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5 Simple Tips to Inspire Earth-Friendly Volunteering With Kids

Earth Day's 40th Anniversary - How to Get Kids Involved

With spring fresh in the air, trees budding, and Earth Day (40th Anniversary) events getting ramped up for April 22, it's easy to get inspired to protect and preserve our Mother Earth. Get the whole family involved! Please consider these 5 simple tips for engaging kids in earth-friendly volunteering:  

Go Local! - Choose a project in your neighborhood, school, or township so kids can see the impact of their efforts in their daily lives. You may decide to plant a neighborhood garden, recycle bottles and cans at the soccer fields, or participate in a graffiti removal project at your playground.  

Give Children a Voice - Involve kids in choosing their projects and initiatives to build commitment and ownership.  Younger kids may simply vote for their favorite activity. Engage older children in researching needs and groups active in environmental volunteering in your area. 

Plan Ahead - Be sure to think it through.  What permissions and materials will you need to get started? Will you need ongoing support – for example, how many volunteers will it take to weed and water newly planted beds near the playground?  

Get Help – If you’ve found a need in your community, like an abandoned lot in need of a serious clean up – invite Scout troops, sports teams, and school service-learning teams to support your efforts.  (Many middle schools and high schools now have service-learning requirements where students must participate in a certain number of volunteer hours during the year.) Of course, VolunteerSpot’s free online scheduling and sign up tool helps make volunteer coordination easy!  

Talk it Up -  Volunteering with your children provides a fun and positive family bonding experience and opens the door for meaningful conversations about good earth stewardship, and the importance of giving back locally.

Give and Grow Together

Do Good for the Earth & We'll Plant a Tree in Your Honor!

To promote earth-friendly service activities and honor those who volunteer in their communities, we’ve teamed up with Arbor Day Foundation to launch the Give & Grow Together promotion. First, check out our free eBook full of earth-friendly service ideas. Then, to earn a tree planted in your honor, please try one of these actions:

1. Plan any local earth-friendly service activity on VolunteerSpot through the end of April, and invite at least four volunteers. Register Now
   
2. Try a sample signup for our demo neighborhood cleanup project.
   
3. Fan us on Facebook www.Facebook.com/VolunteerSpot
   
4. Give us a shout on Twitter:  #Give&GrowTogether - @VolunteerSpot & @ArborDay just planted a tree in my honor! http://ow.ly/1fUqU  < U can get 1 too!
   

Please visit http://www.volunteerspot.com/ebooks/Grow  for details on Give and Grow Together and more earth-friendly service ideas that are fun for the whole family! 

VolunteerSpotlight: Thomas Hancock, Event Coordinator, McLean Bible Church, Vienna, VA

  

Frontline, a young-adult expression of McLean Bible Church, is dedicated to providing a relevant and authentic worship experience coupled with sound biblical teaching for young adults throughout the DC Metro area. Frontline is passionate about serving their community in practical ways. 

Today, our Volunteer Spotlight shines on Thomas Hancock, Frontline Volunteer Event Coordinator for McLean Bible Church, McLean, VA.

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What is your role as a volunteer leader?

I'm the head of a team that coordinates with all major church-wide events for our Frontline service, which primarily consists of people between the ages of  20 and 30.  These events can range from 300 volunteers who show up to pack groceries for the local Hispanic community, to sending teams across DC to help get the schools ready for the students in September. Our biggest event takes place when we pack Thanksgiving dinners to feed over 50,000 in the DC metro area.  We can have well over 1,000 volunteers attend certain bigger annual events.

How did you get interested in volunteering?

I grew up in a family that continuously served in the local community. That, coupled with my faith, has me attempting to live a life of service. In the past I have volunteered to help with summer camps from Germany to the Ukraine and I had worked with an AWANAs group where I helped organize approximately 2,000 junior high events.

Do you have any advice for volunteers out there?

Don't over commit yourself.  I have seen many people volunteer in several different areas within a church and ultimately neglect those commitments to some degree, due to time and energy constraints. This really doesn't benefit the person, who burns himself out, nor the church. It's much more effective to pour one's heart, soul, and mind into a single area of service, consistently serving well within that area.  The impact for Christ will be greater, as well as one's personal sense of fulfillment.

Why did you decide to use VolunteerSpot?

It's an easy-to-use, yet powerful volunteer registration service and volunteer communication avenue that manages volunteers on a more detailed level. Having people sign up for actual roles and specific time commitments for an event is much more beneficial than simply having a mass, generic sign-up of forty people.

To support or find out more about Frontline, visit their website. We salute Thomas Hancock and all the volunteer heroes out there supporting our communities!  If you're using VolunteerSpot, write and tell us about what you're doing and give us a chance to shine our Volunteer Spotlight on you!! Just email us at [email protected]

Great Ideas for Earth-Friendly Action in April + Earn a Tree!

Announcing Give and Grow Together by Arbor Day Foundation and VolunteerSpot

We've teamed up with Arbor Day Foundation to plant trees in honor of those who participate in earth-friendly action in April.  The program, Give and Grow Together, rewards good deeds in giving back to the earth with the gift of trees to be grown in our fire-damaged national forests.  

Whether it’s organizing a neighborhood celebration for Earth Day (April 22), cleaning up the local park, planning a community garden, or planting trees on Arbor Day (April 30), our free and simple online calendar sign up sheets make it easy for any group, no matter the size, to ask for help and coordinate volunteers.

“Our school garden is a huge success all year round thanks to a dedicated team of parent volunteers. VolunteerSpot makes it super easy to schedule the help we need and parents love the reminder emails when it’s their turn to pitch in,” said Marguerite Kennedy, Principal of Gavilan Hills Academy in Gilroy, CA.

How to Get Involved

First, check out our free eBook full of earth-friendly service ideas. Then, to earn a tree planted in your honor, please try one of these actions:

1. Plan any local earth-friendly service activity on VolunteerSpot through the end of April, and invite at least four volunteers. Register Now
   
2. Try a sample signup for our demo neighborhood cleanup project.
   
3. Fan us on Facebook www.Facebook.com/VolunteerSpot
   
4. Give us a shout on Twitter - something like:  #Give&GrowTogether - @VolunteerSpot & @ArborDay just planted a tree in my honor! http://ow.ly/1fUqU  < U can get 1 too!
   

In honor of our Mother Earth, here are some service activities to consider this April and beyond:  

• Participating in a community garden project
  
• Picking up trash at your neighborhood park
  
• Planting a tree or flowers in your yard or an elderly neighbor’s
  
• Teaching children about the importance of recycling
  
• Planning a trash-free Earth Day picnic   

Please visit http://www.volunteerspot.com/ebooks/Grow  for details on Give and Grow Together and more earth-friendly service ideas that are fun for the whole family! 

What are your traditions for celebrating the earth in April?  Please add them by clicking 'comments' below.

Best Bake Sale Ideas for Raising More Money with Treats

Terrific Tips To Make Your Bake Sale a Sweet Success

Bake sales are a great way to raise money AND get everyone involved. You don't need lots of cash to make it happen, and parents (and kids!) can help by baking and/or selling the items. People never get tired of yummy goodies!

We've put together some best practices for organizing a successful bake sale. For more details about running a bake sale, check out our free eBook - Click here: Bake Sale Ideas: Best Practices for Turning Cupcakes into Cash and then click 'Full' to see the eBook on your monitor.

Best Practices for Bake Sales:

1. Begin with a leadership team and a willing group of volunteers to bake the items and help during the day of the sale.  If they are willing, plan a monthly sale!
2. Pick a time and a place where an event is already happening or there is some other source of customer traffic flow - a sports tournament, holiday shopping bazaar, festival or assembly.
3. To make sure you get a broad variety of treats, create a sign-up sheet using VolunteerSpot, where you can list how many of each baked good you will need. Then, invite everyone to sign up to bring something or help during the day of the bake sale.
4. The day of the bake sale, set up a few tables covered with tablecloths, and organize the treats neatly by category (cookies, brownies, etc.). Make sure to bring plenty of change!
5. Offer free coffee or lemonade or charge a small fee for beverages.
6. Publicize the event by hanging up posters, handing out fliers, and sending email reminders to your community. The best way to make money at a bake sale is for folks to attend!
7. Package breads, cupcakes and cookies in both individual and family-size portions so there is something for everyone.
8. Offer low-sugar alternatives such as granola or fruit cups for customers who are health conscious.
9. Increase revenue by selling cook books containing recipes of baked goods for sale.
10. Have leftovers? Bring them to the local food back or soup kitchen, or wrap them up and place them in the teacher's lounge.

Below is an example sign-up sheet for a bake sale. Your volunteers just simply click on the gold button to sign up!

 

Bakes sales can be a fun and profitable way to earn extra cash for your school or organization. Plan your bake sale online with VolunteerSpot. Once signed up, VolunteerSpot sends automated confirmation and reminder emails that help everyone keep their commitments.

For more information, check out our free eBook: Bake Sale Ideas: Best Practices for Turning Cupcakes into Cash

You may also enjoy our recent blog posts about fundraising:

Carnival Games, Booth Ideas and More Money-Making Strategies

Move over Wrapping Paper: Artwork for Education is our New Favorite Fundraiser

New Ideas for Fundraising with Kids

Silent Auction Addition: Try SOCIALS to Raise More Money and Build Community

Fundraising Ideas for Volunteers: A Nonprofit Strategy for Fundraising

Time For Some Fresh Fundraising Ideas - Check out Top School Fundraisers

 

Volunteer Spotlight: Jennifer Banks, Co-Room Parent, Oak View Elementary School, Fairfax, VA

At Oak View Elementary School, parents love to help out in the classroom. They use VolunteerSpot to help organize parents so that everyone knows when they can help and what they can do. Teachers appreciate the help, and parents love the interaction! Today's spotlight shines on Jennifer Banks, co-room parent at Oak View Elementary School.

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Please tell us little about yourself and your current role as a volunteer leader.

I am the room parent for my son's first grade class, and I use VolunteerSpot to organize weekly volunteer activities and class parties. I find the site especially useful in managing the weekly classroom volunteer needs. I also help to coordinate volunteers at my church. In the summer, we run a snow-cone stand on Sundays.

How did you get started with volunteering?
I started volunteering in high school. I was a hugger for Special Olympics during high school and in college. I stood at the finish line where special kids were racing. As these kids reached the end of the race, I had the privilege of running up to the participant and hugging him or her. All the participants had "huggers" waiting for them to cross the finish line.

Do you volunteer anywhere else?
I volunteer regularly for Second Chance Employment Services, which is the only employment training and job placement organization that helps domestic violence victims achieve financial independence. Primarily I do legal work, advocacy and training, as the program is used as a model for other organizations and countries. I also volunteer for the Sideburn Run Swim Team. I bring bagels and make pancakes to keep the kids energy up during the meets.  


Why did you decide to use VolunteerSpot?
I learned about Volunteer Spot when I was volunteering to help the Robinson High School marching band.
As a volunteer, I found VolunteerSpot easy to use and more efficient than email. Now, in my role as a volunteer coordinator, it’s even more useful.  I still have to call a few parents on the phone, but overall it’s saved me hours of time.

What's one piece of advice you have for other volunteer organizers out there?
Do your best to enjoy your volunteer role. 

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We salute Jennifer and all the other volunteer leaders out there helping those in need. If you're using VolunteerSpot, write and tell us about what you're doing and give us a chance to shine our Volunteer Spotlight on you!! Just email us at [email protected]

Vote Today to Celebrate Your Volunteers in Action

National Volunteer Week: April 18-24, 2010

National Volunteer Week, Celebrating People in Action, is a time of celebration and inspiration as Points of Light Institute  and HandsOn Network honor the thousands of individuals who take action year round to strengthen their communities.

Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week has grown exponentially in scope each year, recognizing the incalculable contributions that volunteers make every day across the country and challenging all Americans to step forward to help wherever there is need.
This year will be no exception as Points of Light Institute and HandsOn Network will honor those who solve problems in their communities and secure national attention on the impact and power of volunteerism and service as an integral aspect of our civic landscape. Points of Light Institute will also recognize the one-year anniversary of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act and the creation of the Volunteer Generation Fund through a series of celebratory events.

We honor all our VolunteerSpot users who generously support nonprofits ranging from afterschool mentoring programs to community pantries, crisis centers to seasonal shelters, music and arts programs to community gardens. We want to remind our readers that parents are volunteers too!  If you're helping in the classroom or school library, running the carnival or concessions stand, leading Scouts or coaching kids, you're a volunteer. Please stand and be recognized!



Please nominate outstanding volunteers for one of these two awards:

1. The Daily Point of Light Award honors those who are helping to meet critical needs in their communities and creating change every day. One Daily Point of Light Award winner is chosen every single day. Visit www.pointsoflight.org/recognition/dpol to learn more about the award and to make a nomination.

2. The President's Volunteer Service Award honors volunteers during their service journey through acknowledgement of hours served resulting in positive community impact. This is a prestigious volunteer award and the only one associated with the White House. Click here to learn more about qualifications and to submit a nomination.

The Extra Mile is a monument in the heart of Washington, D.C. representing citizens who championed causes to help others realize a better America. During National Volunteer Week, Points of Light Institute will induct new service heroes into The Extra Mile and host a special luncheon ceremony in their honor. Visit www.extramile.us/ to learn more about The Extra Mile.

Points of Light Institute will shine a spotlight on recipients of these signature recognition programs during National Volunteer Week, recognizing them for their extraordinary service and inspiring others to embrace civic engagement at deeper levels.

Great Ideas for Camping with Kids – and Free Online Sign Up Sheets Make it Easy!

It’s time to start making plans to break the winter routine with some fresh air and nature fun! Group camping is an excellent opportunity for youth groups, Scout troops, and families to come together and have bonding adventures in the great outdoors.

Camping with kids may seem like quite the undertaking; but with some up front planning and a little organization, you’re sure to have a fun and memorable experience – for both kids and grownups!  We asked veteran family campers and both Girl Scout and Boy Scout troop leaders to share their tips and success secrets for camping with kids.  We’ve put them together in this free eBook to help make your next camping experience a huge success. Check out the new free eBook, click here!

Included in the eBook:

• Keeping kids safe, healthy and happy throughout your trip

• Packing lists

• Camp food & cooking ideas

• Nature activities

• Sample sign up sheets

If you’re planning  a group campout, VolunteerSpot can help keep everyone organized and ensure that the trip goes super smoothly. With VolunteerSpot’s free and easy sign-up tool you can plan who’s going to bring the tents, the sleeping bags, and even the graham crackers. We’ll do the busywork to help you get everyone organized so you can have more fun!

Click Here to see "Camping with Kids"

Happy Camping!

Special Thanks to our Boy Scout and Girl Scout Leader contributors: Trisha Gooding, Denise Sadler and Andrew Riemer.

Please share your camping traditions and best practices below - click 'comments'.

4 Great Reasons for Every Nonprofit (no matter the size) to Gather Feedback

Movies, cars, restaurants and hotels all have product reviews, so why shouldn't nonprofits have them too? Nowadays. consumer reviews are so important for decision-making. When was the last time you bought something (in-store or online) without researching or looking at reviews? Well, Katie Taft of insideGood brings product reviews to nonprofit organizations. Feedback is so crucial for volunteers, nonprofit leaders and donors. Large nonprofits often have systematic ways of gathering feedback, now small nonprofits can benefit from feedback quickly and easily. 

 

How feedback benefits nonprofit organizations small to large

1.  Step out of the day-to-day

Taking the time for an objective look at organization operations is especially important when you’re small.  With so few staff members, it’s easy to get stuck in day-to-day routines.  There are fewer newcomers or operation changes that raise questions about direction, growth and opportunities. Scheduling occasions for feedback over the course of the year can help initiate these discussions.

2.  Give Space to Unspoken Concerns

It's quite common to become so busy with what you’re doing, that you forget about the things that bother you and just "deal".  You may not even realize that others in the organization feel the same way and are "dealing" too!  Giving staff members the time to submit feedback offers them an opportunity to bring to light the trouble spots that are not "show-stoppers" but aren’t working as well as they could.  Reviewing the feedback as a group provides the perfect time to create a plan that will resolve these issues. 

3. Establish Continuity

Small organizations typically have 1-2 committed employees and a steady stream of supporters that pass through the organization.  These volunteers gain valuable organization knowledge and insight. If it is not documented, this information must be re-created for the next volunteer that comes through. Documenting feedback from these volunteers is an important way to maintain continuity and to track their observations. This prevents re-work and gives all members an understanding of the organization's directions and accomplishments.

4. Develop Unique Marketing

All organizations are interested in attracting passionate donors and the best volunteers.  Feedback offers a unique way to demonstrate to these audiences just how well you do what you do. You can use the feedback scores or comments in marketing materials, solicitations and much more.  This is a compelling and transparent way to demonstrate your effectiveness to would-be supporters and to those who are already involved with your organization.

 

To make the feedback collection an easy process, try using pre-formatted survey tools and systems, like insideGOOD, SurveyMonkey, or SurveyGizmo.  Even in small organizations, feedback can uncover valuable ideas that will help pave your path to success!

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Katie Taft is the CEO of insideGOOD, an online nonprofit ratings and feedback management site, where individuals can rate their experiences working with, or donating to, nonprofits from across the U.S.