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Branchout with BRANCHOUT!

A Youth Community Outreach Program since 2015

BranchOut! is an award-winning and professional development program created by Veritas Education Leaders, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in the Washington DC area.​ BranchOut! is guided by education experts and professionals and allows its members to work in a professional ecosystem designed to bridge the gap between high school leadership and real-world impact.

Local chapters are driven, led, and managed by student leaders with the goal to share STEAM knowledge across communities while promoting civic engagement and cross-cultural understanding.  

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10+
years

700+
alumni

6
chapters

BranchOut! Earns National Recognition from Media and Keynote Figures

As an award-winning professional development program, we have received endorsements from US Senator Tim Kaine, Congressperson Andy Kim, former Congresswoman Barbara Comstock, Maryland State Senator Susan Lee, Maryland Delegate Lily Qi, and other community leaders. BranchOut! also became an official organization in 2018 to certify the U.S. President's Volunteer Service Award. Our innovator program won the US Congressional App Challenge award in 2020. 

Senator Tim Kaine 

Senator Andy Kim

Tutoring

Mentoring

In-person or virtual.

Details vary from chapter to chapter.

Innovator

Program

Team-based app and website programming and coding

Explorer Magazine

Team-based international journalism and quarterly magazine publications

Community Workshops

Public speaking with community outreach, panels, and interviews

2026 BranchOut! Applications Are Open

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Application Deadlines: 

  • Early Bird 1: March 1, 2026

  • Early Bird 2: April 10, 2026

  • Regular: May 11, 2026

Mentors will engage in:

  • Meaningful, impact-driven projects

  • Eligibility for numerous awards

  • Leadership roles

  • Community service hours

  • Internship opportunities

OFFICIAL CERTIFYING ORGANIZATION

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Please note: The President's Volunteer Service Award is on a temporary pause, as decided by AmeriCorps. Awards will no longer be offered.

We are an Official Certifying Organization for the President's Volunteer Service Award.

Please take note of the following information:

BranchOut!'s service period follows the school calendar year, running from September to August of the following year. To qualify, all service hours must be earned during this period. Please note that we are unable to combine hours with other organizations to issue a certificate. However, we are more than happy to provide proof of hours from BranchOut! for you to use with another certifying organization.

BECOME A SUMMER MENTOR

BECOME A SCHOOL-YEAR MENTOR

BECOME AN INNOVATOR

“Working with BranchOut! mentors [has] been a cultural enrichment experience for our participants...This mentoring program gave mentees and mentors an opportunity to learn from each other's different cultures, and embrace their new learning experience through unique and fun STEM projects.” 

 

—  Willston Multicultural Center Management Team

GALLERY

LEARN MORE

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