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10 Community Service Ideas for Teens

Performing community service is about as fun as having a root canal while taking a final exam in calculus, right? Wrong!

Serving your community benefits others while giving you enriching life experience that can also help you get into the college of your choice.  Do it for others and for yourself.

Try some of these community service ideas for teens, and you’ll see how fun volunteering can be.

1. Become a camp counselor for younger kids

Yes, it can be tiresome to run after a bunch of rowdy teens, but you’ll get to go to camp for a free or reduced price! Plus, since you’ll be volunteering all day long, your community service project hours will add up quickly!

2. Join a community service project at school

Investigate if your high school offers clubs such as Key Club, Interact Club or Sparrow Club. These organizations can provide a wealth of community service ideas, and the resources to get them done.

When you join a community service club, you’ll have dozens of opportunities to get involved with volunteering. You’ll also make new friends who go to the same school as you. You can even run to become a club officer.

3. Paint faces at a carnival or elementary school fair

You’ll need to buy materials, such as paints, paint brushes and towels—or better yet, see if you can borrow supplies from someone. Before you start painting on faces, practice making your designs on paper. Have fun, and use your creativity. Don’t forget to clean up afterwards!

4. Work in the park

Your city’s Parks and Recreation department could use your help in a variety of ways. Call them up and ask what you can do. You might work on a painting project or plant flowers at a playground. These projects will really spruce up your city!

5. Help out families at your local hospital

Offer to sew colorful baby blankets to donate to the hospital’s neonatal unit. It can be stressful to have a premature infant, but seeing their child wrapped in a cute homemade blanket could brighten a parent’s day!

6. Teach your talent

Are you skilled at a sport? Are you an art pro? Call a daycare or after school program to see if you could teach weekly lessons on your favorite hobby.

7. Visit a nursing home

With your classmates or teen friends, organize a dinner and game party at a local retirement home. Some people could prepare the food, others can serve it, and others could organize the games. Interact with the senior citizens, and award prizes to the winners of the games.

8. Plan a food drive

Invite a bunch of friends to your house. Before they come, make a scavenger hunt list with items like canned vegetables and boxed dinners. Split your friends into two teams, and give each team a list. The teams should go door-to-door, asking neighbors for the items. The first team to return with everything on the list wins! Donate all of the food to a food bank.

9. Help someone study

What’s your best subject in school? Talk with your counselor to see if your school has (or is planning to start) a peer-tutoring program for which you could volunteer.

10. Be creative

Design your own homemade greeting cards. Ask to hand them out at a nursing home or a soup kitchen. It will put a smile on someone’s face.

Teens have so much to offer their community. When we shine a light for others, we also light our own path.  Consider one or more of these community service ideas for teens or adults.

Jessica Lippe lives in in Southern Oregon. She enjoys volunteering, community service, writing and traveling.

In the world of AmeriCorps, Gandhi’s suggestion, “Be the change you wish to see in the world” is everywhere. You hear it in meetings, rallies, trainings, speeches, even typed at the bottom of emails. And yet there’s something else that just as often goes unsaid: going into service, or “being the change,” will just as likely change you.

But what exactly do you get out of it? And how can that help you answer the age-old question, what do you want to be when you grow up?

The proliferation of service programs such as AmeriCorps in the past few decades has provided an alternative to the one-or-the-other choice of college versus job. A year of service is neither, but has elements of both, and it prepares you for whichever one you might decide to pursue. It can also provide support, mentoring and experience that will strengthen your resumé and give you a clearer idea of what you want to do with your life.

Emma Hartzell can relate to that uncertainty. “I felt unsure about which direction I should take,” she says about life after graduation. So she applied, was accepted and served as the AmeriCorps member for PlusTimeNH, a children’s center in Rochester, New Hampshire. As program coordinator, she had the opportunity to explore and practice her love of teaching, learning and even dancing and cooking.

“AmeriCorps helped me discover the passion I have for helping children with special needs,” she says. She attributes her time management, lesson planning and organizational skills to her AmeriCorps year, all of which helped her prepare for a teaching career. It also allowed her to network within the school system while she got her degree in special education.

Jennifer Quick had a similar experience with AmeriCorps, though in a very different place. “I was struggling to decide whether I wanted to pursue elementary education or social work,” she says. “A batch of brochures for the National Farm Workers Service Center, Inc. came in the mail one day [at school]…I immediately called for more information.” She went on to serve for three years in San Francisco, Cal., first as a resident service coordinator and then as a recruiter. Her duties included operating an after-school and summer program serving K-5^th grade students at an affordable housing complex.

“Living and working in the community we served made me mindful of my role as a professional in and outside of the workplace,” Jennifer says of her experience. “The level of multi-tasking, flexibility and problem-solving increased my likelihood of finding gainful employment. The experience brought to life many of the topics studied in class…[I experienced] people’s lives, not textbook cases.”

Both Emma and Jennifer attest that their favorite part about AmeriCorps was the people they worked with. The kids’ responses to her programs “made me feel accomplished and satisfied that I was doing a good job at teaching,” says Emma.

AmeriCorps has the knack for doing that — challenging its members, then giving a lot back. Many of its alumni go on to fulfilling careers in the same field in which they served. A year of service can be so much more than twelve months — it will influence the rest of your life.

Q: What is Teach for America?
A: Teach For America provides a critical source of well-trained teachers who are helping break the cycle of educational inequity. These teachers, called corps members, commit to teach for two years in one of 39 urban and rural regions across the country, going above and beyond traditional expectations to help their students achieve at high levels.

Q: Am I eligible?
A: In order to apply to Teach For America, you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university by the first day of summer institute, you must have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.50, and you must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or permanent legal resident.

Teach For America accepts applicants from all academic majors, programs, and professional backgrounds and experiences. A degree or coursework in education is not required and has no bearing on a candidate’s chances of admission.

Q: Is this the right next step for me?
A: Teach for America seeks individuals from all backgrounds, majors, and professional experiences who have what it takes to excel as teachers and improve the quality of education for children growing up in low-income communities.

There is no one profile of an “ideal” applicant. Ultimately, the organization looks for individuals who have achieved results and demonstrated a range of leadership qualities, because they know those individuals will lead students to success in the classroom and beyond.

Q: How do I get started?
A: Go to www.TeachForAmerica.org to apply online.

Source: TeachforAmerica.org

For some the word “fraternity” conjures up images of tipsy college students with one hand clutching a bottle and the other fist pumping in the air.

But now picture this: a bunch of frat boys playing wheelchair basketball and performing puppet shows to raise money and awareness for people with disabilities, which is exactly what 34 members of national fraternity Phi Kappa Phi did this summer (www.pushamerica.org/journeyofhope).

While the first scenario represents the more common, stereotypical view of Greek life, the latter is much closer to the truth. Most chapters these days seem to be focusing on helping rather than hazing.

What good is Greek Life?
College Greek organizations participate in a variety of philanthropic activities, which support both national and international charities and the individual communities in which a chapter is located.

Michelle Plotzker, a history major at Stevens Institute of Technology (www.stevens.edu) in Hoboken, N.J., is a sister and the current vice president of Membership Development of her school’s chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon (D Phi E) sorority. D Phi E officially supports three philanthropies: Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Delta Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation. Hers and other D Phi E chapters fundraise for these causes through various events.

Fraternities and sororities at Penn State University (www.psu.edu) often team up to fundraise for various
philanthropies including THON (www.thon.org), a two-day dance marathon that in February 2011 raised more than $9.5 million for children battling cancer. With 15,000 student volunteers and 700 dancers, it is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world.

More good
Besides serving the community, Greek life organizations can provide an instant support system and group of friends, which can be especially comforting to new students.

“I decided to join the sorority because I wanted to have a close group of girls to hang out with,” Plotzker says.

Greek life can also improve students’ networking opportunities and potential for finding a job after graduation.

Florencio says he joined his fraternity partly because he wanted to gain a competitive edge in the job market. As far as initiation goes, Florencio says that every fraternity or sorority has some rituals, but it is a positive experience that emphasizes the values of the group.

“The values are really what bring us together and keep us together,” he said.

Fast facts

• 85 percent of Fortune 500 executives are fraternity or sorority members.
• Only two U.S. presidents and two vice presidents since 1825 have not been fraternity members.
• Fraternity and sorority alumni are much more likely than non-Greeks to participate in community service activities after graduation.
• More than 70 percent of students who join a fraternity or sorority graduate, while fewer than 50 percent of all non-fraternity/sorority students graduate.
• 71 percent of those listed in “Who’s Who in America” belong to a fraternity or sorority.

Katie Steelman is a senior at St. John Fisher College (www.sjfc.edu).

Everyone knows that helping others gives you good karma, but did you know it can give you career guidance, too?

Helping out with service organizations and volunteering your time and expertise to different causes not only helps out your community, it also lets you “try on” different jobs and see which ones fit the best. Wondering if teaching is a path you’d like to follow? Consider volunteering at a school. Thinking about being a doctor or a vet? Volunteer at your local hospital or work with a nearby animal shelter. Considering a career in the environment? Look at Greenpeace. Want to work with kids? Talk to your local YMCA or daycare.

The possibilities are endless and so are the community service organizations you can choose from.

So, how to begin?

Think about how you’d like to help
Start by really giving some thought to where you’d like to fit in the community service world. Do you want to lead a group? Organize events? Teach? Work with children? Work with animals? Think, also, about the environment you’d like to be in: Do you want to be indoors? Outdoors? In an office setting? In a hospital? Taking the time to ponder how you want to help (and what you don’t want to do) will make it much easier for you to not only help others, but also do it with a smile on your face.

Talk to those you know
You would be surprised at who volunteers their time, and where they do it. Talk to your friends and see if they are part of any community group or activity. Talk to your school’s guidance counselor; many schools have volunteer and community service opportunities already in place that you can become a part of. Talk to your parents and friends of your parents. They may know of or be the leaders at organizations in your city, which can provide you with community service opportunities.

Check out established community service programs
Organizations such as AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps, Greenpeace, Teach for America, the ASPCA, the Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and the Boy Scouts are all well-known for their philanthropic efforts and their large volunteer workforce. If you want to have access to a large variety of resources and have a volunteer crew of hundreds (or even thousands!), then going to one of the large, national, well-established programs is a must.

Go online
Although the large national organizations are definitely worth checking out, many smaller community service organizations may not be quite so readily accessible. That’s where the Internet comes in. Websites like Volunteer Match (volunteermatch.org), Volunteers of America (voa.org), Service Nation (servicenation.org), and DoSomething.org all have huge online databases of local volunteer opportunities with both small and large organizations and can easily match you up with opportunities in your area.

What happens after you’ve chosen an organization or event?
Then get busy helping—and thinking about what you’re doing! Ask yourself:

• Do I enjoy what I do with this community service organization?

• What would I change about my duties?

• Could I do this for more than just a weekend every week? Could I do it full time during the week?

• What about this position fulfills me?

• Am I excited to work for this organization?

If you find yourself saying, “I wouldn’t do this if they paid me!” (and they’re not paying you), then you know it’s not for you. Don’t be afraid to try out new organizations that you might otherwise never consider. Now’s the time to try on as many possible careers! Many students would never have considered a medical path if they hadn’t volunteered with the Red Cross or their local hospital, and others might not have thought about a career in teaching or mentoring if they hadn’t checked out AmeriCorps, Teach for America or Big Brothers Big Sisters.

What should you do to get the most out of volunteering?
Remember, it’s not enough to just lend a helping hand. Be proactive about your volunteering, and it will not only help others, it will help you, too!

Think about why you’re doing it
If you have a purpose behind why you help others, you will not only volunteer with gusto, you’ll inspire others to do the same. You’ll also enjoy yourself more and bring more joy to others.

Realize it is a long-term commitment
Once you find that perfect volunteer opportunity, don’t be sporadic in your commitment. If you really want to make an impact—and if you really want your volunteering to make an impact on your résumé and career opportunities—then stay with it for the long haul. Be constant, consistent and committed. But understand it may involve sacrifices. You may have to give up some weekend outings or spend a few Friday nights working instead of partying.

Don’t forget to toot your own horn
If you’re doing something you love, helping others, making a difference and learning about what you’d like to do when you grow up, don’t forget to tell people! Put it on your résumé, talk about it in your application essays and share your experiences with others.

Volunteering can be a fulfilling, exciting experience. Approach it in a methodical way, and it can be incredibly beneficial—both to those you help and to your future!

Anne Chaconas is the director of admissions counseling for PowerScore Test Preparation (www.powerscore.com). Every year, she answers countless questions about college admissions and helps many students get into their top choice schools. 

Extracurricular activities aren’t just “extra” anymore on your college application. Years ago, good grades, solid SAT scores and a quality writing sample were often enough to gain admission to many colleges and universities. 

Today, college admissions officers read thousands of college applications and essays from prospective students. That’s why initiative and leadership ability can set you apart from other applicants. One of the best ways to demonstrate these characteristics is by highlighting your participation in extracurricular student activities. 

Going beyond high school groups

High schools offer plenty of student activity opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities. But the extracurriculars at school aren’t the only ones that count. If you are a talented artist or dancer and you have taken classes outside of school, share this information on your application. Include how many years you have studied and what you have accomplished in these areas, such as summer workshops, studying with well-known teachers, exhibiting or performing. 

Volunteering is an excellent way to get involved and to show your commitment to an interest. Better yet, if you can volunteer in an area that is related to your intended major, you are also showing your dedication to a subject, which can make you a more competitive applicant. If you plan to study nursing in college, you could volunteer at your local hospital. Or if you want to be a teacher, volunteer in an afterschool program or at a daycare center. 

Show commitment

It’s important to show continual commitment to at least one activity. Having a list of dozens of extracurricular activities during your senior year of high school doesn’t look as good as having one or two activities that you have shown a continual commitment to.Plus, many scholarships—both from the institution or private sources—are available for students who participate in certain extracurricular activities. 

Tell your story

Colleges want to know the real you. Revealing who you are is part of what can make your college application unique. Beyond showing that you are a good student with a strong academic record, you can take your application to the next level by helping admission officers imagine how you would fit in their campus culture with your distinctive interests and talents, which are reflected in your extracurriculars. It could give you an edge in becoming part of the next freshman class at your top-choice college. 

Ways to highlight your extracurricular activities to get an edge

• Discuss one of your student activities in your admissions essay

• Include a list of activities and highlight leadership positions and accomplishments on your resume

• If an extracurricular opportunity you are interested in doesn’t exist at school, create it yourself. 

Elaina Loveland is the author of Creative Colleges: A Guide for Student Actors, Artists, Dancers, Musicians, and Writers and Creative Careers: Paths for Aspiring Actors, Artists, Dancers, Musicians, and Writers. Learn more about the book at www.elainaloveland.com.

Making the most of your senior year is the next step in preparing for life after high school.

Here are the six most important ways to make your senior year count, which includes student activity ideas.

1. Plan your class schedule with your future in mind
“Senior year is not the time to lay off,” says Jonathan Burdick, dean of undergraduate admissions and financial aid at the University of Rochester (rochester.edu).

Try to take classes senior year that will help you ace your major’s prerequisites, explains Rochester Institute of Technology (rit.edu) senior associate director of admissions Marian Nicoletti.

Too many students choose to lighten their loads senior year—and regret it once they begin college.  Think of some student activity ideas.

High school is the last time that you’ll be able to take classes for free. So why not take the basics now, rather than pay for remedial courses in college?

The courses you choose senior year can also affect admissions decisions—and how ready you will be to begin your major.

For example, “a prospective biotechnology major should be taking courses in AP Biology and perhaps calculus,” Nicoletti says. Prospective engineers, she says, should take physics and calculus.

Choosing rigorous senior year coursework shows colleges that you’re serious about studying.

However, “It’s not necessary for students to take five AP courses senior year,” Burdick says. Challenge yourself academically, but also balance your other activities.

2. Research colleges and universities
Picking a college is a big decision, so it makes sense to do some research first. Ask yourself these questions as you begin your search:

> What majors are you interested in?

> What kind of degree do you want?

> Would you prefer a school that offers a wide variety of programs, or one that focuses on a particular discipline, like music, art or engineering?

> Do you want a college curriculum that emphasizes theoretical research or practical experience?

> What extracurricular activities do you want to continue in college?

> Do you hope to start your career right after college, or are you looking to prepare for graduate school?

Start by researching the colleges that send you brochures in the mail, and those in your area.

Next Step’s College Match tool (NextStepU.com/Match) can help you compile a list of potential schools.

3. Continue your extracurricular involvement (Student Activity ideas)
Senior year is not the time to abandon the activities that are important to you.

It’s actually a great time to assume a leadership role in an organization or try a new activity. And if you haven’t been involved in any extracurriculars, senior year is not too late to start.

“Extracurricular activities are very important, and are highly considered during the admissions review,” Nicoletti says. “All of these extracurricular activities tell a story about the applicant’s character.”

Whether you’re involved in sports, music, religious ministries or peer tutor ing, extracurricular and community service activities show admissions officers that you can follow through and work as part of a team. Plus, you have the added benefit of discovering and developing your personal interests and talents

4. Work and explore careers
Working in high school can give you valuable insight into various work environments—and let you earn some money. Any job will do; you don’t have to work in your field of choice.

“I see far too many students without any paid work experience,” Burdick says.

Just the fact that you’re working shows that you’re reliable, presentable, responsible and able to work with a variety of people.

Even if you work outside your chosen field, the invaluable experience of applying, interviewing, and working a part-time job will prepare you for your professional career.

During senior year, make an effort to research various careers you are considering. Look into volunteer or intern experiences, too.

For example, if you’re considering a career in education, volunteer in a classroom after school, or tutor a student.

However, Burdick warns, don’t sacrifice significant class or study time to complete a co-op or internship.

A few weeks of volunteer work, or a month-long internship, will still give you valuable experience and show a college admission committee that you’re a serious applicant.

5. Learn how to market yourself
In addition to your grades and test scores, the way that you present your unique interests and achievements plays an important role in college admissions and scholarship decisions.

Compile a résumé detailing your awards, extracurricular achievements, community service activities and work experiences. Complete an interview, even if it is not required.

6. Apply for scholarships
College tuition is expensive, but scholarships can help you cover the cost. Free search engines, such as nextSTEPmag.com/Scholarships, can help you find relevant scholarships. Also check to see if your high school guidance office compiles a list of local scholarships.

Though scholarships are competitive, competing against other qualified candidates can be a valuable experience—and if you win, you can help cover the cost of college!

“Anyone can fill out an application,” Burdick says. “I like to see students that spend some time on the Web site, get to know the institution, and be able to articulate why they’re a good fit.”

A thorough application also increases your chance of receiving a merit scholarship.

When it comes to college applications, why not take every step to maximize your opportunities?

Cristina Dinella is a freshman at the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester, where she is double majoring in music education and applied mathematics.

Every summer, tens of thousands of students just like you give up a week or two of their time to attend a summer program or community service program —and it changes their lives forever.
 
Did you know there are dozens of summer programs for high school students out there? Many of them are free or very inexpensive, and they cover just about every subject or area of interest.

Whether you are an athlete, musician, actor, artist, student leader or involved with just about anything else, there is an opportunity for you to learn by doing!

How do I get started?

A visit to your high school guidance counselor, student activities director, coach or athletic director is a great first step.

Most programs start to send information to high schools in late winter or early spring.

What’s available?

• Sport and spirit camps. Typically offered at colleges and universities or specialized facilities. There is usually a cost associated with these camps. They can be offered as day or stay-over camps. Check with your coach or athletic director for details.

• Fine and performing arts camps. Offered by fine and performing arts schools. There is typically a cost, but there are also opportunities for scholarships. Check with your band, choir or drama director.

• Leadership experiences. The American Legion has been offering Boys and Girls State since 1936 to teach students the value of being involved in state and local government. The YMCA runs a program called Youth in Government. Ask your guidance counselor or civics teacher for other opportunities.  Join a community service program.

• Other types of camps Whether you are interested in computers or marine biology, chances are there will be a program for you. Check with local colleges, the American Legion, the YMCA, 4-H and Kiwanis.

Why should I do this?

Do it because you want to. You are going to be a lifelong learner; might as well get started now!

Summer programs are a great way to get a first taste of college life. You could be living on your own in a residence hall; be thrown into an unfamiliar situation with a bunch of people you don’t know; try to accomplish lofty goals in a finite amount of time; and establish and maintain new relationships with peers and mentors.

Summer community service programs also look great on your college applications and résumé. Some programs even offer the opportunity to earn college credit.

Thomas A. Kasper is an admissions adviser at Eastern Michigan University (emich.edu). Reach him at tkasper@emich.edu.

Between balancing college’s two biggest priorities—acing your test and enjoying your youth—who has time for a job?

You do!

Especially if you qualify for work-study, a financial aid program that lets you work to earn money to put toward tuition, books and college life. Here are a few students who are taking advantage of work-study opportunities.

Name: Audrey McDougal
College: Hampshire College (hampshire.edu)
Job: Art studio cleaner

Q: What did you do for work-study?
A: I clean the school’s sculpture studio. This includes sweeping, organizing tools, cleaning up leftover materials, and preparing space for classes. It’s a valuable job for an art major like me, because I am constantly surrounded by artists and their work.

Q: Did you find it difficult to balance a job and class?
A: My advisor allowed me to switch which days I came in to work, as long as I showed up twice a week. Depending on how busy I was, I could work whenever I could find time.

Q: What was your pay, and what did it go toward?
A: I got paid $8 an hour, and I spent it on daily living expenses and doing things with my friends. I had the choice for my paycheck to go straight to my tuition bill, but using my salary as weekly spending money and for school supplies meant that my parents didn’t have to help me with those expenses.

Name: Kate Ostrander
College: Northeastern University (northeastern.edu)
Job: Service-learning teaching assistant (S-L TA) for the Northeastern Center of Community Service

Q: What did you do for your work-study?
A: As an S-L TA, I work with classes that integrate specific community service projects that are directly related to course material. For example, when I worked with a microbiology course for non-science majors, the students did work with community partners to [provide] infectious disease education, prevention, and support.

Q: Did you find it difficult to balance a job and class?
A: It is always a challenge to balance courses and the rest of your life. But the second semester that I worked in this role, it got easier because I knew the routine of the semester.

Q: What was your pay, and what did it go toward?
A: I got paid my entire stipend of $1,250 a semester almost on a salary basis. I’m pretty sure I exceeded the hours I would need to fulfill that stipend at $8.50 an hour, but was happy to do so.

Name: Liz Swindell
College: UMass Amherst (umass.edu)
Job: Ceramics tech assistant

Q: What did you do for work-study?
A: I was the assistant to the ceramics tech at UMass Amherst. I was in charge of making clay, mixing glazes, and cleaning the classrooms for ceramic students. I worked with the technician individually to prep for classes.

Q: Did you find it difficult to balance a job and class?
A: Working for the ceramics department allowed me to learn far more than possible through classes alone. I leaned so much from doing rather than learning in the classroom.

Q: What was your pay, and what did it go toward?
A: I started at $8.50 but ended at $10.50. It was mostly food and recreational spending money, which really didn’t add up to be much!

The first day of college orientation, the college president came to greet us. I’ll never forget the advice he gave: “Get involved in college student activities you enjoy—the rest will fall into place.”

It sounded so simplistic and obvious; something everyone will tell you to do. Well, that’s because it works!

I started searching on the college’s Web site for college student activities, such as the club crew team, the English club, the ski and snowboard club and the psychology club.

I spent the next week sitting in on meetings for each organization and getting a feel for what I liked and disliked. New members joined every semester, and no one gave me a hard time for being new.

To this day, I remain a part of the English and crew clubs, and have recently taken up positions in other activities I hadn’t known existed.

From getting involved on campus, I’ve met some of my best friends at school. Learning to network and to meet new people through a shared interest or talent is a great tool for your future.

I’m not saying that it’s always easy to jump into a new environment and feel completely comfortable. But taking advantage of college student activities allowed me to bond with other new students who were just as nervous as I was.

Things really did fall into place after I stopped focusing on how I could fit in and just concentrated on where I wanted to fit in.

There are so many opportunities to establish yourself at college. Even though it can be intimidating, if you keep an open mind and put yourself out there, you’re bound to succeed.