Opportunities for high schoolers?

<p>I'm an incoming sophomore in high school, and I see a lot of kids in my area doing research for science fairs where they partner with professors from UCLA or UCB or whatever, and I was wondering how they got those connections. </p>

<p>Also, are there any school year or summer internships or fellowships for high schoolers available in Northern California? I've heard of people my age getting internships (I'm 14; most of my peers have earlier birth dates than me, however, so they're 15), and I was wondering how they went about it. I live in close proximity to Stanford, UC Berkeley, Santa Clara University, and Silicon Valley, so I'm sure there are some positions available, but I can't seem to find any that aren't summer internships for people who are 16 or older. Volunteering at a lab (especially physics; that's one of my main interests, although I love anything science) would also be great. </p>

<p>Also, I'd prefer ones where you don't have to pay much or at all. I don't care about getting paid myself, but a lot of research programs have ridiculously high fees (circa $4000, or more). I don't qualify for any need-based scholarships, but my family certainly isn't crazy rich.</p>

<p>Do you know of any such opportunities? Thanks!</p>