By Sophia Donald
When I started Lemons to Lemonade, I didn’t expect it to grow the way it has.
What began as a grief workbook became a camp. Then meetups. Then a community.
Now, it’s time for the next step.
This year, I am launching the first Lemons to Lemonade Teen Leadership Cohort at Dana Hills High School — the school I attend.
Starting here feels natural. Dana Hills is my community, and it’s where I want to begin building something that lasts beyond just one founder.
At our annual four-day camp held at Hidden Hills Elementary School, teen volunteers are paired one-on-one with a camper as a Camp Buddy.
Camp Buddies:
This is mentorship through presence — not therapy, just connection.
Because consistency matters, teen leaders are expected to commit to the full four-day camp experience.
Volunteers can earn 30+ verified service hours during camp, with additional hours available through meetups and leadership planning throughout the year.
The Teen Leadership Cohort extends beyond those four days.
Students can:
Running a nonprofit requires organization, outreach, creativity, and follow-through. If a student has a skill — whether in event planning, athletics, social media, or leadership — there is space to use it.
If Lemons to Lemonade is going to continue growing, it has to be student-powered.
Launching this cohort at my own high school allows me to build structure, develop training, and create a leadership team before expanding to other schools across Orange County.
Lemons to Lemonade was built by a student.
Now it will be strengthened by students.
Applications for the Dana Hills Teen Leadership Cohort are now open.
Students can apply here:
https://forms.gle/c5d3qGWCPid9zheK9
Let’s make lemonade together,
