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Great Ideas for Camping with Kids

Camping is an excellent way to connect with nature. Many groups including Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, youth groups and churches have regular summer camping opportunities. Camping with a group of families can be a bunch of fun too!

Parent are often called upon to plan activities for campers, so we’ve compiled ideas and tips for making your next camping trip fun, safe and exciting. Use VolunteerSpot's easy online signup sheets to plan ahead with your group to determine who will bring meals, gear, and other supplies, so that everything is covered before you even get in the car! For more details on these ideas, check out our free Camping with Kids ebook.

Camping with Kids Tips

1. Your camping destination might be hours away from your home. To keep kids from “driving” you crazy en-route, prepare some fun activities for the drive. Have each child pack a bag with books, car games, or drawing materials. For some fun family activities, try these games: Memory Game, Sing-a-long, Twenty Questions, Car Bingo. The car trip can also be the perfect time to review safety information. Discuss fire safety, what to do if someone gets lost, how to act if a wild animal is in the area, and water safety. Remind everyone that they should never wander away from camp without a buddy.

2. When you arrive at your camping destination, you might not be in the mood to cook a big meal. Some easy ideas for quick cooking while camping:

• Omelets in a baggie (mix eggs in a ziploc with cheese and ham and lower into boiling water to cook)
• PB&J
• Hot Dogs
• S'mores (Of course!)
• Jiffy Pop Popcorn

3. Once you get settled and have had a good meal, you might want to explore the area. Hiking is a great physical activity and educational too! Depending on the age, attention span and temperament of your campers, you might want to plan some activities to entertain young children along the way.

• Tell the children to keep an eye out for wildlife.  Count the number and/or types of animals spotted. Then, use the list to educate the children about each type of animal.
• Engage the kids in a Nature Scavenger Hunt.
• Every so often, ask everyone to sit or stand in place, and be as quiet as possible, then wait for the sounds of the forest to come to life.
• With younger kids, try playing “Follow the Hike Leader.” Have each child take a turn hiking in the front of the line, behind the adult leader. Each following child mimics the creative walks created by the lead child. 

4. Back at camp, here are some nature activities kids love.

• Scavanger hunt
• Natural sculptures
• Nature show and tell
• Frisbee
• Campground ranger programs

5. While you prepare dinner, have children make up a play about friends, camping, their favorite activity, etc.  Have them perform the play for their chaperones, parents, counselors by the evening fire or on the last day of camp.

6. After dinner, campfire stories are always a hit. Don’t forget the glowsticks! They’re fun and help parents keep track of the little ones at night. To help the kids settle down before bed, have them work on their nature journal.

Additional camping tips: 

• Keep most of your food in the car to discourage critters from visiting your campsite. 
• Pack items that you will need last into your vehicle first.
• Bring plenty of reading material, puzzle books, and a deck of cards for rainy days.
• Try to arrive long before sunset so you have plenty of time to set up your tents. 
• Be prepared for rainy weather with waterproof equipment, clothing, rain ponchos and boots.
• Cell phones may be out of tower range. Consider bringing walkie-talkies.

Most of all, have fun!

Field Day

Field Day Activities | 5 Last-Minute Musts to Make Yours a Success!

It's almost May, and at most schools, the count down to Field Day has begun! Last month we shared several of our BEST ideas for fresh and traditional Field Day Games. Here are some last- minute tips to ensure a fun day for students and organizers alike.

1. Sun Savvy

Plan water-breaks throughout Field Day and have several stations for kids to grab a drink and get out of the sun. Offering watermelon, frozen fruit and popsicles are also fun ways to keep kids hydrated. 

Prevent sunburn by having extra bottles of sunscreen handy for touch-ups and to spray on kids who forgot to apply. If your field day lasts longer than 90 minutes per class, consider offering healthy snacks so little bodies can refuel.

2. Chill Stations

This goes hand in hand with #1 above.  Since kids will be running around outside all day,  plan some fun, individual activities that require less physically exertion and interaction than others. Fun options include a bubbles station, hula hoops, cup stacking,  or chalk painting. Schedule these calmer activities in-between more physically demanding ones to keep the kids from getting tired out too fast. Adding fun music  and shade makes the Chill Stations a welcome destination.

3. Everyone's a Winner!

Field day should be a fun day for everyone, where outside play is encouraged, skills are discovered, and teamwork is rewarded.  Get creative so every class is a winner! E.g.:

• Loudest
• Best Teamwork
• Best Costume
• Fastest
• Wettest
• Most School Spirit
• Strongest
• Best Cheer

Prizes can be anything - from small ribbons and painted rocks, to t-shirts, bracelets, fun sunglasses, water bottles, or even a snazzy Field Day participation certificate.

4. Bring Extras

If it could go flat, get lost or otherwise not perform its function correctly - bring extras! This goes for bubbles, balls, frisbees, whistles, stop watches, pencils, etc. If your Field Day has several water activities (which all kids know are the funnest!), plan on an extra stack of beach towels to dry off kids who forgot a change of clothes.  

5. Recruit LOTS of HELP!

There are no spectators on Field Day!  Teachers, parents and even high school students and staff get involved in running games, shepherding classes to their activities, and running water and Chill stations.

Online sign up sheets make it easy for volunteers choose when and how they can help.  Here's an example of a Field Day Sign Up Sheet on VolunteerSpot:

What are your school's fab Field Day traditions? Let us know by clicking comments below, or hop on over to the VolunteerSpot Facebook page to share.

 And don't miss this FREE Field Day event cards download from Cap'n Pete's PE! Covering large group game ideas with step-by-step instructions, these free cards help field day volunteers, teachers, leaders and students easily understand the Field Day events. Download now

 

Also see:

Field Day Game Ideas

Field Day Essentials Checklist

5 Tips for Field Day Fun

Field Day Prize Ideas

 

5 Tips to Get More Out of Your VBS

Everything has officially thawed and kids are getting restless as the school year comes to an end. Summer vacation will be upon us before you know it, and this can only mean one thing, it’s time to plan for Vacation Bible School (VBS)! Whether your VBS is a huge production run by professionals or a small local effort with talented parents behind the scenes, these tips will help you maximize the fun and learning potential of your VBS.   

 

1. Recruit Volunteers Early, and Recruit a LOT! Volunteers can make or break a VBS experience. These are the people that will ensure that everything goes according to plan and that the kids have plenty of snacks, crayons and fun! Here’s a few things to keep in mind:

• Pre-training before your VBS begins. Get volunteers up to speed on VBS formal and informal requirements. Go over a typical day, and what volunteers are expected to do and what they can expect from the kids. Cover things like background checks and safety considerations, what to do if kids get out of hand, Gospel messages, songs and activities.  Gain commitments from volutneers about their availablity, and try to match them with their interests as much as possible.

• Give every parent the opportunity to volunteer. Involvement builds commitment - it's not about getting it done the fastest, it's about creating a community with your VBS. Offer volunteer jobs that span the week, take-home jobs like shopping for supplies or preparing craft kits, and one-time spots like leading the morning prayer, a song, or an art activity. Ask parents to donate supplies, provide healthy snacks, etc. 

• Schedule and sign up volunteers online and save a tremendous amount time (and stress). Our online sign up sheets eliminate the need for passing clipboards, spreadsheets and reply-all email when coordinating volunteers to help with activities or to bring snacks and supplies. VolunteerSpot makes it easy to ask for help, and easy for parents to choose when and how they will contribute (with a few clicks). Not only do volunteers get plenty of time to organize their calendars, automated reminder messages give VBS leaders peace of mind knowing they will have the help they need when they need it.

2. Be Welcoming to All:  VBS gives your church the opportunity to extend the reach of your church into the broader community. Think about everything a new family will need to feel welcome and inspired to learn more about your congregation. Some things to consider:

• Post extra signs during VBS weeks. The signs will show parents and kids where to park and gather. (Put colorful signs down low too so it's easy for kids to see 'em too.)

• Everyone loves food! Welcome everyone with coffee, orange juice and muffins on the first morning (or every morning). If holding an evening VBS, consider providing a simple dinner (pizza, fruit) for both the kids and volunteers arriving after work.

• Provide colorful t-shirts name badges. This way everyone can be easily recognized, and give the kids a chance to make their own for a fun craft project.

3. Follow Up with Families: VBS enhances bonds with your current congregation and builds new relationships within your community. Make sure to take advantage of this outreach opportunity by following up with VBS families. Here are some ways to make a lasting impression.

• Send a letter home with kids on their last day. Summarize the week's events. Include information on future church events and let parents know how happy you are to have been a part of their children’s summer and religious education.

• Enroll children in Sunday School.

• Add VBS families to the church contacts database. Keep them posted of session openings throughout the summer and activites into the school year.

• Be useful with your recruiting. Provide a list of qualified VBS teen volunteers who babysit. (Red Cross-certified, background checked).

4. Always Remember to Say “Thank You!”: Letting your volunteers know that they’re appreciated is a big part of retaining your staff for next year’s VBS.  Send personal letters from ministers and kids, give public recognition during Sunday services and in church newsletters, and post photos and thank you messages on a bulletin board and the church website.  Our free Volunteer Recognition eBook is filled with other low cost/no-cost tips and ideas for thanking volunteers.

5. Gather Feedback: Ask your volunteers and particiapting families what's working and what they would like to see changed. For example, mixing up the schedule can boost your volunteer ranks. Shifting a start time or end time can boost enrollment, and many churches have had success with a week of evening VBS so more families and volunteers can particiapte after work.  Ask in person one-on-one, and consider using a survey.  If most volutneers and parents are online, try Survey Monkey, a free online survey tool that makes it easy to gather feedback.

***

For more great tips and resources for VBS 11, check out our friends at About the Children's Department.  Have any of your own tips for VBS? Let us know in the comments below, or over at VolunteerSpot's Facebook page.

Photo couresty of PhotoBucket by child 123 

Happy Earth Day!

  Here's to an Earth Day full of volunteering!

Whether you're planting trees and community gardens, cleaning up the local creek, attending a festival (and leaving no trash behind), or just making an extra effort to recycle that soda can today, join in bringing awareness to protecting and preserving our Mohter Earth.

Got kids? Please see our guest post on ways to give back on Earth Day over at TreeHugger:

5 Simple Earth Day Service Ideas for Families.

Thank you!

 

 

Clutter Free Teacher Appreciation Ideas | Tidy Thursday

By April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach

National Teacher Appreciation Week is two weeks away! What will you do to appreciate a valued educator?

Living in Small Town USA means everyone knows everyone. It's a common occurance when the Pipsqueak's Kindergarten teacher is at the same football field ... sitting by Mom ... rooting for her own children.

Friends like these afford me the opportunity to pick their brain on what gifts they remember fondly {and ones they wish they could forget}. So, I decided this week to compile a quick list of ideas I've heard them express over the years and hope you'll glean something from it.

Volunteer Ideas:

• make copies or collate packets
• tutor math or reading for an afternoon
• sign up to chaperon an upcoming trip
• prepare supplies for the next unit
• ask what you could help them with

Clutter Free Gift Ideas:

• Gift cards:
  • to the local office or education supply store
  • for car washes
  • to their favorite restaurant
  • for coffee {or their favorite morning beverage}
  • to a local farmer's market

Try not to appreciate them with:

• teacher specific gifts (e.g. apple earrings)
• display items
• trinkets
• candles or bath & body products {unless they have specifically told you what they like}

Remember:

• you're showing appreciation for their effort, the gift should be about them.
• ask your student what they'd like to give their teacher, listen to the feedback and talk about appropriate choices
• hard work is hard work ~ sometimes a heartfelt "Thank You" can make a teacher's day.

How will you be showing appreciation to your favorite educator? Leave a comment below or head on over to the VolunteerSpot Facebook Page to let me know!

Keepin' it Tidy,

April

More Resources

Teacher Appreciation Week Planning - Great Simple Ideas

Free Ebook: Greatest Gifts for Teachers

***

April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect

How to Attract Volunteers | Worship Wednesdays

Become a Volunteer Magnet

By Sue Brage, Publisher and Editor for Church Volunteer Daily.com.

 

Here are 6 Ways to Become a Volunteer Magnet—and get your volunteers to stick around!

1. Watch your language

 A healthy environment for volunteers is saturated with verbal honor—regular, specific praise for what they’re doing. In his book The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make, Hans Finzel says, “Organizational researchers have been telling us for years that affirmation motivates people much more than financial incentives, but we still don’t get it.”

2. Listen more intensely

Author Stephen Covey borrowed this from St. Francis of Assisi: “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” Next to physical survival, says Covey, “the greatest need of a human being is psychological survival—to be understood, to be affirmed, to be validated, to be appreciated.” He adds that when you listen carefully to another person, you give that person “psychological air.” Once you’ve met that need, the door is open for you to influence and problem-solve. If you don’t meet that need, the door will remain closed.

3. Lead from the big picture

Your job isn’t to serve your volunteers—it’s to serve God! In the soon-to-be-classic book On Being a Servant of God, author Warren Wiersbe says, “Ministry isn’t easy, but you make it more difficult for yourself if you serve people instead of the Lord Jesus Christ. You can’t please everybody, so don’t even try. Just live and work in such a way that your Master will be able to say, ‘You are my beloved servant in whom I am well pleased.’ “ I think this is great advice! And when you practice it, you’ll draw your volunteers away from niggling concerns and into a much bigger mission.

4. Love by your actions

Communicate love to your volunteers by respecting their time. How often have we asked them to show up early only to have them sit around? Doug Fields has a great insight into this: “Could you use 10 hands-on volunteers immediately? How about 20? If you answered yes, what would these leaders do in your ministry? Unless you can assign leaders specific responsibilities with meaning and purpose, they will lose interest and be ineffective. Good leaders don’t want to waste their time standing around.”

Another way to demonstrate your love is to stay committed to difficult volunteers. When you face problem people with respect and courage, you greatly improve the environment for all your volunteers.

5. Laugh a lot

Years ago when Kathy, my wife, and I (and most of our volunteers) were childless, we went out with our ministry team for dessert on most Friday nights for a little post-event fellowship. We had only one rule: no shop talk. Kathy had to regularly remind me of the rule to keep me from turning fun time into an extension of training time. Over the years, I’ve realized how right she was. In fact, once kids came along, we kept the tradition going by getting together with volunteers for date nights. The new tradition was to put names of restaurants into a hat, then pick one for appetizers, one for dinner, and one for dessert. Those nights were highlights for our team, mainly because we laughed hard.

6. Let go of some of your real responsibilities

Nothing frustrates volunteers more than shoddy delegation or excessive supervision. When you delegate, give specific guidelines and expectations. But don’t equate “specific” with claustrophobic oversight. You show confidence in their ability and character when you show them what to do, answer their questions, then step back and let them do it.

 

About the Author

 

 

Sue Brage   worked in nonprofit marketing and communications for more than nine years before joining Group Publishing as Online Publisher and Editor for Church Volunteer Daily.com.  Her experience as a writer, editor, and volunteer coordinator (not to mention wife and mother) gives her a unique perspective and ability to encourage and help leaders. She has a big heart for people and great passion for helping others serve their churches and communities better.  Follow Sue on Twitter and @SueB rage and @CVCDaily  

 

Graphic by Elulu, courtesy of PhotoBucket.com

How to Customize VolunteerSpot Sign Up Sheet Buttons on your Website

We love our volunteer leaders and volunteers and are always impressed with the new and creative ways they use VolunteerSpot's time-saving coordiantion tool.  Here's a best practice Volunteer Sign Up Orientation video from the good folks at Glendora United Methodist Church in California.

Wow! What terrific time and attention went into creating this video!  Please notice how they:

• Created custom sign-up buttons for their website.  (We give you standard buttons that look like this:

• Show how a link-invitation signup works {The process is the same if you're inviting people via a URL link, or a HTML button.  Our current process lets volunteer enter the signup sheet immediately after entering an email address.}

• Asked their volunteers to register {This is never required by VolunteerSpot, just a preference of this particular group.}

Thank you UMC Glendora!

Congratulations Carolina Pad Volunteer Week Winners!

National Volunteer Week has come to an end.  We're very honored to help power local action in so many venues -- from helping groups organize beach cleanups, to mentoring programs, to weekend animal adoptions -- and that Carolina Pad joined us in celebrating service by recognizing five extraordianry volunteers.  Thank you for your nominations and for your good work in your communities! Thank you Carolina Pad:

 
Each Volunteer Week winner received a $25 gift certificate to Carolina Pad and designer gift notebooks for their volunteer group!

 Congratulations and thank you for all the great work you do!

VolunteerSpotlight: Chelsea Goulart, Campus Kitchen at the University of Massachusetts Boston (CKUMB)

The Campus Kitchens Project is an emerging leader in community service for students and resourceful anti-hunger programs for communities around the country. The Campus Kitchen at UMass Boston (CKUMB) is the first of its kind in multiple ways. They are the first Campus Kitchen in Massachusetts as well as the first Campus Kitchen to combine college and high school students! CKUMB uses VolunteerSpot's online signup sheets to schedule volunteers to work in their kitchen.

Today, our VolunteerSpotlight shines on Chelsea Goulart, CKUMB coordinator.

---

Please tell us about your organization and your volunteer needs.

After volunteers are trained in proper food safety and sanitation, they develop menus, work in the kitchen, deliver meals, and learn socially-responsible leadership skills. We currently prepare and deliver approximately 137 meals a week. These meals are accompanied by nutrition education and a focus on healthy eating with fresh vegetables from our on-site community garden at the East Zone Early Learning Center in Dorchester.

Which segment of the community do you serve?

CKUMB currently serves more than 60 low income families in this community. Our model is based on a few key resources available in any community: donated food from partners, shared kitchen space, and students who want to make a difference. In addition, these student leaders build communities by providing empowerment education programs such as nutrition education to children, healthy cooking on a budget to families, and culinary job training for unemployed or underemployed adults.

Since inception, The Campus Kitchens Project has recovered more than 1,650,000 pounds of food, served more than 1,298,000 meals, clocked more than 290,000 volunteer hours, worked with more than 400 partner agencies, and trained more than 167 adults for employment in the culinary field. Volunteers run the show – we couldn’t operate without the wonderful students of Umass Boston, BC High, and Archbishop Williams. This is a student-run organization, so recruiting and retaining volunteers is one of our primary tasks.

What is your role as a volunteer leader?

I am the Coordinator for the Campus Kitchen at the University of Massachusetts Boston and am staffed through The Campus Kitchens Project. Managing volunteers has become one of the largest aspects of my day-to-day position.

Why did you decide to use VolunteerSpot?

VolunteerSpot has streamlined how we reach new and returning volunteers. With your help, I can provide an at-a-glance monthly calendar for shifts we have available and what we’re currently doing. I can click once or twice and know who will be at a shift and where I need to pick up recruitment efforts. It’s lessened the time I spend on administrative tasks; now I’m able to feed more clients with this extra time.

***
To learn more about CKUMB, visit http://campuskitchens.org/schools/umb/

We salute Chelsea and all the other volunteer coordinators out there. 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]

Earth Day Volunteering | Tidy Thursday

By April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach

What Will You Be Doing for Earth Day?

I have an extremely vivid memory of my first Earth Day. April 22, 1992.

Raised in Southern California, I had moved to the midwest. Columbia Missouri to be exact. It was a beautiful day so I decided to take my German Shephard to the local park for a little frisbee time.

There were people everywhere. Planting trees.

Instead of throwing the frisbee, I sat on the park bench taking it all in. I had never seen anything like it. And most certainly had never heard of this Earth Day movement. By the end of the day my poor dog wondered why I had teased her with the word "frisbee" but was as dirty as I was from digging in the dirt.

Until I began writing this article I hadn't realized Earth Day was created in 1970! My first response was "how did I not see the effort growing up".

But then I realized, where I grew up ~ they were too busy clearing land to build new houses on. I'm sure the movement was in CA, it just wasn't in the asphalted neighborhood I grew up in.

If I went digging around in old memorabilia, I would probably find the T-shirt a volunteer had given me at the end of the day. I was so proud of that shirt. 

The dog and I would often return to that park in the months following, before we moved out of state. Playing frisbee there was now surrounded with such a sense of community for me.

If you don't have plans, consider checking the Earth Day website for local events.

What will you be doing on April 22nd? Let me know below in the comments or over on the VolunteerSpot Facebook Page!

Keepin' it Tidy,

April

***

April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect

Why I Volunteer - Reflections of a PTA Leader

I Have Only Two Good Reasons I Volunteer at School…

By Jennifer DeFranco 

 In the year 2000, if you had asked me what I’d be doing 10 years from now, I don’t think I could have imagined all the things I am currently doing…and I certainly didn’t think I’ve have said I would be doing them all for free!

But, if you were to ask me what I’d change about my life 10 years later, I’d say “not a thing.” I have two primary reasons for everything I decide to take on – Madisyn and Devin – and they drive me to teach them, educate them and work to make their schools better, their lives fulfilling and in the end, what I chose to do comes full circle as they then see the value of volunteering and want to also give back as they grow up.   

My children are lucky to be in a school district which, overall, is very good.  However, even they have not been exempt from the budget cuts that are occurring around the nation.  With less support staff and more students per classroom I feel that it is my responsibility to help their school pick up the slack and partner with them to provide all of our children a chance to learn and grow.   As a volunteer I bring a free resource to the school that is priceless in the end. 

Volunteering is sometimes underrated and, in turn, I’ve heard people say they are “just” volunteers.  However, I have seen the impact a single volunteer can have in a school and the valuable resources they bring, without expense. So I say you should be proud to say you volunteer because the support you give, in any quantity, offers security to an educational system that requires more support than ever before.    

As a volunteer it is important to recognize the impact you can make simply by offering a little bit of your time in a school. Try thinking about it like this: for every minute you free up time for a teacher, whether it is making copies or shelving books, it is one more minute he/she can assist a struggling reader. For every time you volunteer at a family event sponsored at the school it is one more opportunity to show your own children the importance of giving back, the importance of their school and the importance of education. For the time you step up to help lead your school organization, it is an opportunity to make changes to benefit all children and better the environment in which they all learn and grow. 

I am only one, but I am one.  I cannot do everything, but I can do something.  And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.  ~Edward Everett Hale

So be proud to volunteer, make it a priority and know that your children are watching everything you do to learn what is important, and if you make their school a priority on your list, they will too. 

***

Jennifer DeFranco is a committed PTA advocate in Illinois and currently serves as the Membership/Marketing Director for the Illinois PTA. She also served as the 2010 Illinois delegate to the Mom Congress at Georgetown University and currently serves as a mentor for the 2011 delegation, presenting on bullying prevention. She is the mother of two outstanding elementary age children and a wife to an exceptionally wonderful husband. Connect with her on Twitter @JenDeFranco.

National Volunteer Week - Thank You Volunteers!

It’s National Volunteer Week!

A special heartfelt THANK YOU goes out to all our volunteers and their leaders making a difference in their local schools, communities, and our world. Sharing your work, your time, and your talent – even in simple ways -- makes a big difference in the lives of others and is an inspiration for us all.

Thank you for serving and choosing us to support your good work! 

~ Team VolunteerSpot

7 Simple Tips for Choosing the Right Product to Increase Fundraising

By Sarah Sticklan, founder and CEO of CHILDish

 

Product Fundraising Focus

If your organization relies mostly on selling products to raise funds, the most important decision a fundraising coordinator will make is choosing which products to sell. Before you get wrapped up in the details of coordinating volunteers and tracking orders you have to stop and take a look at the big picture.

Any successful business owner will tell you that knowing their customer is key to success. The same goes for a fundraising drive. It is most likely your customers will be friends and fa  mily of your organization’s members; understanding who these people are will help you decide on the appropriate fundraiser.

 

1. Understanding your Customer  

Observe - It can be as simple as knowing your community and your own shopping habits.

Survey – Hand out a simple survey to members asking where they shop, what activities they do etc.

Ask – Start a conversation, ask your members. Where do they shop? What activities do they like to do? Are they families with small children? Do they buy eco friendly products?  

2. Make it Exclusive!

Find a product that no one else in your community is selling. If you have a unique product that members can’t easily get somewhere else you are leaps and bounds ahead of other fundraising groups.

3. Make it Easy

Find products that members will be excited about and WANT to tell their friends and family about. In the day of social media nothing is more powerful than a member posting on their Facebook page: “I am so excited to be selling XX and it’s only available through me.” Online fundraisers have an added advantage when friends and family can easily click and buy on the spot.

4. Think Out of the Box

Once you have decided what you want to sell, you need to figure out how you can make a profit for your fundraising initiative. Ask a local business if you could receive wholesale pricing by placing one bulk order. Local businesses love to support non-profits in their community. Typically companies will give you wholesale pricing anywhere from 25% - 50% off their retail price. You can then sell the product at full retail and keep the profit. Similarly, you can approach local attractions and see if you could receive bulk attraction passes at a discount. You can then sell the passes for the same price people would normally pay but keep the profit.

You can also work with a traditional fundraising company to make the job easier; they will have already selected and sourced a variety of potential fundraising items.

5. The Highest Margin Doesn’t Equal the Highest Profit

Focus more of your energy finding a product that is a good fit with your members vs. the product that offers the largest margins. You’ll make a lot more earning 25% on a product that members are excited to sell, and will sell in more volume, then you will on an item with a 50% margin that no one is interested in. 

6. Provide a Variety of Choices

You can always run more than one fundraising program at a time. You can offer your members a variety of products so they can pick one or two choices that they would be excited to sell. It is a great way to try new products and see what the ordering response is like. Keep some of the “sure things” that have worked as fundraisers for your organization in the past, but regularly add something new to keep things interesting and fresh. If you take your time and choose wisely you will be surprised with the returns.

7. Easy Money

Another easy trick is to include a donation form. A simple form asking for donations is ideal for the people who do not want to buy a product and would rather just donate $5, $10, or $20 to your organization. If your organization is able to give tax receipts, even better. 

***

 

Sarah Stickland is a volunteer fundraising coordinator who quadrupled her organizations profits by simply choosing the right products. She then developed CHILDish Fundraising, which sells personalized melamine dishes to fundraising groups. Check out their webisite, facebook and @CHILDishes on Twitter.

Swim Mom Memories | Tidy Thursday

By April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach

The days spent involved with our local swim team were some of the most rewarding.

You see, our local swim team is ran completely by volunteers. From the board to the events, parents are the driving force behind it all.

The years my kiddos swam, we were on the deck every morning bright & early as well as exhausted from running around the hosted meets till late at night.

We discovered, with the right camera, my husband is an amazing sports photographer. My first born is quite the endurance athlete {Individual Medley was his event}, the Pipsqueak loves socializing as much as sports and I can organize anything!

As a swim Mom, I had the "pool kit" everyone knew they could count on:

• Pens, pencils, sharpies
• pad of paper
• healthy snacks
• napkins
• plastic utensils
• jug of water
• spare cash for the concessions
• extra towel
• extra T-shirt
• safety pins
• swim cap
• sun screen
• silicone ear plugs
• playing cards
• dice
• pain reliever medication

but the most coveted item in my bag, hands down?

• Swimmer's Ear - ear drops

Nothing was worse than a swimmer with vertigo in the middle of the season!

Both my kids have moved on to different activities during the summer, namely summer jobs like mowing lawns, although we all look back on those memories fondly.

For me being prepared just meant "re-stocking" the bag from week to week, but I'm really curious ~ how are you other Moms out there connecting with your role as a Swim Mom?

Leave a comment below or jump on over to the Volunteer Spot Facebook Page & let me know

Keepin' it Tidy,

April

***

April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect

 

 

Is your kid on the swim team? Check out these articles for even more tips on how to have the swim season run smoothly:

Swim Teams: Free and Easy Volunteer Scheduling and Signup Sheets

Tips to Make this Swim Team Season a Splashing Success

Simple Tips for Organizing Swim Moms (and Dads) that Make the Season Even More Fun for Everyone!

5 Swim Mom Musts for a Successful Season

Challenges that Volunteer Leaders Face | Worship Wednesday

Worship Wednesdays

 

Volunteers come from all walks of life, and today were pleased to recognize our VolunteerSpot community serving in their places of worship. 

Please welcome our guest Sue Brage, editor of Church Volunteer Daily.  Twice a month she'll be sharing best practices and fresh ideas that make volunteering with your faith community (or school or nonprofit) even more  fun and rewarding. Today's article is on the importance of including people of all ages and walks of life in your organization's service efforts.

 

Contestants Wanted for the next Volunteer Leader Challenge! 

In the Volunteer Leader Challenge, the latest reality show, contestants will maneuver their way through an entire year serving in their local churches. Their objective? To recruit and train volunteers to serve in every position imaginable without losing their sanity…or any kids, keys, volunteers, or the approval of senior leadership and quite possibly, the entire congregation, who will be voting! They must coordinate VBS, plan snacks to exclude every possible food allergy, line up 30 nursery helpers, while at the same time, helping children discover the love of God.  It will be a wild ride, and at the end—there will be one champion volunteer leader left standing.

Ok, there is no such reality show. (You were ready to call, weren’t you?)  Still, in reality, many of us have taken on positions or projects without fully knowing what we are getting into, and then once we figure it out—it’s too late, the challenge has begun! Over our years of working with church volunteer leaders, three prevailing challenges have emerged...

 
1. Finding (and keeping) committed volunteers

This comes as no surprise to any one who has ever worked with volunteers. The lesson is if we put either of these tasks on cruise control, we will make our jobs harder in the long run. To master this challenge we must always watch for fresh ideas and approaches for recruiting, training, and recognizing our volunteers.

2. Getting everything done

As we’ve listened to those in ministry, it’s obvious that most of them feel stretched too thin and pulled in too many directions. Balancing church and family, doing vs. delegating, babysitting instead of leading. There is a constant tug-of-war going on for our priorities, our brains, our time, and even our emotions.

I think the first step to mastering this challenge is to understand that even the most “balanced” leader has to continually realign his or her priorities, focus, and time commitments. You need a solid sounding board to help you let go of unrealistic expectations, set proper boundaries, and give yourself a well-deserved break once in a while.

3. Dealing with conflict (and a myriad of other communication issues)

I love C.H. Spurgeon’s quote: The day we find the perfect church, it becomes imperfect the moment we join it. Humans are an imperfect—and difficult—lot. Overcoming this hurdle will require prayer, patience, and loads of grace. It will also require the ability to communicate with others in a positive way, even when dealing with negative issues.

While the idea of this reality show is completely fictional, these three main challenges are very real. As you continue serving, growing, and facing these obstacles head on, I believe God will reward you in a far greater way than you could ever imagine. And the biggest reward will be knowing you are helping touch lives and make people’s lives better for the cause of Christ.

Banner Ad:  For ideas on how to keep more volunteers for longer, download Church Volunteer Daily’s free report filled with volunteer appreciation ideas.

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About the Author

 

Sue Brage  worked in nonprofit marketing and communications for more than nine years before joining Group Publishing as Online Publisher and Editor for Church Volunteer Daily.com.  Her experience as a writer, editor, and volunteer coordinator (not to mention wife and mother) gives her a unique perspective and ability to encourage and help leaders. She has a big heart for people and great passion for helping others serve their churches and communities better.  Follow Sue on Twitter and @SueBrage and @CVCDaily