SAT/ACT scores to this school each time they retake an SAT/ACT, so that their score can be "super-scored." 

The last day to meet the SAT/ACT test score requirement for Bright Futures eligibility is August 31st

Scholarship Type

Amount Award at a FL Public University

Amount Award at a FL Private University

Florida Academic Scholarship (FAS)

100% tuition covered

$212 per credit hour

Florida Medallion Scholarship (FMS)

75% tuition covered

$159 per credit hour

Volunteer Opportunities

  • Angels Bridging Gaps


    Angels Bridging Gaps and
    ABGworks are disability support organizations that are dedicated to providing educational and emotional support, along with helping to develop programs that enrich the lives of our disability community. Students will be asked to participate in a voluntary 4-hour training program which will cover information and tips related to working with people living with a disability.  They will also be given opportunities for job shadowing, along with being given information on the various career tracks in the field of disability supports.

The following ABG Volunteer Positions are Needed:

  • Website maintenance & social media posting (approximately 2 hours per week)

  • Angel Buddies will assist in peer mentoring of young adults with disabilities (approximately 1-2 hours per week)

  • Special Event Volunteers will assist in the setup, breakdown and running of our special events (hours vary by event):

To Volunteer please call or text: Jackie Yearby (President) ​​​631.807.2974  or  Phil DeFranco (Events) 321.324.1643
Also please complete our online volunteer application: https://form.jotform.com/210810272990856

  • Barrier Island Sanctuary Land Management and Education Center (BIC)


    The BIC operates in partnership between Brevard County's Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program and the Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC). Together they work towards their mission to protect Brevard County's biological diversity through land management and environmental education. 
    Volunteers are needed in the following areas:

    -Docent: Welcome visitors to the Center! You will learn to interpret the exhibits, the diverse habitats that make up our barrier island, and the life histories of our nesting sea turtle species. 
    -Gift Shop Associate: Interact with customers in the Mermaid's Purse Gift Shop. Associates will be trained in opening, closing, ringing sales, entering, pricing, and counting inventory, and housekeeping.
    -Study trip/ Lead Assistant: Help with, or even lead once trained, student field trips to the Barrier Island Center. It involves outdoor explorations and hands-on activities and is typically scheduled on weekday mornings.
    -Sanctuary Preservation: May include trail maintenance, planting, trimming, and weeding from dune to lagoon. 
    -Aquarium Technician: Monitor aquarium water quality, clean tanks, and help change water as needed, and help care for resident critters. 
    -Trail Guide: Lead visitors on trail explorations from dune to lagoon. 
    -Turtle Walk Scouting (June/July): Support STC's guided sea turtle walks by learning to locate a nesting loggerhead sea turtle! Requires a weekly commitment and full-season training. 
    -Some other volunteer opportunities are beach cleanups, special program/event support, and touch tank operator! 

Contact Joy Winet for Volunteer Application
Education Center Coordinator
Phone: 321-723-3556
Email:
Joy.Winet@BrevardFL.gov
www.eelbrevard.com 
8385 South Highway A1A
Melbourne Beach, FL. 32951

  • Brevard County Libraries

-Please contact your local library closest to you to inquire about volunteer opportunities. 

  • Brevard Zoo

Contact Kimberly Rudolph (Administrative Assistant for Conservation/ Restore Our Shores)
Phone: 321-254-9453
Email:
KRudolph@brevardzoo.org 
www.brevardzoo.org 
8225 North Wickham Road
Melbourne, FL. 32940

  • Environmental Learning Center (ELC)

Opportunities:
-Programs for elementary students
-Touch tank and/ or Discovery Station docent
-Preschool programs
-Senior programs
-Guide for nature walks
-Guide for canoe tours
-Guide for pontoon tours
-Activities docent
-Greeting visitors/ general reception
-Running errands
-Setting up and taking down at events
-Volunteering at ELC special events
-Representing ELC at community events
-Serving on a special events committee
-Distribute flyers and assist in mailings 

Contact the ELC at 772-589-5050
255 Live Oak Drive
Vero Beach, FL. 32963

  • Erna Nixon Park

Contact: Cheryl Caldwell 
Phone: 321-508-3441
Email: Email Cheryl Caldwell 
1200 Evans Road
Melbourne, FL. 32904 

  • Field Manor

A Brevard County Historic 19th Century Homestead

Contact: Korinn Braden (Executive Director)
Phone: 321-848-0365 or 321-243-2518
Email: Email Korinn Braden 
www.fieldmanor.org
750 Field Manor Drive
Merritt Island, FL. 32953

  • Florida Wildlife Hospital

Contact: Lindsay Mayer (Outreach and Volunteer Manager)
Phone: 321-254-8843 ext: 202
Email:Email Lindsay Mayer
Visit: www.FloridaWildlifeHospital.org/volunteer/ 
4560 North US Highway 1
Palm Shores, FL. 32935

  • Green Gables Historic Home

Call or text Marion Ambrose at 321-306-8635 Email Marion Ambrose at to sign up to volunteer.
1501 S. Harbor City Blvd. 

Melbourne, FL. 32901

  • Hidden Acres Rescue for Throroughbred horses (HART)

HART is a nonprofit horse rescue center who has rescued and rehomed more than 300 horses. Through their aftercare program they work to rehabilitate and retrain these horses to find their new purpose. 

Volunteers are need in a variety of departments: cleaning stalls, pasture maintence, hauling hay, dropping shavings, turn in/out, grooming horses, facility maintenance, farm equiptment repair, electrical/plumbing, lawncare, landscaping, brush cleaning, etc. 

Please contact volunteer@hartforhorses.org 

  • Inspiritas of West Melbourne- Senior Living Facility

2395 Minton Rd. West Melbourne, FL. 32904

Inspirtias is looking for volunteers to assist with their painting classes, no-sew sewing class, assisting with exercise & jewelry making. Or if a student(s) who play an instrument who like to practice at our community for residents to listen to.

Also, some one-on-one activities for lower functioning residents such as puzzles/ painting nails/ walking around the courtyard with residents in wheelchairs.

If the student is under 18, their parent has to email the contact person to obtain details and paperwork. 
Students that are 18 and older will need to call the contact person to set up a time/day to go in and fill out forms and get finger printed. 

 

Contact: Francesca Markee- Life Enrichment Director
321-220-0295
Email Francesca Markee 

  •  Marine Resources Council

Contact: Allison McGinley (Environmental Educator)
Phone: 321-725-7775 or 888979-4253
Email: Allison@mrcirl.org or julie.albert@bwr.org 
3275 Dixie Hwy NE
Palm Bay, FL. 32905

  • Palm Bay Utilities Department

Contact: Brooklynn Dawson (Community Outreach Coordinator)
Phone: 321-952-3410 or 321-449-6095
Email Brooklynn Dawson
250 Osmosis Dr. SE
Palm Bay, FL. 32909 

  • Palm Bay Christian Preschool

    Palm Bay Christian Preschool is in need of helping hearts! They have several aftercare positions that are open.  These are paid positions, but could also be volunteer hours as well if you are in need of hours.

Position Details:

  • Monday - Friday

  • 2:30 pm - 6:00 pm

  • Ages will range between 18 months and five years old depending on the assigned class.

  • Preschool follows the Brevard County School's calendar.

Contact info is below.

Michelle Elizabeth- Palm Bay Assimilation Director Tomoka Christian Church 344 Emerson Drive NW | Palm Bay, FL 32907 (321) 724-0491 | www.tomoka.cc

  • Sam's House at Pine Island

Contact: Alexandra Schilling
Phone: 321-449-4720
Email Alexandra Schilling
6195 N. Tropical Trail
Merritt Island, FL. 32953

  • Sea Turtle Preservation Society

Opportunities:
-Beach Clean ups
-Turtle Krawl 5k 
-Events
-Nesting Surveys
-Stranding and Salvage
-Turtle Walks
-Education
-STERP
-Newsletter

Complete your volunteer application at www.SeaTurtleSpaceCoast.org 

  • Valiant Air Command's (VAC) STEM Program

Do you have a passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)??

The Valiant Air Command's (VAC) STEM program is for you at the Warbird Museum!

-STEM in a unique aeronautical environment
-Assist with hands-on and interactive curriculum
-Must be 16 or older
-Opportunities from October 2022- May 2023
-1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month
-Approximately 10 volunteer hours per month (Additional hours for special events)

For more information, please contact Kathy

  • Walk On Water Ranch

Looking for student volunteers to help special needs students and veterans.
Contact 321-412-8057
3330 Perkinson Lane. Merritt Island, FL 32953