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A New Home for the VolunteerSpot Blog

Check out the latest news and content at SignUp.com

The VolunteerSpot blog has moved and is still alive and well! We continue to add new helpful tips and ideas every month with the goal of making life a little easier for all you awesome (volunteer, PTA/PTO, teacher, faith group, league, workplace, neighborhood, and community) Organizers out there.

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SignUp.com’s Idea Center

We invite you to search our VolunteerSpot blog archive for past posts that may be of interest, and for fresh, up-to-date content, head over to the SignUp Idea Center. Here you’ll find fun ideas, best practices, smart planning tips, and free downloadable graphics, PLUS printable and fillable checklists, letters, coloring pages, appreciation certificates, thank you notes, and much more. 

We’ve got you covered when it comes to volunteer management (for nonprofit organizations, schools, teams, whatever your cause!), fundraising, holidays and other seasonal events, family reunions, picnics, potlucks… you get the point!


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Whatever your interest, Start Planning Now at SignUp!

Posted at 10:02 AM in Back-to-School, Charity Auction Ideas (Schools too!), Classroom Activities & Party Ideas, End of the School Year, Fundraising Ideas, How 2 VolunteerSpot - Tips, Tricks and Technical, Online Sign Up Feature Friday, Personal Organization Tips, Potluck, Social Media for Schools & Nonprofits, Summer Fun, Tips for Non-Profits, Volunteer Action - Motivation and Coordination, Volunteering at School, Volunteering by the Season, Volunteering in the Community, Volunteering with your Congregation | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Wet and Wonderful Summer Activities for Kids

With the summer heat upon us it can be difficult to tear your kids away from their screens. These fun water activities will get your kids out of the house, moving, and playing all summer long!

WetWonderfulSummerActivitiesKids
Water Play

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Sponge Bombs via Inner Child Fun

SpongebombCollage1a

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Water Balloon Spoon Races via Two Shades of Pink

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Pool Noodle Sprinkler via ZiggityZoom

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Water Balloon Pinatas via Milk Allergy Mom

Water-pinatas

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Kiddie Pool Kickball via Let's Get Together

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Mini Water Blobs via Hello, Wonderful

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Water Balloon Towel Toss via Love Play Learn

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Slip and Slide Bowling via Design Dazzle

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Related Posts

Healthy and Creative Summer Snack Ideas

7 Scrumptious Summer Fruit Snacks

5 Tips for Preventing Summer Learning Loss

Posted at 07:00 AM in Summer Fun | Permalink

Tags: outside activities, summer activities, Summer fun, water play

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Healthy and Creative Summer Snack Ideas

Kids Snack Ideas

HealthyCreativeSummerSnackIdeas

It’s summer! Time for summer vacations, summer road trips, and of course summer sports. Looking for creative snack ideas for after a baseball game or swim meet? We've got you covered!

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Greek Yogurt Breakfast Bark via Go Eat & Repeat

image from i1.wp.com

 

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Banana Split Bites via Our Family of Seven

image from ourfamilyofseven.com

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Apple Nachos via The Idea Room

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Gatorade Jello Squares via CookiesandCups.com

Jellosquares

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Banana Oatmeal Cookie Balls via StockPilingMoms.com

Banana-Oatmeal-Cookies6

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Homemade 2-ingredient Fruit Rollups via Raining Hot Coupons

image from www.raininghotcoupons.com


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SEE MORE:

Fun Team Snack Ideas for Kids

Health Snack Ideas for Kids (PINTEREST)

Posted at 07:00 AM in Summer Fun | Permalink

Tags: baseball snacks, creative snacks, healthy snack ideas, healthy summer snacks, soccer snacks, softball snacks, sports snacks, summer snack ideas, swimming snacks

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Summer Reading List for Adults

When was the last time you read for pleasure? Did you know that when children read for pleasure they do better in school, not just in language arts, vocabulary, and spelling, but in math, as well?

There are also numerous lifelong benefits for adults who read for pleasure. Studies show that adults who read for pleasure report a reduction in feelings of stress and depression, stronger feelings of relaxation, increase in self-esteem, and a greater ability to show empathy and cope with difficult situations, among others.

Here are some great summer reads to help you jump back into reading for pleasure.

Summer Reading List for Adults

How to Walk Away: A Novel by Katherine Center 

How to Walk Away
Margaret Jacobsen is just about to step into the bright future she’s worked for so hard and so long: a new dream job, a fiancé she adores, and the promise of a picture-perfect life just around the corner. Then, suddenly, on what should have been one of the happiest days of her life, everything she worked for is taken away in a brief, tumultuous moment. In the hospital and forced to face the possibility that nothing will ever be the same again, Maggie must confront the unthinkable. First there is her fiancé, Chip, who wallows in self-pity while simultaneously expecting to be forgiven. Then, there's her sister Kit, who shows up after pulling a three-year vanishing act. Finally, there's Ian, her physical therapist, the one the nurses said was too tough for her. Ian, who won't let her give in to her pity, and who sees her like no one has seen her before. Sometimes the last thing you want is the one thing you need. Sometimes we all need someone to catch us when we fall. And sometimes love can find us in the least likely place we would ever expect.

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The President Is Missing: A Novel by James Patterson, Bill Clinton 

The President Is Missing: A Novel by James Patterson (Author), Bill Clinton (Author)
The President Is Missing confronts a threat so huge that it jeopardizes not just Pennsylvania Avenue and Wall Street, but all of America. Uncertainty and fear grip the nation. There are whispers of cyberterror and espionage and a traitor in the Cabinet. Even the President himself becomes a suspect, and then he disappears from public view . . . Set over the course of three days, The President Is Missing sheds a stunning light upon the inner workings and vulnerabilities of our nation. Filled with information that only a former Commander-in-Chief could know, this is the most authentic, terrifying novel to come along in many years.

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Tell Me Lies: A Novel by Carola Lovering

Tell Me Lies: A Novel by Carola Lovering (Author)
Lucy Albright is far from her Long Island upbringing when she arrives on the campus of her small California college, and happy to be hundreds of miles from her mother, whom she’s never forgiven for an act of betrayal in her early teen years. Quickly grasping at her fresh start, Lucy embraces college life and all it has to offer—new friends, wild parties, stimulating classes. And then she meets Stephen DeMarco. Charming. Attractive. Complicated. Devastating. Confident and cocksure, Stephen sees something in Lucy that no one else has, and she’s quickly seduced by this vision of herself, and the sense of possibility that his attention brings her. Meanwhile, Stephen is determined to forget an incident buried in his past that, if exposed, could ruin him, and his single-minded drive for success extends to winning, and keeping, Lucy’s heart. Lucy knows there’s something about Stephen that isn’t to be trusted. Stephen knows Lucy can’t tear herself away. And their addicting entanglement will have consequences they never could have imagined.

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The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory (Author)
Agreeing to go to a wedding with a guy she gets stuck with in an elevator is something Alexa Monroe wouldn't normally do. But there's something about Drew Nichols that's too hard to resist. On the eve of his ex's wedding festivities, Drew is minus a plus one. Until a power outage strands him with the perfect candidate for a fake girlfriend... After Alexa and Drew have more fun than they ever thought possible, Drew has to fly back to Los Angeles and his job as a pediatric surgeon, and Alexa heads home to Berkeley, where she's the mayor's chief of staff. Too bad they can't stop thinking about the other... They're just two high-powered professionals on a collision course toward the long distance dating disaster of the century--or closing the gap between what they think they need and what they truly want...

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The Female Persuasion: A Novel by Meg Wolitzer

The Female Persuasion: A Novel by Meg Wolitzer (Author)
To be admired by someone we admire - we all yearn for this: the private, electrifying pleasure of being singled out by someone of esteem. But sometimes it can also mean entry to a new kind of life, a bigger world. Greer Kadetsky is a shy college freshman when she meets the woman she hopes will change her life. Faith Frank, dazzlingly persuasive and elegant at sixty-three, has been a central pillar of the women's movement for decades, a figure who inspires others to influence the world. Upon hearing Faith speak for the first time, Greer- madly in love with her boyfriend, Cory, but still full of longing for an ambition that she can't quite place- feels her inner world light up. And then, astonishingly, Faith invites Greer to make something out of that sense of purpose, leading Greer down the most exciting path of her life as it winds toward and away from her meant-to-be love story with Cory and the future she'd always imagined. Charming and wise, knowing and witty, Meg Wolitzer delivers a novel about power and influence, ego and loyalty, womanhood and ambition. At its heart, The Female Persuasion is about the flame we all believe is flickering inside of us, waiting to be seen and fanned by the right person at the right time. It's a story about the people who guide and the people who follow (and how those roles evolve over time), and the desire within all of us to be pulled into the light.

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The Outsider: A Novel by Stephen King 

The Outsider: A Novel by Stephen King
An unspeakable crime. A confounding investigation. At a time when the King brand has never been stronger, he has delivered one of his most unsettling and compulsively readable stories. An eleven-year-old boy’s violated corpse is found in a town park. Eyewitnesses and fingerprints point unmistakably to one of Flint City’s most popular citizens. He is Terry Maitland, Little League coach, English teacher, husband, and father of two girls. Detective Ralph Anderson, whose son Maitland once coached, orders a quick and very public arrest. Maitland has an alibi, but Anderson and the district attorney soon add DNA evidence to go with the fingerprints and witnesses. Their case seems ironclad. As the investigation expands and horrifying answers begin to emerge, King’s propulsive story kicks into high gear, generating strong tension and almost unbearable suspense. Terry Maitland seems like a nice guy, but is he wearing another face? When the answer comes, it will shock you as only Stephen King can.

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Shelter in Place by Nora Roberts

Shelter in Place by Nora Roberts
It was a typical evening at a mall outside Portland, Maine. Three teenage friends waited for the movie to start. A boy flirted with the girl selling sunglasses. Mothers and children shopped together, and the manager at the video-game store tending to customers. Then the shooters arrived. The chaos and carnage lasted only eight minutes before the killers were taken down. But for those who lived through it, the effects would last forever. In the years that followed, one would dedicate himself to a law enforcement career. Another would close herself off, trying to bury the memory of huddling in a ladies' room, hopelessly clutching her cell phone--until she finally found a way to pour her emotions into her art. But one person wasn't satisfied with the shockingly high death toll at the DownEast Mall. And as the survivors slowly heal, find shelter, and rebuild, they will discover that another conspirator is lying in wait--and this time, there might be nowhere safe to hide.
 

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The Thinnest Air by Minka Kent

The Thinnest Air by Minka Kent
Meredith Price is the luckiest woman alive. Her husband, Andrew, is a charming and successful financial broker. She has two lovely stepchildren and is living in affluence in a mountain resort town. After three years of marriage, Meredith’s life has become predictable. Until the day she disappears. Her car has been discovered in a grocery store parking lot—purse and phone undisturbed on the passenger seat, keys in the ignition, no sign of struggle, and no evidence of foul play. It’s as if she vanished into thin air. It’s not like Meredith to simply abandon her loved ones. And no one in this town would have reason to harm her. When her desperate sister, Greer, arrives, she must face a disturbing question: What if no one really knows Meredith at all? For Greer, finding her sister isn’t going to be easy…because where she’s looking is going to get very, very dark.
 

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The Great Alone: A Novel by Kristin Hannah

The Great Alone: A Novel by Kristin Hannah
Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier. Thirteen-year-old Leni, a girl coming of age in a tumultuous time, caught in the riptide of her parents’ passionate, stormy relationship, dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family. She is desperate for a place to belong. Her mother, Cora, will do anything and go anywhere for the man she loves, even if means following him into the unknown. At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers. In a wild, remote corner of the state, they find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women. The long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals make up for the Allbrights’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources. But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within. In their small cabin, covered in snow, blanketed in eighteen hours of night, Leni and her mother learn the terrible truth: they are on their own. In the wild, there is no one to save them but themselves.
 

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Lost Lake: A Novel by Sarah Addison Allen

Lost Lake: A Novel by Sarah Addison Allen
The first time Eby Pim saw Lost Lake, it was on a picture postcard. Just an old photo and a few words on a small square of heavy stock, but when she saw it, she knew she was seeing her future. That was half a life ago. Now Lost Lake is about to slip into Eby's past. Her husband George is long passed. Most of her demanding extended family are gone. All that's left is a once-charming collection of lakeside cabins succumbing to the Southern Georgia heat and damp, and an assortment of faithful misfits drawn back to Lost Lake year after year by their own unspoken dreams and desires. It's a lot, but not enough to keep Eby from relinquishing Lost Lake to a developer with cash in hand, and calling this her final summer at the lake. Until one last chance at family knocks on her door. Lost Lake is where Kate Pheris spent her last best summer at the age of twelve, before she learned of loneliness, and heartbreak, and loss. Now she's all too familiar with those things, but she knows about hope too, thanks to her resilient daughter Devin, and her own willingness to start moving forward. Perhaps at Lost Lake her little girl can cling to her own childhood for just a little longer... and maybe Kate herself can rediscover something that slipped through her fingers so long ago. One after another, people find their way to Lost Lake, looking for something that they weren't sure they needed in the first place: love, closure, a second chance, peace, a mystery solved, a heart mended. Can they find what they need before it's too late?

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 Roomies by Christina Lauren

 Roomies by Christina Lauren
For months Holland Bakker has invented excuses to descend into the subway station near her apartment, drawn to the captivating music performed by her street musician crush. Lacking the nerve to actually talk to the gorgeous stranger, fate steps in one night in the form of a drunken attacker. Calvin Mcloughlin rescues her, but quickly disappears when the police start asking questions. Using the only resource she has to pay the brilliant musician back, Holland gets Calvin an audition with her uncle, Broadway’s hottest musical director. When the tryout goes better than even Holland could have imagined, Calvin is set for a great entry into Broadway—until his reason for disappearing earlier becomes clear: he’s in the country illegally, his student visa having expired years ago. Seeing that her uncle needs Calvin as much as Calvin needs him, a wild idea takes hold of her. Impulsively, she marries the Irishman, her infatuation a secret only to him. As their relationship evolves and Calvin becomes the darling of Broadway—in the middle of the theatrics and the acting-not-acting—will Holland and Calvin to realize that they both stopped pretending a long time ago?
 

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Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
Envisioning a summer vacation in the humble Singapore home of a boy she hopes to marry, Chinese American Rachel Chu is unexpectedly introduced to a rich and scheming clan that strongly opposes their son's relationship with an American girl.
 

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Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orisha) by Tomi Adeyemi

Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orisha) by Tomi Adeyemi
Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls. But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope. Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good. Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.
 

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Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.
 

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The Hating Game: A Novel by Sally Thorne

The Hating Game: A Novel by Sally Thorne
Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman hate each other. Not dislike. Not begrudgingly tolerate. Hate. And they have no problem displaying their feelings through a series of ritualistic passive aggressive maneuvers as they sit across from each other, executive assistants to co-CEOs of a publishing company. Lucy can’t understand Joshua’s joyless, uptight, meticulous approach to his job. Joshua is clearly baffled by Lucy’s overly bright clothes, quirkiness, and Pollyanna attitude. Now up for the same promotion, their battle of wills has come to a head and Lucy refuses to back down when their latest game could cost her her dream job…But the tension between Lucy and Joshua has also reached its boiling point, and Lucy is discovering that maybe she doesn’t hate Joshua. And maybe, he doesn’t hate her either. Or maybe this is just another game.

Posted at 07:00 AM in Summer Fun | Permalink

Tags: books, pleasure reading, reading, summer reading, summer reading list for adults

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Grown Up Fun for Summer Gatherings

Welcome June! Summer weather has arrived. Kids are out of school. So it's time to bring on the barbeques, pool parties, picnics, and family reunions.

While the food is traditionally the star of summer celebrations, these delicious cocktails will put the mm in your summer!

It should go without saying, drink responsibly.

GrownUpFunforSummerGatherings

 

Cucumber-Gin-and-Tonic 2

Cucumber Gin & Tonic via The Kitchen is my Playground

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Frozen Strawberry Starburst

Frozen Strawberry Starburst via Life of a Ginger

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Watermelon Basil Moonshine via Pink Heels Pink Truck

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Fizzy Pineapple Punch

Fizzy Pineapple Punch via Chunky Chef

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Strawberry Sangria 7

Fresh Strawberry Sangria via The Kitchen is my Playground

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Purple Passion Potion #5

Purple Passion Potion #5 via Life of a Ginger

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Pineapple Vodka Limeade Recipe

Pineapple Vodka Limeade Recipe via Home Cooking Memories

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Jalapeño Pineapple Margaritas

Jalapeño Pineapple Margaritas via With Salt and Wit

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Carolina Sweet Tart

Carolina Sweet Tart via Life of a Ginger

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Pomegranate Limeade Sparkler

Pomegranate Limeade Sparkler via Snappy Gourmet

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Related Articles:

Patriotic Party Foods

6 Watermelon-Themed Summer Treats

10 Summer Potluck Recipes

12 Summer Barbecue Dishes

Posted at 07:00 AM in Summer Fun | Permalink

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7 Scrumptious Summer Fruit Snacks

With kids home for the summer parents are going to hear "I'm hungry" about 3.5 million times over the next three months. These tasty, easy to make, healthy(ish) fruit snacks will curb their hunger and keep even your pickiest eaters happy.

7ScrumptiousSummerFruitSnacks

Scrumptious Summer Snacks

Watermelon Pizza
Watermelon Pizza via Watermelon Pizza via Choosing Chia

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Rainbow Fruit Cup via My Frugal Adventures
Rainbow Fruit Cup via My Frugal Adventures

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Frozen Yogurt Strawberries via Glamour
Frozen Yogurt Covered Strawberries via Glamour

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Grape poppers via This Grandma is Fun
Grape Poppers via This Grandma is Fun

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Frozen Fruit Bark via Courtney's Sweets
Frozen Fruit Bark via Courtney's Sweets

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Fruit Kabobs via By Stephanie Lynn
Fruit Kabobs via By Stephanie Lynn

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Strawberry Brownie Skewers via One Little Project
Strawberry Brownie Skewers via One Little Project

Posted at 07:00 AM in Classroom Activities & Party Ideas, End of the School Year, Summer Fun | Permalink

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5 Summer Volunteering Ideas for Tweens & Teens

Teen Volunteer Ideas

Don't miss these 5 unique volunteering ideas, great for older kids and teenagers, that will have them helping others and picking up a few lessons along the way this summer:

Summer Volunteer Ideas

Coach or Mentor

Encourage your young athlete or bookworm to share his or her expertise with kids from your neighborhood, faith group or local children's organization. Teaching free lessons, mentoring or even tutoring is a great way for teens to give back using the skills and knowledge they already have.

Book Drive

Summer months don't always have to be lazy! Encourage your tweens and teens to coordinate a book drive with their friends and neighbors that involves collection, sorting and donating to the local library or children's shelter.

Feeding Others

Summertime for many kids in this country means months without access to meals which were provided by the cafeteria during the school year. Find an organization near your family with a mission to help feed children in the community who would otherwise go hungry and find out how your tween or teen can get involved whether by donating or volunteering their time.

Green Movements

While the warm summer days allow for more outside play, think even greener with volunteer opportunities for your family that help the environment. Whether it's a new recycling or composting initiative in your own house, or a neighborhood project to coordinate a monthly clean sweep of green spaces and the local park, the eco-friendly ideas are on trend for teens and tweens looking to make a difference.

Kindness Scavenger Hunt

Host a kindness scavenger hunt, promoting small acts of kindness in your community! From holding the door for someone to recycling to leaving a friendly note for a neighbor, spreading kindness through this challenge will be fun and thought-provoking. Have your tweens or teens come up with the hunt challenges themselves, or work with fellow parents to design the framework for the adventure.

 

Related Posts:

Using Social Media to Build Volunteer Communities

Meaningful Summer Volunteer Ideas for Kids

Family Volunteering

Posted at 04:45 AM in Summer Fun, Summer of Service, Volunteering by the Season | Permalink

Tags: family volunteering, kids volunteering, summer activities for kids, summer volunteering for teens, volunteer ideas for kids, volunteer ideas for teenagers, volunteer ideas for tweens

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Don’t Let the Summer Slip Away

Have a Family Summer Tech Plan

By: Devorah Heitner, Raising Digital Natives

When summer draws near, parents get excited about outdoor activities for their kids. Perhaps it brings back memories of our own childhoods—playing outdoors with friends, going to camp, taking family vacations, and other great activities. There’s so much to do!

Because our memories of summers past tend to be idealized, we rarely include technology as a part of the picture. We may think back to watching TV on a rainy day—but our memories are more about riding our bikes, swimming, and playing kickball.

Summer Tech Plan

Our kids’ world today looks different from ours, though. For tweens, technology contributes a lot to their social world. how they connect—and feel connected. While we still want them to enjoy all the outdoor activities that the summer has to offer, idealizing an “unplugged” summer is not likely to go over well.

For parents, part of the appeal of unplugging is about offering some relief for their kids after a long year of doing school work on computers, gaming, and socializing with peers via texting and social media. It’s stressful, and finally there’s a chance for a break. Parents love the idea of their kids unplugging, even when they themselves don’t know how to do it—even if they want to.

However, kids may or may not be on board with this idea. Some kids may relish it, other kids will resist it. How you handle it is entirely up to you, but the biggest thing that I can suggest is to HAVE A PLAN.

Today’s kids are used to structured time, and once the school year’s over, that time can get filled up by passive, “empty” activities. Parents who don’t have a plan feel that the summer “slipped away” and that they could have done more to help their kids fill the gap in structured time. It doesn’t mean that you have to chart out every minute—but you’ll feel better if you have an overall working plan.

The most important part of your plan is to have a plan:

1. Go cold turkey. It’s hard to be successful with this approach without changing their environment. But it’s important to retain their social structure too. Day camps are great for this. Sleep-away camps might even be better, since unplugging is often required—taking parental enforcement out of the equation (the idea of unplugging at camp has gotten so popular that there are even grown-up unplugged camps such as Grounded). 

One camper told me that all the way to camp, she dreads unplugging and leaving her phone with her parents. But then after the first day, she doesn’t miss it.

“All my camp friends are right there, we talk in the bunks and all the time—so I don’t really need to check my phone.”


She admitted that she usually spends a couple of hours “catching up” on the ride home.

Kids Summer Camp2. Go all in. Maybe unplugging is going to be difficult to impossible. Consider embracing that—just do so intentionally and with a plan. There are a lot of great programs that offer safe, tech-based fun for your kids. Some are more social, such as Minecraft camp, where kids can play and interact in a structured environment. Other programs are more educational, such as Scratch Camp, where kids learn to code—or Robotics Camps, where they learn how to build robots.

Imagine that your kids actually want to keep learning! To extend the school year, in a way—but to write their own curriculum and do things that are of high-interest to them. This can not only be fun for them, but incredibly productive. After all, they’ll be gaining skills and new experiences that may serve them well in their studies—or even in their future careers!

3. Co-create the plan. You’ll get better buy-in if you include your kids in the decision-making process. Talk to them about the pros and cons of unplugging. Would you unplug with them? Maybe take the challenge together? You’d probably each learn a lot about your relationship with your devices.

Tweens are at a critical point in determining their identities and setting (and testing!) boundaries. Helping them feel “in control” of the decision can be a huge confidence boost. Imagine the difference in explaining to their friends: “My parents are making me unplug” vs. “I decided to try unplugging for the summer.” Empowerment is never a risk to social standing.  

4. Mind yourself too! One of the unintended consequences of your plan is that it can be difficult for parents, too. I hear from parents often who say that it’s hard for them to go “cold turkey” in communicating with their kids who are away at camp—or even at their grandparents’ house. It can be a great relief, but it can be stressful too. 

Many camps realize this, and some even post images on social media for update-starved parents!

There’s a lot to consider, but it’s good to have a plan—not one based on idealism, but on your family’s unique needs instead. You can help your kids create lasting memories either way, whether it’s outdoor fun or unleashing their creativity with technology. Or both. Just don’t be passive about it, or you could get to the end of the summer and realize you spent it all looking at other people's vacations or watching reruns!

 

Devorah HeitnerAbout the Author: Devorah Heitner, PhD is the founder and director of Raising Digital Natives, a resource for parents and schools seeking advice on how to help children thrive in a world of digital connectedness. 17,000 people have viewed her recent TEDx on Empathy in the Digital Age. An experienced speaker, workshop leader, and parent coach, Dr. Heitner speaks at schools across the United States. She is writing a handbook for parents, titled, “Raising Your Digital Native.” Dr. Heitner has a Ph.D. in Media/Technology and Society from Northwestern University she is delighted to be raising her own digital native, too.

Posted at 03:30 AM in Summer Fun | Permalink

Tags: kids and technology, parenting ideas, tech free camps, unplug camps, unplugged summer, unplugging this summer

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How to Avoid Summer Learning Loss

Programs & Resources for Your Child | Spelling City

Sometimes getting kids to turn off the tv and attempt to read a book during their Summer break is like pulling teeth, you know what we're talking about! Experts say those months off from school, however, can lead to serious learning loss, putting kids further back when the new school year starts than ahead of the curve where you want them to be.

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That's why it's important to incorporate those things kids enjoy doing during Summer into learning experiences they can take with them. Interactive programs for iPad and computer from Spelling City spell success in avoiding the summer slide > with games & engaging programs that will have kids asking to play more!

VolunteerSpot friend and guest blogger, Natasha, or HousefulofNicholes.com shares in her own post (published June 12th, 2014) about Spelling City . . .

It’s officially the end of the school year for us! Nathaniel graduates this morning, and we’re entering into that time where we all want a break, but I know that if we slack off too much, I’ll be met with severely atrophied brain muscles in the fall. Well, probably not Nathaniel, since he will be attending summer school as required by the scholarship committee that he’s receiving. I still want to do my part, and make sure that he keeps all of that greatness at the forefront, while still allowing him to learn in a relaxed setting. This is where Spelling City will help me. 

Spelling-City

I’m not sure how your children feel about learning during the summer time, but I only have an issue with my oldest. When school lets out, he wants to be OFF! I figured though, with this mandatory summer school, I could sneak right in and piggyback there.

I’m also thinking of starting the Ladybug on this program as well. I’m noticing more and more, that she is asking the definition of words, or sharing her definition of them with her twin brother and sister. This lets me know that she is working to expand that great little mind of hers and fill it to the brim with knowledge. Words are definitely powerful, and knowing several words that mean the same thing can . . . 

Read the rest of Natasha's post here

 

Related Articles:

5 Tips for Preventing Summer Learning Loss

Websites that Make Summer Learning Fun

Summer Slide Resources on Pinterest

 

Posted at 03:30 AM in Classroom Activities & Party Ideas, Summer Fun | Permalink

Tags: spelling city, summer learning loss, summer learning loss programs, summer learning programs, summer slide ideas, summer slide resources

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Summer Family Fun Ideas

How to Keep Your Kids Entertained (and Safe) Over the Summer

By Mary Anne Keegan, CMO Amber Alert GPS 

Do you want your children to watch TV all summer?

Of course not.  Some television is fine, of course, but your children should also be playing outdoors. They should be exploring, playing games, and having fun. Remember all the fantastic adventures you had as a kid? Imagining pirate ships and dragons while running through the woods in your backyard? Playing tag with your siblings? Building forts? Jumping into the pool while yelling “cannonball!”?

Summer FunThese are the joys of childhood (and summer) that you want your children to experience. But you also want them to stay safe (and you want yourself to enjoy peace-of-mind). How can you encourage your children to stay active this summer? And how can you keep an eye on them in the process?

Here’s your guide to a happy, safe summer:

Fun Summer Activities

“Mom, I’m bored!”

“Mom, there’s nothing to do!”

Even the most creative kids can run out of ideas when a whole summer stretches endlessly in front of them. Before they turn their attention back to Minecraft, engage them in these activities:

Whole-Family Fun

Explore – Catch a ball game or other local sporting event. Visit a farmer’s market. Or check out the free events your town or village offers—many have free summer concerts, movies and more.

Make Sundaes – Gather together all the random baking supplies and toppings in your cabinet (chocolate chips, sprinkles, crumbled up graham crackers) and throw a make-your-own sundae party.

Go Retro – Introduce your kits to all the “retro” toys you loved as a kid—jacks, marbles, kites, and soap bubbles. Who says you need to be plugged in to have fun?

Camping – Go on a camping trip (or go camping in your own backyard!). Launch a scavenger hunt for items you can find out in nature.

Silly Sports – Set up wastebasket “hoops” and play indoor basketball with balled-up socks or wads of paper. Throw water balloons at each other. Wear swimsuits and run through the sprinklers.

Craft – Hit up Pinterest and search for “kids’ crafts.” You can whittle away several rainy days with the ideas you’ll find.

Staying Safe

While your kids are having fun, you’ll relax knowing that they’re safe and secure. Here are a few tips that can help your children stay protected – and help you enjoy better peace-of-mind.

Prepare – Make sure they know all essential emergency contact info (your address, phone number, hometown, their parents’ email addresses).

List - Keep emergency numbers clearly listed in a central place for all members of the household: poison control, pediatrician, local urgent care center, etc.

Check In – Use Amber Alert GPS to keep an eye on your children’s whereabouts. You’ll receive accurate location information, and your children will be able to call you with the push of a button.

Mother's Day DonationsCreate Boundaries – Set up a safe zone that’s guarded by a “virtual boundary” through the Amber Alert GPS system.  You’ll receive an instant alert when your child enters and exits this boundary. If your child is at summer camp, for example, you can get an alert whenever your child exits the campgrounds.

Teach – Teach them basic safety tips: don't get in the car with strangers; don’t take candy from strangers; if a stranger offers you a ride, report it to the nearest trusted adult. If mom or dad are not around, teach your kids to report it to their caregiver, such as a camp counselor or a soccer coach.

Cross - Instruct them in how to become smart pedestrians. Practice checking traffic both ways before crossing the street, crossing at designated crosswalks, and walking instead of running.

First Aid – Keep a first-aid kit in a convenient location and make sure everyone knows where it.

Sunproof – Make sure kids always wear sunblock when outside, even when the weather is overcast or rainy. Hats and sunglasses are also wise for bright days.

Hydrate – Any time your kids are active or are playing out in the sun, provide them with water bottles (no pop or high-sugar juices!) and remind them to take sips regularly, even if they don’t feel thirsty.

Final Thoughts

It's important to keep your kids safe, but it’s also critical to encourage them to stay active and engaged.

You want to protect your children. We all do. But you can't lock them indoors, especially not during the gorgeous summer months. Encourage their natural curiosity, find smart ways to channel their energy, and (gasp!) even let them skin their knee every once in awhile.

With the Amber Alert GPS smart locator slipped into a child’s pocket, backpack, or clipped onto clothing you can call and find each other anytime – so he or she can discover the world around them. 

Your children will be OK. Exploring is a natural part of childhood.

 

Learn more about Amber Alert GPS.

Posted at 08:49 AM in Summer Fun | Permalink

Tags: amber alert gps, family safety tips, family summer fun, keeping family safe, summer fun ideas, summer safety tips

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5 Tips for Preventing Summer Learning Loss

Parents, this one’s for you! You’ve heard it before —“summer slide,” “summer slump,” “summer learning loss,” EEK! The few months kids have off don’t need to have a detrimental impact on their academic performance during the school year though the trend seems to lean that way.

Summer Slide Infographic

Carson-Dellosa Publishing  authored the a Summer Learning Loss Study among teachers and parents nationwide in early 2014 and discovered:

  • 64% of parents surveyed are at least somewhat concerned about summer learning loss, and a 27% are very concerned.
  • However, only 27% of parents say they feel well informed about summer learning loss and how to prevent it. 
  • As well, 76% of parents wish schools would do more to inform parents about summer learning loss and how to help prevent it.

 A real opportunity presents itself to join a conversation among schools and parents about summer learning loss, providing them with information and resources to help.  We know kids need a break during the summer though, so where do you find a cohesive middle ground that helps students enjoy their summer while still keeping their minds sharp?

Try These 5 Tips To Prevent Summer Learning Loss

1. Go out and learn! Look to your local public library, children’s museums, and science centers for free or low-cost events and camps for kids during the summer.

2. Pick up Summer Bridge Activity® books online or at your favorite retailer. For the last 15 years, Carson-Dellosa’s Summer Bridge Activities® workbooks have been the best-selling summer learning series and a well-loved resource among both parents and teachers.

You may be thinking that workbooks sound an awful lot like work, especially during summer break. How will you motivate your child to do math when it's hot and sunny? We've made it easy.

 

Summer Bridge Activity WorkbooksEach book is bursting with:

  • Full-color pages and kid-friendly illustrations
  • Summer reading lists
  • Outdoor and fitness activities
  • Science experiments (great boredom busters for indoor days)
  • Social studies exercises
  • Reward stickers
  • Flash cards
  • A completion certificate

In just 15 minutes a day—or about the time they have to wait between eating lunch and jumping back in the pool—kids can keep their brains sharp all summer long!

Try a sample of any grade book, for FREE! CLICK HERE

Bigstock-family-reading3. Read, read, read. Read with your children or encourage them to read on their own. Make it a part of the daily summertime routine, whether in the car, afternoon, or at night. Encourage them to explore new media formats, such as age-appropriate blogs and news websites, as well as books, magazines, and eBooks. Mix up their reading list with both fiction and non-fiction. Consider starting a neighbor reading club for kids!

Looking for grade appropriate reading lists?  They are available in every free sample of Sumer Bridge Activities®. Click HERE

4. Travel Smart! Plan mind-bending games for the car or plane ride. Have educational apps and activity workbooks downloaded and ready to go on your kid’s mobile devices so they can have fun while learning on the go.

5.  Make Preventing Summer Slide a Priority! Don’t let June and July fly by without another thought to your kid’s continued learning. Mark your fridge   or online calendars with times set aside for working in activity books or reading together; do it regularly and it will become routine for your kids amidst all their other summer activities.

 

More resources: 

*Average research findings report 2.5 months learning loss per student, the highest losses occurring in math and spelling. http://education.jhu.edu/newhorizons/Journals/spring2010/why-summer-learning

** Summer reading loss is cumulative; these children do not typically catch up in the fall. Their peers are progressing with their skills while they are making up for the summer learning loss. By the end of 6th grade, children who lose reading skills during the summer are on average two years behind their peers.

http://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/articles/78894.aspx

 

Posted at 03:30 AM in Summer Fun | Permalink

Tags: preventing summer learning loss, preventing summer slump, summer bridge series, summer bridge workbooks, summer learning loss, summer slide ideas, summer slide resources

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Summer of Service 2012 | Recap

This summer we were honored to share unique and personal perspectives on service, volunteering and citizen philanthropy from leading guest experts and writers in the field.  Summer of Service reminded us that the universal notion of service and giving back knows no boundaries - be it time, age, or motivation -- we would like to THANK each of our guests who made this amazing summer series possible - your contributions were inspiring and are very much appreciated!

Don't miss a single post in this inspiring series:

SummerofService

Shara Lawrence-Weiss of Mommy Perks shared creative family-friendly service ideas for the summer.

Myrdin Thompson of MomCongress gave a moving perspective on the essence of volunteering - what it takes and why it matters.

Kerala Taylor if KaBoom! showed us how volunteering in the digital age can be fun and accessible!

Jennifer Martin of AARP's CreateTheGood illumined inspiring stories of "boomers" in service and how one can make a difference at any age.

Susan Ellis, founder of Energize, Inc, gave us the low down on trending resources for online and micro-volunteering.

Brent Croxton of RealizedWorth moved us with insight into connecting to our fellow human beings through the transformational power of volunteering.

Jen Barth of SchoolHouseSupplies inspired us with  her piece on engaging volunteers through the power of story.

Please join us this summer in celebrating service and volunteering!

Posted at 03:30 AM in Summer Fun, Summer of Service | Permalink

Tags: family service ideas, family volunteering idea, kid volunteering, micro volunteering, microvolunteering, online volunteering, power of storytelling, power of volunteering, service to others, summer of service, summer of service 2012, volunteering

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A Summer of Fun, A Summer of Service

As August begins, it's time for us at team VolunteerSpot to get ready for Back-to-School and so we're wrapping up our Summer of Service blog series. This June and July we were privileged to feature  leading guest bloggers each week sharing their unique and personal perspectives on service, volunteering and citizen philanthropy. Summer of Service was so much fun -- we would like to thank each of our guests who made this inspiring summer series possible -- your contributions were well read and are very much appreciated!

Here are the highlights:

  • The series offered ideas from Jessica Kirkwood of the HandsOn Network, on how to recruit, retain and recognize volunteers through social media. 
  • We had an insider's view on volunteering from Chris Dumas, the founder of NonprofitWebinars.com, giving us a glimpse into the reasons why people volunteer, and more importantly, what causes them to stick with it.
  • Jyl Patte, the founder of Mom It Forward and the co-organizer of the evo’10 Conference, shared her tips on how to make a difference with the click of a mouse, proving that community service IS possible from the comfort of your own home. 
  • We heard from a young do-gooder, Crystal Yan, co-producer of the Social Startup Summit, on how to engage kids in volunteering, keeping them interested is always hard, especially during the summer months!
  • The founder of Realized Worth, Chris Jarvis gave us ways to measure the strength of our volunteer programs, discussing ways to match what your volunteers want with what your program is providing them.
  • Debra Askanase, the founder of Community Organizer 2.0, revealed what makes her tick as a volunteer, and how every volunteer can be a volunteer organizer.
  • The mysteries of the millenial volunteer were uncovered by Kari Saratovsky, V.P. of Social Innovation at the Case Foundation and publisher of the foundation’s Social Citizens Blog. Kari provided us with ways to connect with the elusive generation of 20-something volunteers. 
  • And finally, Sloane Berrent, a nationally recognized speaker on community building and author of the blog, The Causemopolitan, kick-started the series with a step-by-step plan of how to get involved within your community.

* * *

We hope you found new ideas and inspiration for getting involved, leading service projects, and engaging your volunteers. For those of you headed back to school this month, good luck on your school year and we invite you to bring a passion for service and action with you! And for all those who still have a couple more weeks, consider yourself lucky, you still have time to work on your summer of service. Please check back with us and share your stories and learnings.

Here's to a fantastic end of the summer, and an incredible start to the school year!

Posted at 04:00 AM in Summer Fun, Summer of Service, Volunteering in the Community | Permalink | Comments (3)

Tags: back to school, back-to-school, Case Foundation, Chris Dumas, Chris Jarvis, Community Organizer 2.0, Crystal Yan, Debra Askanase, evo'10, HandsOn Network, Jessica Kirkwood, Jyl Pattee, Kari Saratovsky, Mom It Forward, Realized Worth, Sloane Berrent, Social Citizens blog, Social Startup Summit, Summer of Service, The Causemopolitan, volunteer, volunteering, volunteerism, VolunteerSpot

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Websites That Make Summer Learning Fun | Tidy Thursday

Here at VolunteerSpot, we’re committed to simplifying the busy lives of parents, teachers and active volunteers. Along that theme, we’re pleased to support your personal efforts in getting organized and gaining quality time and present guest organization expert April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach!  Each Thursday through Labor Day, April will share helpful tips and tricks to help us all de-clutter our lives. Today, April takes on Summer Learning -- thanks, April!

* * *

Fun Websites that Prevent Summer Brain Drain

By April Welch

Laptop Driving The Teenager to school this morning I couldn't help but notice how empty the high school parking lot was and in the back of my mind I could hear The Pipsqueak's voice "only 2 1/2 days left of school Mom!"

This brings such a mixed reaction for most of us out there.

On the one hand ~ Whoo-Hoo! Vacation time!

On the other hand ~ how am I going to keep summer slacker habits from becoming the norm?

By now, we're all so exhausted from 'end of the year' events that coming home & flopping down sounds pretty enticing. And honestly? I encourage you do to so! {yes, you read that right. The Organizer just told you to be lazy!}

Once you've given your mind and body a good rest ~ then what?

For most of my clients, they like the idea of having a "family meeting" and discussing what they want from their summer. In my own family, I start with the following question:

"In the fall, how would you like to answer the infamous question:

  'What did you do this summer?'" 

The discussion quickly gets going...  

 "a family road trip"
"go fishing"
"build a neighborhood fort"
"have a movie marathon"
"learn to cook a favorite meal"
"go camping"

{yes, these are all real answers from my kiddos} 

 As the ideas fly, the record keeper, takes notes. Once we've all voiced our thoughts we pull out the calendar & take a look at schedules. Dad's work, Mom's travel, any camp dates and then we start filling in the various adventures we intend to have. My only request is that we have at least one day home a week as a family for "off the radar" time.

Once all that is in place I move into the academic expectations. {surprisingly, no moaning & groaning here!} I'm aware of all those scary statistics out there about how the mind turns to mush in the matter of weeks when skills are unused! {often called Summer Slide or Summer Brain Drain} So, in preparation, I seek out ways to keep it fun. 

 Last summer we took a road trip as a family for 4 days. I had everyone choose a landmark they'd like to visit in our state and we planned our route accordingly. The morning we were set to leave I shared with everyone {including Dad} that I had pre-paid for our hotel stay however, the remainder of our budget was in "the envelope". As I pulled out of the driveway Dad opened "the envelope" to disclose $300 cash. {yes, a shocked look followed}

During our trip the kids had a bit of a wake up call while doing the math after we paid to fill the car up with gas. The Pipsqueak quickly became the Penny Pincher in the car. {He's usually my "I want ..." child}. They read the map & kept us on course. They took pictures of interesting sites and later told other family members about the historical items they saw. And all along they never realized I was sneaking in education!

This summer I'm taking a little more techno approach. I've found a few sites that I think will help me in my quest:

 

Math:     

TenMarks - I gotta say, I can't wait to dive into this site with the Pipsqueak! Based on your state's standards as well as your child's grade level {both exiting & entering} these guys create a personalized math curriculum! Best part? You create a reward system for them ~ hello motivation! I think the Pipsqueak will earn an iTunes song for every week he completes this summer {and maybe a trip to his favorite restaurant at the midway point! Yum yum!} 

 Reading:

Getting Boys to Read - This is an amazing site for all of us out there trying to help our non-reading boys get their necessary skills in {love their "out of the box" thinking}

 Ann K. Dolin, M.Ed., literacy expert and the president and director of Educational Connections, Inc., an in-home tutoring company in the D.C. area, recommends these other terrific summer reading sites: 

Headsprout - Early reading and reading comprehension (ages 4-10)
 
Study Dog - Interactive reading program in video game format. Pre-K to 2nd grade

 Scholastic - Summer Reading Challenge for students K-8; Click on Student Activities for writing.

If you have a reluctant reader, use Books on Tape.  Have your child read along to the author’s narration of the book. 

Writing:

Weebly - This is a site I use for our family website. Their template based site makes it easy to "drag & drop" elements and get a blog going ~ all for FREE! This is how I sneak in writing skills ~ the kids each have to write something about their adventures on the site.

I'd love to know what your plans are for keeping slacker habits at bay & avoiding that "summer slide" this year {let me know if you've found any good links I might of missed}. Be sure to leave comments so we can all learn!

Keepin' life tidy all summer long,

April

 

***April

April Welch is the founder of Simply Organized Online, LLC and shares her organizational expertise on her  blog, The Mental Clutter Coach.  In addition to her company, she speaks at conferences nationwide and gives helpful advice on how to effectively organize anything and everything. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* * *

At VolunteerSpot, we thought TenMarks was such a good idea that we enrolled in their affiliate program! If you’re interested in preventing the ‘summer slide’ and keeping your kid’s math skills up to grade level, please click the link below to learn more.  A percentage of your purchase helps support VolunteerSpot.  

 

Summer Math Program

 

{NOTE: All young people experience learning losses when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer. Research spanning 100 years shows that students typically score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do on the same tests at the beginning of the summer. (White, 1906; Heyns, 1978; Entwisle & Alexander 1992; Cooper, 1996; Downey et al, 2004). Most students lose about two months of grade level equivalency in mathematical computation skills over the summer months. Low-income students also lose more than two months in reading achievement, despite the fact that their middle-class peers make slight gains (Cooper, 1996).}

Posted at 04:00 AM in Personal Organization Tips, Summer Fun, Tidy Thursday, Volunteering at School | Permalink | Comments (1)

Tags: April Welch, GettingBoysToRead, Homework Practice, Math Practice, Summer Brain Drain, Summer Reading, Summer reading programs, Summer Slide, TenMarks, The Mental Clutter Coach, Tidy Thursdays

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Summer of Service: How to Get Involved

To inspire everyone to get out and give back to our communities this summer, we're excited to be hosting the Summer of Service on our blog!  Each Monday in June and July, we'll be featuring a fantastic guest blogger sharing his or her unique and personal perspective on service, volunteering and citizen philanthropy. Today, please welcome our first guest, Sloane Berrent, a nationally recognized speaker on community building and "cause-filled living" and author of the blog, The Causemopolitan. Thanks, Sloane!

* * *

How to Give Back

by Sloane Berrent

 

  403140491_d4ade202cc_o
I know what many people say. They want to give back but they don’t know how. They want to get involved and volunteer in their community but they don’t know where to start. Well, I’m here to help!

In just one hour, you’ll have the ideas, tools, resources and hopefully – motivation to get started. So let’s start this summer off with a new sense of how to give back. As my childhood babysitter used to say, “Time waits for no one.”

For a lot of people, they go online to volunteer websites and start scrolling through the options. Everything looks good, or nothing, or somewhere in between but they’re not sure what to pick. This is the vortex of indecision, and not where you should start!

First, block an hour from your calendar when you won’t be distracted and can sit and focus on the task at hand. Sit in a comfortable place with a blank piece of paper or in front of a blank document on your computer (with your browser closed!) and follow along with the exercise below. You’ll be identifying the key components needed to finding a nonprofit right for you and then we’ll provide the resources where you can find that match.

Ready? Let’s go!

Write down the names of nonprofits that interest you. These can be nonprofits you’ve donated to in the past, maybe you’ve participated in a walk or event or have read about a cause or charity and are interested in learning more. Geographic location doesn’t matter; just start making creating a list of those nonprofits.

Write down the type of nonprofits or causes that you’re passionate about. My list would look something like: economic development, grassroots environmental groups, women’s issues (specifically girls’ education and financial literacy), health issues (specifically malaria prevention and treatment) and poverty alleviation. For you maybe it’s children or pets or house building.  There is no right number to write down, if the list gets longer than five, prioritize your list to make going back later and looking at it easier for you.

Write down the type of skills or environment you want to volunteer in. Are you looking to lend your current professional expertise like create a marketing plan for a small nonprofit or provide legal counsel in a pro-bono setting or are you looking to do something completely different like plant a garden in a school or walk dogs at shelter? Do you want an opportunity you can do at home like translation services for an international aid organization or do you want to be around a group of people? Volunteer opportunities vary greatly as do the types of skills that they are looking for. Many nonprofits need volunteers to do critical items for them (mailings to donors and phone banks) but also offer other opportunities that aren’t as vital but provide one-on-one interaction with who they serve.

How much time do you have to give? Do you want to be a regular volunteer (once a week or once a month) or would you prefer to be called in as-needed? Do you want to sign up for a commitment for a certain period of time? Do you want to volunteer at night, or on weekends or during the day? Are you looking for an opportunity for a specific period of time like two weeks in July or something on-going? Do you want something local or are you looking for a destination volunteer opportunity? All of these questions help with the roadmap that is creating a filter system in advance to help you find the perfect match.

Many nonprofits could use pro-bono services or in-kind gifts. Volunteering doesn’t have to be a silo, if you can offer a mix of services, go for it! For example, last year I helped a homeless shelter start an e-newsletter to their donors but also fed the homeless. While they needed my hardware skills, I also really wanted to do the software part and was very upfront with them and we created a schedule that let me do both!

Remember, volunteering is not always the best place to pick up a new skill! Reading to inner city kids or becoming a mentor often come with mandatory training, but a nonprofit’s resources are extremely limited and it’s hard on them to be teaching all new skills. If you really want to help a nonprofit in an area unfamiliar to you, do your research first and educate yourself and then go to them with your new skill set.

Hopefully, you now have a list in front of you that defines what causes you are passionate about, what interests you, how you are looking to give back and how often. Now all you have to do is find a place to volunteer! Reach out to people you know who are active in the community and be specific about what you’re looking for, use social media to tell your friends you’re looking to volunteer and asking them for help finding the right opportunity. Do your online research!

Volunteering is one of the most rewarding activities in my life; I hope this activity helps you find the same passion to create a cause-filled life of your own!

Resources to Get Started:

Idealist

Volunteer Match

Serve.Gov

AllforGood's search tool on VolunteerSpot

* * *

Sloane

Sloane Berrent is the founder of Answer With Action, an integrated marketing, public relations and fundraising consultancy specializing in cause-based campaigns. A former Kiva Fellow, she is the co-creator of “Cause It’s My Birthday,” a nationwide malaria prevention campaign. In January 2010, Sloane attended the World Economic Forum as the citizen journalist for MySpace and The Wall Street Journal. She is a nationally recognized speaker on community building and "cause-filled living" and writes on her blog, The Causemopolitan.  Currently residing in New Orleans, she co-founded NOLAlicious, a weekly e-newsletter about New Orleans and organized the first CrisisCampNOLA. You can also find her on Twitter (@sloane).

Posted at 04:00 AM in Summer Fun, Summer of Service, Volunteer Action - Motivation and Coordination, Volunteering by the Season | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: cause, charity, nonprofit, Sloane Berrent, Summer of Service, The Causemopolitan, volunteer, volunteering

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