In our home, we home-school though a private school in Ann Arbor Michigan named "Clonlara".  We choose this school because it has over 40 years of home-schooling experience and has students world-wide.  I choose it personally because they are much better at keeping records than I am, and though it provides broad lee-way on curriculum, keeps me focused on where my child should be academically. . .a.k.a. I need structure!.. :)

Clonlara also encourages volunteering in some capacity for the student in home-schooling in their communities.  And I for one think this is an awesome idea!

It is vitally important for a child to feel connected to his/her community, whether it is through their place of worship, their city, their country or their world.  My daughter for example is 12, and volunteers in the Sunday school classes through her church.  She loves doing it, and loves the children.  It wouldn't matter if there was a severe storm watch out in our area, if it is her day to volunteer, we get there (her orders, not mine)

She is ready though to spread her wings and add to her volunteering portfolio.  So we are now beginning to discuss the things that she cares deeply about...children, elderly, sick, dying, environment, politics, teaching English, or reading to the blind???  There is a lot she cares about, so she is going to keep narrowing it down until she comes up with a few that are dear to her heart.

I in the meantime am checking out volunteer sites, not only for this area, but nation-wide so I can pass on this information to you, and I have come across a site that seems very helpful in planning all this.

The site is called Volunteer Match, and all you do is type in your zip code, how far you are willing to travel and press enter.  The next page you see is all the listings of volunteer opportunities in the area you have chosen.  It supplies the following information for you:

• Opportunity (what they need you to do)
• Organization (who needs the help)
• Location
• Date (some are special events, others are on-going needs)
• Great For (whether its good for teens, elderly etc...)

The "Great For" category is perfect for finding a opportunity for your teen.  Most companies seeking help list an age preference and makes your job a whole lot easier by not having to call around asking if they take 14 year olds.

If you belong to a local home-schooling group, you can also organize a teen volunteer group, help set it up, ask for volunteers, set monthly meetings, elect a leader, and let the kids go from there. They as a group can find a need to be filled. This is a fantastic way to foster new friendships also.

Discuss with your student whether they would like to contribute time to something or someone they care about, and continue to plan such things as time available to volunteer, and how they think they can help.  Thinking outside of one's self is extremely rare these days.  Equipping your home-school child with a volunteer experience, or on-going experiences is going to add to your child's character more than you know.

Volunteer Match