How to Set Up a Teen Volunteer Club at School

Volunteering close to home and with your friends can be especially rewarding.

A Volunteering Club at school is a great way for a group of teens to work on projects together and have fun.

Members get to socialize, improve their leadership skills and learn how to coordinate their efforts as a team. Organize a volunteer club at school where it is easy to circulate information and recruit members. Having a teacher advisor brings extra experience into the mix and helps with tracking projects. You'll need a classroom to meet, rules for membership and goals for the club. Before getting started, ask a school counselor or administrator about the guidelines for school clubs.
Select a teacher-advisor, fill out any forms required by the school and pick meeting dates and locations. It helps to have a few friends already committed to the effort who will help generate interest and bring in new members.

After getting organized, keep these tips in mind: Stay Local - Pick local charities to support so that club members can experience the fruits of their labor. Build Partnerships - Think of the club's selected charities as partners.

Spend time getting to know them by attending meetings and visiting their location.

As you see how to serve the community, club members will be more inspired and better motivated to participate. Stay Focused - Keep project goals reasonable and specific: "bring food to elderly seniors" or "beautify the local environment.

Share the News - When club members complete a project, share photographs on the school website, in the school newspaper or in a display case in the hall.

Offer to talk about the club's efforts at a school assembly.
Set Expectations - Make it clear what members need to do to remain in good standing: "participate in three projects per year" or "donate 10 hours per semester.

" Keep Good Records - Use an online system or a spreadsheet to log service hours so that reporting is simplified.

Regardless of the system selected, set the guidelines ahead of time and know what to track including: charity name, date of service, hours, a contact name from the charity and a phone number and email for the charity contact.

Be consistent! Take Photos - Photos convey emotion and are proof of your club members' efforts.

Take photos before, during and after events. Get permission from the parents of children if you plan on putting the photos online or in a newspaper.

Sources for inspiration: Food Banks - Help with food collections, pick-ups and distribution. Ronald McDonald House - If your community has a Ronald McDonald House, sign up to help with for family activities, in the kitchen or with general staffing needs.
( ) Area Hospitals - Working in a hospital is rewarding but be ready for the required medical screenings and volunteer training. Animal Shelters - Shelters rely heavily on volunteers.
Libraries - Libraries need help with books, with children's programs and in community programs. Senior Centers and Senior Housing - Lead crafts activities or simply visit residents.

Habitat for Humanity - Habitat for Humanity has age-specific programs so that volunteers of all ages can help provide housing to needy families.
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation - Local JDRF has chapters that need teen volunteers to help educate the community and coordinate school walks.
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