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Read Across America with the NEA

Students don’t have to experience an academic slump during vacation if parents heed a few helpful tips!

The National Education Association (NEA) encourages parents and students to keep books on the menu so, when class is back in session, students continue to make progress instead of having to spend time reviewing last year’s lessons.

 “Just because school is out doesn’t mean students should take a break from reading,” said Dennis Van Roekel, NEA president.  “When students return to their classrooms in the fall, we want reading to top the list of what they did this summer.”

 Fighting the reading loss—sometimes referred to as the “4thgrade reading slump” because of its crucial timing in a student’s academic career—proves to be a challenge for many students, especially for minority and low income students.

 Research shows that the reading achievement of socioeconomically disadvantaged students typically declines an average of three months between June and September, while that of the typical middle-class student improves or remains the same. As a result, students can lose critical ground that continues to widen their achievement gaps.

So how do parents keep their students reading during vacation? NEA has developed a series of tips to help parents keep the joy of reading going even during vacation:

• Get familiar with your library. Make frequent trips to the library and find out which reading programs it offers.
• Find out what they like to read. Let your children’s interests lead the choice of books to create reading lists that include their specific likes and dislikes.
• Read the book. If your children enjoyed a movie, encourage them to read the book or original fairy tale upon which the movie is based.
• Set a good example. Students whose parents are avid readers are more likely to follow their parents’ example or lead.
• Make reading a part of the daily summer routine. Even though activities and bedtimes can change during the summer, keep books a constant.

“Parents can help teachers by continuing classroom lessons during the summer months when students are not in school,” said Van Roekel. “You never know, the best vacation may be just a page away.”

For more information, visit www.nea.org/readacross

 

The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.

 

 Check out more online resources from the NEA:

 Summer Reading Tips

 Kid's Top 100 Books

Teachers Top 100 Books for Children

Micro-Volunteering | Summer of Service

Volunteering in the Digital Age: Making Service Accessible and Fun

By Kerala Taylor of Kaboom!

Say “community service” and most people think of waking up early on a Saturday morning to do hard labor with other well-meaning, early-rising folks. In fact, a few times a week, hundreds of volunteers converge in the wee hours of the morning to build playgrounds with the national nonprofit KaBOOM!. Over the course of six hours, they haul mulch, mix concrete, and assemble equipment to transform a deserted lot into vibrant place to play.

We at KaBOOM! love these old-fashioned “barn-raising” events, which have proven transformative both for the people who participate and for the community in which they live. But in a fast-changing digital era, we’ve also started to experiment with leveraging online and mobile tools to achieve our vision of a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America.

Much ado has been made over the rise of “micro-volunteering”—that is, volunteering you can do in small increments from your phone or computer. We love the concept, but one question we’ve struggled with is, how can we make micro-volunteering not only valuable but fun?

At a typical playground build, we play music, dance, and eat good food. At the end of the day, volunteers are rewarded by the sight of a tangible, gleaming playground. How can we reward our micro-volunteers? Often the tasks we ask them to do are just a small piece of a much larger, more complex, and intangible puzzle.  

The answer, we believe, lies in the marriage of micro-volunteering and gamification, of offline and online actions, of service and self-service.

Our Summer Playground Challenge is a perfect case in point. To determine where more playgrounds need to be built, we first need to determine where playgrounds exist and what condition they’re in. To do this, we’re asking playground-goers to map and review the playgrounds they visit using our Tag! mobile app and/or online Map of Play.

But what’s in it for them? For one, we’re making it fun. The Summer Playground Challenge asks parents to visit as many playgrounds as they can this summer. They not only challenge themselves but also compete against their fellow participants. We’re also extending micro-volunteering beyond the computer. This isn’t just about sitting in your house and entering playgrounds on a map; it’s also about getting outside and playing with your family.

Lastly we’re offering rewards. Maybe our volunteers won’t get to see a playground that they helped build with their own hands, but the more playgrounds they visit, the more entries they get in our weekly drawings for gift certificates and other prizes. And as they map playgrounds, they earn points and badges that cumulate in a Grand Prize—a weeklong trip for two to DC.

At the end of the day, we get more playgrounds on our map and parents get a summer full of play. Can anyone argue with that?

 

Our Summer Playground Challenge kicks off on July 3! Want to join?

 

Photo Courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

Kerala Taylor manages online content and outreach for KaBOOM!. She is also co-founder of Glimpse.org, author of How Things Break, and a blogger for BabyCenter.com. A proud new mama, she'll be making sure her daughter gets plenty of healthy, unstructured, outdoor play.

A Guide To Every Grade

What To Expect for Your Kid's Next School Year | Parenting Monday

Summertime is prime time for both you and your child to prepare for the coming school year and check out what you can expect when it comes to a new grade level.  Parenting.com has you covered with detailed insights and guides for every grade.  Find excerpts for grades K-6 below and check out the entire original post by Jeremy Schlosberg over on Parenting.com!

Kindergarten

Once upon a time, kindergarten was all about teaching social readiness, learning how to line up, sit quietly in a circle, and put things back. In recent decades, "readiness skills" in language, reading, writing, and math have been emphasized. Experts generally agree, however, that much of the "learning" that happens in kindergarten should be nonacademic. Make-believe and fantasy are a big part of the kindergartner's approach to the world. Enjoy it.

Read more What To Expect - Kindergarten over on Parenting.com

 

First Grade

Elementary school begins in first grade. But in spirit, children begin first grade as kindergartners. Much happens over the course of the year to transform little children into young boys and girls. First-graders do not seem as wild as kindergartners  -- after all, they are more developed physically, neurologically, and psychologically. They are gaining more control over their bodies, both at the fine motor level (first-grade art often shows a big representational leap over kindergarten art) and at the large muscle level (first grade is when children often begin to show interest in specific sports). Your child has a better sense of self than she did a year ago, and less of a need to live in the here and now. And she is ready and willing to use her mind. This is what first grade is all about. It is a fun and fulfilling year.

Read more What To Expect - First Grade over on Parenting.com

 

Second Grade

In second grade, a child becomes a student. By now, children should have a strong grip on all the rudimentary skills of learning, from reading and writing to arithmetic. With evident pride in what they know, second-graders are among the most eager learners to be found. They tend to be attached to the literal and concrete, and begin to pay attention to the world around them and expect to have some input and control. But they are still marvelously open to new experiences, and they have an appetite for stories, poetry, music, and other arts-oriented activities.

Read more What To Expect - Second Grade over on Parenting.com

 

Third Grade

School gets more serious in third grade. And so do the children. They begin to become aware of themselves in a wider context than children in a family. Third-graders can now draw on their own mental resources (memories, problem-solving skills, personal experience) when learning something new. In third grade, school becomes not just a place of learning, but also a place of socializing; children look forward to seeing their friends there day after day after day.

Read more What To Expect - Third Grade over on Parenting.com

 

Fourth Grade

In fourth grade, for perhaps the first time, school can get tough. Gone is the gentle focus of younger-grade teachers on basic skills and social development. Now, there are hard subjects to grapple with, more schoolwork and homework to organize, and real tests to study for  -- as the saying goes, in fourth grade, children stop learning to read and start reading to learn. What is more, fourth-graders must navigate an increasingly complex social environment, with new sensitivity to who the "smart" ones or "popular" ones are. Fourth-graders are not as ready to distance themselves from their parents as children another year or two down the road. For some it is the last innocent year.

Read more What To Expect - Fourth Grade over on Parenting.com

 

Fifth Grade

In many schools, the fifth-graders are the oldest, and they love it. While they still tend to have a natural love of learning, they are also moving toward preadolescence.  Some are more willing than ever before to test their limits, question authority, and be distracted by nonacademic activities. That said, many fifth-graders are still happy children, keen on acquiring knowledge and learning facts. This is a year, too, in which technical proficiency in special areas, such as music, may blossom. While fifth grade is a lot like fourth grade in the academic ground it covers, fifth-graders are expected to act with an ever-increasing amount of independence and responsibility.

Read more What To Expect - Fifth Grade over on Parenting.com

 

Sixth Grade

In the old days  -- -say, when you were in grade school  -- -sixth grade was part of elementary school. Nowadays, that's less common. Sixth is often the first grade in middle school; there are even some schools that are entirely sixth grade. But wherever sixth grade happens, the children are the same age, going through that same preteen confusion-laced excitement. Sixth-graders have been trained to think for themselves and they're more than prepared to do that now, with much vigor. They like to complain a lot, too, so brace yourself. And if you haven't yet done this too well, take a crash course in learning how to let go: Sixth-graders demand a lot of independence, even as they are not always emotionally ready for it.

Read more What To Expect - Sixth Grade over on Parenting.com

 

Check out the rest of A Guide to Every Grade by Jeremy Schlosberg
over on Parenting.com!

Volunteer Scheduling Software | Book Sale

VolunteerSpotlight: Brian Carriere, Faculty Association President, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Each Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Campus Faculty Association  promotes professionalism through the pursuit of excellence and competency in teaching; serves as the voice of the faculty in decision making; provides an open forum for the free discussion of academic and professional issues; and supports the overall mission of the Community College. 

Twice a year, the Faculty Association holds a book sale to raise money for a scholarship fund. 

Today, our Spotlight shines on Brian Carriere, who used VolunteerSpot to organize cashiers and helpers during the book sale. 

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Please tell us about your organization and your volunteer needs.

The MGCCC Faculty Association, which is made up of full time faculty members, holds a bi-annual book sale to help raise funds for student scholarships. We need about 20 volunteers to staff the event, which is held twice a year, in the spring and fall semesters, over a two-day period. Volunteers who work at the event serve as sales/cashier personnel for the book sale.

How did you get started as a volunteer leader?
I volunteer in a number of ways in my community.  My efforts with this particular organization came from being elected as the Faculty Association president.  It is a one-year position, therefore I have fulfilled my duties at this time.

What’s one piece of advice you have for volunteers or their leaders out there?
It's important to maintain consistent communication with your members and keep a database of past, present, and potential volunteers.

Why did you decide to use VolunteerSpot?
I was hoping this would be an improved alternative to our normal system of email communication, which is difficult when you need a large group to sign up for volunteer slots of service.  This program helped tremendously in keeping it simple.

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We salute Brian and all the other faculty members out there making a difference. 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].

Volunteering | Summer of Service

Why Volunteer? A First Person Perspective of What It Takes & Why It Counts

By:  Myrdin Thompson, Mom Congress Delegate

Yesterday when I checked the mail I received a lovely thank you card from a group that I have been discussing working as a mentor with. Enclosed was a gift card to a local coffee shop and the wording in the card said "thanks a latte!" While I was genuinely appreciative of the gift, I also felt that I hadn't earned it. After all I hadn't officially started volunteering as my paperwork was still being processed. So I contacted the organization and said, thank you, but...and was told, no, thank you. Thank you for being willing to volunteer, for being patient during the background check process, and for supporting the mission and vision by sharing information about what we do with others in the community.

Wow!

Because you see, volunteering is something so many of us do not because of the coffee shop gift card or seeing our name in a newsletter. And while volunteering may get us as seat across the table from the President of the United States (which is an incredible honor to be certain), we would volunteer even if that moment never were to happen. 

I certainly have been fortunate in these last nine years to meet incredible volunteers in my own community as well as across the United States. Volunteers in our schools who spend their Friday's popping popcorn and helping tutor students. Volunteers who fill backpacks with food so children don't go hungry on the weekends. Volunteers who speak up at school board meetings or who attend rallies at their State capitols. I've meet volunteers who create book drive programs, apps for cell phones to increase family engagement opportunities, write blogs or articles about how to create successful home to school connections. And while these volunteers are not called Champions of Change they all are certainly worthy and deserving of that title. 

It is unfortunately easy to measure the value and importance of one volunteer by looking at the actions of another. We should do our very best to not compare one's actions and activities in our communities with others who we know. We all have something to give and contribute. For example:

• Time: There are a finite number of hours in the day. We can spend them watching funny youtube videos and re-posting them on facebook or we can search the web to find information about a cause we feel passionate about and share that on our facebook page. And as a matter of fact, there is actually enough time in the day to do both. 

• Talent: I cannot sew. I cannot cook. I cannot tap dance. However I can write, pick up a phone and make a call, I can run in a 5k, and I can sing karaoke for a fundraiser. And I have friends who can sew, cook, and even tap dance. We all have talents that are unique and specific to us. In this world someone, somewhere needs your "uniqueness" to help their cause. 

• Energy: I have a crazy metabolism and can convert the smallest amount of food into an incredible level of energy. I also drink coffee (as if it is the sweet elixir of life) and need very little sleep. Thus I can write a blog post at 2 am and still be ready for the first load of laundry at 6 am. My point? We all have obligations and commitments that take up certain amounts of our energy. But many volunteer organizations might need you to contact local officials (or State, or national leaders) and you can do that, via email, at all hours of the day and still have enough energy left over to run a 5k or run your kids to soccer. 

• Effort: it matters. The truth is, in volunteering the thought doesn't count. You can think all the good thoughts you want about wanting to change the world, but if you don't get up off your couch and actually do something, anything, then nothing will ever change. Your effort doesn't have to be Herculean, it just has to be. 

 

We can be heroes, if just for one day!

 

There is a saying "I'm drinking from my saucer for my cup has overflowed." There are days where I may not like the taste of what is in the cup, but I still have something in my cup, and in my saucer. I have a supportive and encouraging family who help me pack my bags when I have to head to DC for another Department of Education meeting or a Mom Congress event. I have volunteer support via VolunteerSpot which helps me organize all myendeavors. I have over 150 fellow Mom Congress delegates, UN Foundation Shot@Life champions, and close friends in my community who I have friends who inspire me with their stories of heroism and advocacy. I have children who make each day worth the living and for whom I selfishly want the very best of everything. 

And I have a coffee shop gift card that says I made a difference by just wanting to make a difference. 

And that makes me want to be the volunteer they believe me to be, today. 

 

 

About the Author:

Myrdin Thompson has been a Louisville public school parent, volunteer & advocate since 2002 and is the Regional Director (Central States) for the National Family Engagement Alliance. She also is a volunteer advocate for the United Nations Foundation Shot@Life program, an alumni volunteer advocate for KaBOOM!, and a contributor to Parent Involvement Matters (about education policy and parent engagement). She was recognized in April 2011 by the White House as a "Champion of Change" and was the 2010 Kentucky Delegate for Parenting magazine's Mom Congress.  Check her our at Roots & Wings and on Twitter!

Read more from Myrdin including a write-up from when she met the President!

 

Mom Congress | Parenting Monday

All About Parenting's Mom Congress Initiative, and How You Can Get Involved

This post originally appeared on Parenting.com

Driven by the ever-increasing role that parents play in advocating for positive change in the education system, Parenting magazine launched the Mom Congress initiative in March 2009 to celebrate and connect moms fighting for better schools.

 

Image Courtesy of Parenting.com

Each year, we gather outstanding moms who have made a difference from every state for an annual conference in Washington DC, where they meet with leaders in education and advocacy to discuss the best ways to effect positive change in education.  Speakers range from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and NEA VP Lily Eskelsen, to celebrity chef and school nutrition advocate Jamie Oliver and Save the ChildrenVP Mark Kennedy Shriver. Watch video highlights from a past Mom Congress conference here.

 

Our goal is to provide these amazing moms with the tools, resources and connections they need to plant seeds of change in their communities, and to shine a spotlight on their efforts to inspire millions more to do the same. Our past two classes of Mom Congress delegates have gone on to create nationwide book drives, disaster relief initiatives, improved school nutrition programs; one mom even used her Mom Congress experience to run for U.S. Congress—and won! 

For year-round education news and resources, the School Years edition ofParenting and our regularly-updated Mom Congress blog covers all the latest education news, gives readers information on how any parent can make a difference in their schools, and highlights the efforts of some of its 21,000+ Mom Congress members. You can also Like Mom Congress on Facebook to connect with other moms on education issues.

Read more:

• Meet the Mom Congress advisory board
• Find out the latest education news on the Mom Congress blog
• Read the Lesson Plan for Change

Volunteer Management Software | Reporting

VolunteerSpot Online Sign Up Reporting | Feature Friday

Free volunteer management software makes it so easy to schedule and track volunteers for your school, non-profit, group or event!  Simply set up your needs in an online volunteer calendar, invite your volunteers and relax.  As your volunteers fill spots, track your sign up with simple reports including printable documents and spreadsheets.

VolunteerSpot Activity Calendar (Organizer View):  Click Report to grab a schedule in document form, click Export to view the data in a spreadsheet.

 

VolunteerSpot Report (Document by day or month to save/print) - lists shift/task titles, the number of volunteers needed, the shift/task times, positions filled and positions still open and volunteer name.

 

VolunteerSpot Report (Spreadsheet by total sign up to save/print) - lists shift/task titles, the number of volunteers needed, the shift/task times, positions filled and positions still open, as well as volunteers with name, email and phone numbers.

 

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VolunteerSpot's Premium Version also lets you track and report hours totalled (per volunteer per sign up) as well as extra information captured from volunteers, i.e. t-shirt size, child's name, emergency contact, etc.

VolunteerSpot Report (Document - Extra Information Fields):

VolunteerSpot Report (Document - Volunteer Hours Tracking):

 

VolunteerSpot Report (Spreadsheet - Extra Info and Hours Tracking):

Summer Service Ideas

Volunteer To Your Favorite Summer Song

Can you hear that?  It's the humming, thumping beat of our favorite summer classics that keep our heads boppin' and feet tappin'!  Take that groovy inspiration and do some GOOD this summer while dancin' to these top 10 hits!

1.  "Wouldn't It Be Nice"  The Beach Boys, 1966

Wouldn't it be nice if we were older? Brighten the day of a resident at a local nursing home or health center with nut-free cookies (to be safe!), hand-made cards, songs and smiles!

2.  "Heat Wave" Martha and the Vandellas, 1963

Get in from the heat and find new ways to volunteer like ushering at a local theatre, touring at a museum, packing boxes at a foodbank, sorting books at the library, manning reception at the hospital - the ideas are endless!

3.  "Car Wash" Rose Royce, 1976

Raise money for a local cause of your choosing by grabbing some pals, soap and water and gettin' your car wash on!  Are you a friend to furry animals? Organize a pet wash instead and get neighbors to spread the word.

4.  "Walkin' on Sunshine"  Katrina and the Waves', 1983

Get up, get out and get walkin'!  Gather a group of friends and run a 5k or take part in a walkathon, jogathon, simwathon, or danceathon for a good cause!  Stay active and make a difference!

5.  "School's Out for Summer" Alice Cooper, 1972

Kids can make a difference too, and what better time than when homework and book reports are far-off memories!  Whether it's collecting canned goods at the monthly pool party or donating lemonade stand proceeds to a local cause, there are lots of ways for kids to do GOOD!  Check out more kid-friendly service ideas over on RoomMomSpot.

6.  "We are Family"  Sister Sledge, 1979

Planning a stay-cation with the family this summer?  Designate one day for family service with these fun ideas that get everyone involved and teach kids the importance of giving back - get kids involved in doing good!

7.  "Wipeout"  The Surfaris, 1963

Wipeout dull fundraisers with creative and FUN fundraisers that grow your community and make money for your group, organization, or cause.  Check out 7 FUNdraising ideas!

8.  "Monday Monday" The Mamas and the Papas, 1966

Sometimes it's hard to get into the groove of summer with the same ol' day in and day out.  Make someone's Monday with Random Acts of Kindness that will bring a smile to not only their face, but pep up your day as well!

9.  "Summertime" Billy Stewart, 1966

Soak up the sun and have some real summer fun by volunteering at a nearby summer camp!  Many times, camps take volunteers for everything from hobarding, to advising craft time, playing music, lifeguarding, and leading hikes.

10.  "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay"  Otis Redding, 1967

Ok so you may not want to do this on the dock of the bay (saltwater in your keyboard!), but you can still make a difference even when sitting in the comforts of your own home - check out "micro-volunteering" sites like Sparked.com and KoodoNation.com.

 

Family Service | Summer of Service

10 Summer Volunteer & Charity Ideas: Get your kids involved this summer!

By Shara Lawrence-Weiss: Owner of Mommy Perks, mother of four.

My parents taught their four daughters to volunteer and help others. We volunteered year-round at various locations or helped those in need through our church. It’s easy to find volunteer opportunities during the winter time – everyone promotes their charity group during the holiday season! However, there are plenty of charitable opportunities to be found during the summer months, also.

Here are ten ideas:

1. Water, please!

Most homeless shelters (especially those in hot locations like Phoenix, Arizona) need water bottles during the summer months. Consider helping your children collect water bottles to donate. Ask your neighbors, co-workers, church friends, family, etc. Even if they donate just a few bottles each the count will add up quickly.

2. Walk a mile in their shoes

Our local shelters are always looking for shoe donations – for moms, dads, seniors and kids. Run a donation drive for shoes and get your kids involved. We often take for granted just how nice it is to have a decent pair of shoes; a shoe drive will give your kiddos a better understanding of the simple blessings in life.

3. Town fundraisers

Does your town host summer fundraisers? Our small town hosts numerous fundraisers every summer to benefit the fire fighters, our public school, the hiking trail maintenance association and more. We always need volunteers to help out. Check your local news website for volunteer opportunities or ask a local church if they have leads.

4. Furry Friends

Do you have a pet shelter or humane society near by? Your children might enjoy volunteering with a few furry friends. Contact the pet shelter and ask if they welcome shelter volunteers or volunteer dog walkers. The humane society offers volunteer opportunities at events, in the emergency shelter, at their care center and more. They can also put you in touch with pet owners who need assistance.

5. Snail Mail at your service

Have your kids and their friends (if their parents agree) write cards for shut-ins. Many shut-ins are lonely and would love to receive a nice colorful card. This costs you nothing but a little time and a stamp. Search online for a legitimate charity website that puts you in contact with shut-ins.

6. Start your own mock charity

Here’s a fun idea: have your kids come up with a mock charity that they would start if they had the means and know-how. What charity would they launch? What would they name it? Who would they help? Why? Have them write down their ideas (or you help them with this if they are not yet writing) and save the papers inside a hope chest or memory box. Later in life, they’ll have fun looking back and reading about their ideas!

7. Pennies of love

Place a container on your counter or windowsill for pennies and change. Decide as a family what charity to support. During the summer have everyone drop their change into the container and at the end of the summer break donate to your charity of choosing.

8. Highway helpers (for older kids) 

Contact your local transportation department and ask to be put in touch with organizations that pick up trash. Jump in with another group of volunteers and spend the day helping along the highway. With so many program cutbacks these days, highways are counting more and more on personal volunteers.

9. Soups up!

No doubt you have a soup kitchen in your area. If you do, consider volunteering with your children serving meals to the homeless/low income. These locations have an abundance of volunteers during the holiday months but after that, their volunteer rates plummet. Charity can be a year-round endeavor. It need not be saved up and dispensed only during the Christmas season.

10. Boxtops and Campbells Soup labels

Be sure to continue collecting these items during the summer time for your local school. When school starts back up, have your child drop the boxtops or labels to the office. Be sure to explain the purpose: these items help the school earn money which can then be used to buy things that the school needs.

 

 

  Shara Lawrence-Weiss is the owner of Mommy Perks, Kids Perks, Personal Child Stories and Early Childhood News & Resources. She runs her businesses from home and is actively involved in local charity work helping children and seniors. She is the mother of four and the wife of one.

7 Totally Fun FUNdraisers!

Raising money – most of us r-e-a-l-l-y dislike it, but if you have kids, it’s something you’ve learned to accept as a necessary part of providing excellent experiences with their teams, Scouts, schools and faith groups. Imagine instead having FUN while FUNdraising for the programs and causes you care about!

Fundraising Ideas | Engage Your Community!

Committed parents are the key ingredient for any successful fundraiser.  Creating opportunities for quality family time and engaged adult camaraderie gets parents involved and aligned with the important mission of your group. Designing fun fundraisers that also appeal to your greater community gives new families a chance to learn (and get excited about) joining.   

TIP:  VolunteerSpot’s easy and free online signup sheets  make it a snap to organize all the people and things you need to run a successful fundraiser!

7 Fun Ways to Raise Money AND Build Community  

1.  Summer Splash Movie Night
– Invite families to cool off on a hot summer’s night with a pool party and movie.  String up a large sheet for a screen, grab a computer and projector, and charge for concessions and pool admission.  Offer watermelon, hot-dogs and popsicles for sale and hire a lifeguard to keep an extra eye out on guests.

2.  Adventure Challenges – Arrange a group play day with local ziplining, rock-climbing, kayaking, horseback riding, or other adventure sports operations.  Many outfitters will donate their services to your cause or school in exchange for your parents and kids marketing their services to others.  Pre-sell tickets to the event good for free admission on the day of the event and a discount any other time. Sell additional meal tickets for a picnic lunch or barbecue on the day of the event.  The Autism Society of North Carolina raised nearly $31,000 at their recent Ziplining for Autism event. 

3.  Tournaments – Pack in a day of family fun with tournament-style competition. Think kickball, dodgeball, bowling, horse shoes, mini golf, ping pong, you name it - if you can play it, it can be a tournament!  Charge teams entry fees, sell t-shirts, and make sure to have plenty of concessions for sale.  Spice it up with team disctinctions like parents v. kids and teachers v students.  Throw in simple carnival booths like a "pie in the face" booth or dunking booth for spectators to 'pay to play' to see their favorite coach or teacher get messy!

4.  Car & Dog Wash –   Kids love getting wet during those hot summer months, and a car wash/dog wash combo is the perfect opportunity! Give each child a designated number of washes to pre-sale.  These can be sold to friends and neighbors, or you can buy them and give them away as gifts to friends and co-workers. On the day of the event, more customers from the community are pulled in who drive by; have a few kids out “selling” the wash with large posters and lots of energy!

5.  Academia Fair – Cue Jeopardy theme music and put on those reading glasses to raise money for a good cause!  Plan a spelling bee, a math competition,  a science fair or read-a-thon!  Admission fees and sponosorship (participants ask family and friends to donate as sponsors) can go to your organization.  These fundraisers are a fun and brainy way to have fun and build community!

6.  Rummage Sale – This fun fundraiser helps families clean out the garage and closets while raising money for your group! Carissa Rogers of Klamath Oregon said, “ It’s amazing that all the ‘treasures’ magically show up year after year - people LOVE to donate to a rummage sale! And the best part is, the community comes to buy it and ‘donates’ to your group. We asked everyone to add a dollar to the price after negotiated ‘for the school’. Hardly anyone said no!”  Carissa’s school raised $1,600 this year from their rummage sale.  Add a bake-sale fundraiser or lemonade stand as an additional money-maker.

7.  Get Active Fundraisers -- Plan a "healthy" fundraiser that incorporates exercise-based activity into raising money.  Host a walk-a-thon, jog-a-thon, jump-rope-a-thon, fun-run or a dance-based activity. It’s a great way to earn money and promote staying active while having tons of fun!

 

We hope these ideas are fun and successful for your team, school or group . . .
If you’ve got an interesting FUNdraiser to share, please tell us today over on our

Facebook page!

 

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7 Tips for Planning a Successful Walkathon

Free eBook:  Kid-Friendly Fundraising Ideas

 

Kid Friendly Fundraising Ideas From A To Z

View more presentations from VolunteerSpot

Father's Day 2012 | Dads Participate

Celebrating Engaged Fathers, Male Role Models, and Volunteers

Father's Day is just around the corner and we wanted to take the time to CELEBRATE fathers everywhere who make a lasting impact on their children. Repurposed from a June 2011 post, we have excerpted pieces from three top notch dads who illustrate how fathers, as positive male role models in service, can mold the lives of children in a way no one else can!

Tshaka Armstrong, founder and CEO of Digital Shepherds, shares tips and ideas on how dads can connect with their kids through technology.

"Now, in the workplace, fellow dads LOVE to talk about their gadgets! Me and the guys are often comparing notes about our latest smartphone purchase or laptop buy, but it seems as if that's where it stops. One of the things I find out when I speak to children is that their dads don't let them touch their toys and don’t play video games with them that often either. I believe we must do better, men! So, I thought I'd give you a few steps you might consider using to help you connect with your kids through the technology many of them are already using. It will make them safer and if you do it right, you can even grow a little closer to your little ones."

Read the rest of  Digital Parenting: Dad's Toys & The Tots

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Eric Snow, National Director of WATCH D.O.G.S., shares how dads can make a huge impact on the quality of education that all children receive.

"Studies by the Department of Health and Human Services conclude that children with positive adult male role models have roughly twice the high school graduation rate of those kids without positive adult male role models. There is no better way to educate men about the important role that they play in their child’s education than to get those men working in the school. And, the best way to send the message to the kids that their education is important, is for them to see adult men volunteering in their school every day."

Read the rest of Why Male Involvement in Education Matters!

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Michael Hall, Founder and President of Strong Fathers-Strong Families, gives the five phases of how a dad volunteer can change kids' lives in school and beyond.

"Our mission at Strong Fathers-Strong Families is to help schools, Head Starts, and community programs work better with fathers in order to strengthen children. Many times organizations will tell us that they want to get more men involved. Many, but not all, organizations just want men to volunteer because they are an untapped group, they are strong (and hairy) and they have a specific skill set (swinging hammers).

Strong Fathers want men to be involved in their child’s life first and we believe that once they connect with their child then they will become even better volunteers over the long term. We have found from working face to face with over 100,000 men that there are phases that every father goes through on his way to becoming a very strong volunteer."

Read the rest of  5 Steps to Building Strong Father Volunteers

Mission Trip for the Soul

8 Tips for Great Mission Trips

Youth mission trips can be one of the most positive and memorable experiences a young adult can have.  If you are organizing a youth mission trip with your nonprofit organization or faith group, please check out these best practices for cultivating a sensational and soul-building experience for everyone – youth participants, the community you’re serving and you!

1. Call a pre-trip planning meeting and spend time in group dialog coming to consensus on the “mission” of your mission, that is, why is the group going? Set specific goals about what the group expects to achieve, what they will proverbially take and what they will leave behind? (e.g. take an open-mind and willingness to learn, leave behind drama and gossip.)  What are rules of conduct and what happens if there are conflicts?  What personal skills and talents will each person share and what do they hope to gain personally and spiritually from the trip.  Also share your personal goals and expectations.
   
   
2.  Encourage your youth to be fearless and step out of their comfort zones.  Whether part of the mission trip is building homes, working in soup kitchens, food banks, homeless shelters, clinics, you name it, emphasize the importance of getting to know the people they are helping as well as truly getting inspired by the cause.  Let them know it is ok to ask questions, and most importantly, to treat others just as they would want to be treated if their roles were swapped.
   
   
3.  Engage multi-generational collaboration by pairing up youth with older individuals in your organization or faith group who join or chaperone the trip.  Encourage pairs to both work together and get to know one another.  Your younger members will be surprised by stories your older folks have to tell them, and vice versa.
   
   
4. Share before sleep!  Take time at the end of each day for everyone to reflect on the day’s accomplishments, share stories, ask questions, address concerns and wrap up the day in a meaningful way.  Detail the next day’s schedule so everyone knows what to expect and can get excited for what is to come.
   
   
5. Plan after-hours fun activities for when the day’s work is done.  Trust young adults to be creative and collaborative. For example, have pairs or groups break off and either develop a skit around a theme of the leader’s choosing, or pick a song and make up their own dance to it – both are performed for the rest of the groups, leaving everyone howling with laughter.
   
   
6. Chances are your group is in charge of their own meals and living.  Have a responsibility wheel or chore chart mapped out prior to your trip so there are no questions when it comes to whose turn it is to wash dishes, clean the bathroom or load the car.  Divvy up responsibility and make it fun by rewarding points, assigning team colors, or giving your youth chore challenges.
   
   
7.  Finish up with a day of fun where your group is engaged and still community-building, even when the “mission” part of the trip is over.  If traveling from out of town, pay a visit to a local swimming hole or staple restaurant the locals swear by; hit up an amusement park, go disc golfing, putt putting, or bowling.  Get recommendations from the organization you worked with to set up the mission trip and talk with local vendors about getting discounts.
   
   
8.  Formalize reflection and feedback.  Send young adults home with a few questions to reflect on and meet together a week or so after the mission trip to formally celebrate and document successes, learnings and insights.  Also consider sending an online survey link to gather specific feedback about the Mission trip planning, operations, organization and leaders.

•  Document and Celebrate Accomplishments:
  • What did we accomplish together?  (measure it – how many hours worked, people served, kids fed, houses built, etc.)
  • Share photos, video, stories
  • What can we improve for future Mission Trip groups?
• Sample personal reflection questions:
  • What did you learn about yourself on this Trip?
  • What did you learn about our group?
  • What did you learn about the community we served?
  • What spiritual insights would you like to share?
  • What would you like to celebrate?
  • What would you do differently next time?

Youth mission trips are life-changing events that have a meaningful and lasting impact on a young person, especially during a time in their life where they are truly coming into the person they are going to be.  Make it count with encouraging practices, honest reflection, and most importantly, lots of fun!

Tell us if you're planning a mission trip over on Facebook!

Summer of Service 2012

June has arrived and we are thrilled to commence Summer of Service 2012! In its third year running, our Summer of Service blog series connects and engages a community of DoGooders with fantastic thought-provoking and inspiring guest posts that capture the idea of service from many different perspectives.

Starting Tuesdays in June, we'll be bringing you new voices and insights on service and volunteering from inspiring leaders in the field.  If you're a volunteer leader, or someone who cares about making a difference in your community and world, you won't want to miss Summer of Service 2012!

Check out our starting line-up with more to come:

Shara Lawrence-Weiss of Mommy Perks is sharing family-friendly service ideas for the summer.

Michael Nealis of Points of Light Institute is bringing us the latest scoop in service from the National Conference on Volunteering and Service.

Myrdin Thompson of MomCongress imparts a moving perspective on education advocacy and parent engagement.

Jen Barth of BigSmallBrands offers insight into involving children in service, especially in the literacy realm with the amazing iniative, BooksMakeItBetter.

Chris Jarvis of RealizedWorth brings us news in corporate social responsiblity and what is really working with employee volunteer programs.

Kelly Whalen of The Centsible Life  engages us in a view of service when it comes to organizing a kids' nonprofit.

Susan Ellis, founder of Energize, Inc, gives us the low down on trending resources for professional volunteer leadership development in the digital age.

Jennifer Martin of AARP's CreateTheGood illumines inspiring stories of "boomers" in service and how making a difference never gets old.

Please join us this summer in celebrating service and volunteering!

Voter Registration Sign Up Sheets

Voter Registration Volunteer Management

Did you know voter turnout increased by 5 million voters in the 2008 Presidential election?  Due in large part to the grass roots and community efforts to simply register eligible voters, the 2008 election reflected a statistical growth in young voters, especially, getting out and casting their vote.

If your group, organization, or non-profit has voter registration on the 2012 agenda, plan on free volunteer scheduling software to manage your voter registration booth volunteers quickly and easily!

Voter Registration Sign Up (Organizer View):  Quickly set up available shifts for the first day you need volunteers with descriptions, times, and the number of volunteers needed. 

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Organizers - After setting up your first day of voter registration booth volunteers, use the copy function to easily copy your base schedule to future days on the same or different sign up calendar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Voter Registration Sign Up Sheet (Volunteer View):  Volunteers can click through the available calendar dates their organizer schedules and quickly sign up for the shift they wish to fill!

Voter Registration Sign Up Sheet (Volunteer View):  While VolunteerSpot automatically captures name, email and phone number - the Premium version lets you capture extra information from volunteers like t-shirt size.

Volunteers can sign up from their computer or smartphone and receive both a Confirmation email when they fill a spot, as well as a Reminder email two days prior to their commitment.  Spend less time and energy organizing your volunteers and more time getting out the vote!

 

Reference: Voter Turnout Press Release, July 2009 via Census.gov