Shop Subscribe

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Schoolyard Blog | Teacher Resources | School Specialty

Tips and trending topics for the teacher who's always learning

schoolyard-logo
  • Education Essentials
  • Inspiration & Planning
  • Learning Spaces
  • Podcasts
  • Topics
  • Search
  • < Previous post
    Next post >
    young volunteers participating in youth community service project

    Out of School

    Youth Program Community Service Opportunities

    Youth community service programs are a fantastic way to spread good deeds to the community while letting students enjoy some time outside school. Depending on where your group is, you may have more options for working with non-profit organizations, but there are always ways to serve others in the community, with or without the help of an organization. Check out these simple yet beneficial ways to serve your community!

    Volunteer Activities for Youth

    Encouraging youth to volunteer and care for the community through service is great for building character and teaching young students to show respect and love for those around them.

    Choose a Local Non-Profit Organization

    If you live in an area that benefits from organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross, and other community-serving entities, it’s easy to contact them and ask what help they need. Other options to consider are soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and women’s shelters. Some of these organizations lack the funds to market themselves and require some research to discover and make contact.

    Other community service projects to help local non-profit organizations might include:

    • Reading to residents at a nursing home
    • Delivering gifts to patients at a local hospital
    • Collecting baby clothes and supplies to donate to new parents
    • Collecting and donating non-perishable food items

    Nature and Environmental Volunteering Opportunities

    If your group is interested in taking care of animals and the environment, check out local animal shelters, nature preserves, and national forests. Contact the people in charge and find out what young people can do to benefit the natural areas and animals in the community.

    Some ideas for self-starter volunteering opportunities that benefit animals and the environment might include:

    • Cleaning up trash at a local park
    • Offering to walk or care for neighborhood pets
    • Sponsoring an area of nature preserve or forest
    • Organizing local carpool locations to help reduce car emissions
    • Volunteering at a nature camp to teach younger children about the environment

    Find Volunteer Opportunities Near You

    Helping Older Members of the Community

    Not all volunteer projects need to benefit the homeless or animals. Older people in the community could use a friendly face and a helping hand. Contact a local nursing home or church to determine whether any residents could benefit from your group’s time and effort.

    Here are some ideas for a group interested in volunteering their time to benefit older members of their community:

    • Delivering groceries and meals
    • Teaching computer and technology skills
    • Hosting a bingo night at a nursing home
    • Making birthday cards
    • Performing a concert or play at a senior center
    • Raking leaves, shoveling snow, or washing windows

    Read More: Out of School Ideas

    Have some other creative ideas of how young people can benefit their communities after school and on weekends?

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Recommended

    Best Educational Outdoor Activities for Summer

    Out of School

    Best Educational Outdoor Activities for Summer

    Plan Now for Success Next Year

    Inspiration & Planning

    Plan Now for Success Next Year

    5 Key Educational Readiness Strategies

    Back to School

    5 Key Educational Readiness Strategies

    Nature Journaling with Expert John Muir Laws

    Science

    Nature Journaling with Expert John Muir Laws

    Explore The Schoolyard

    Education Essentials

    Inspiration & Planning

    Learning Spaces

     

    TopicsShop Subscribe

    Copyright © 2025 School Specialty, LLC. All rights reserved. Privacy Statement · Social Media Statement · Do Not Sell My Personal Information - CA Resident Only

  • CATEGORIES

    • Education Essentials
    • Inspiration & Planning
    • Learning Spaces
  • TOPICS

    • Arts & Crafts
    • Early Childhood
    • Special Needs
    • Physical Education
    • Educational Technology
    • Student Resources
    • Organization & Storage
    • Classroom Management
    • STEAM & STEM
    • 21st Century Learning
    • Reading & Literacy
    • Healthy Students
    • Teacher Life
    • Back to School
    • Celebrations & Seasons
    • Out of School
    • News
    • Math
    • Science
    • Podcasts
    • Topics
    • Shop
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube