From camp counselors to animal shelter volunteers, students are searching for fun and flexible ways to complete Student Service Learning volunteer hours during the summer. Students are seeking opportunities that not only fulfill school requirements, but also allow them to make a meaningful impact within their communities.
The Montgomery County Public Schools volunteer center works in partnership with local organizations to provide students with volunteer opportunities that qualify for SSL hours. Organizations are carefully reviewed to ensure that their volunteer programs meet the official guidelines. According to montgomerycountymd.gov, this process helps to support students’ personal growth and civic responsibility.
Volunteer programs such as Montgomery Parks Summer Camp or extended learning opportunities (ELO), allow students to build leadership and communication skills. In addition, nonprofit organizations that focus on sorting and distributing food, or participating in environmental projects such as park cleanups, can provide students with meaningful ways to support people in need.
Summer camp counselor programs are becoming an increasingly popular choice for students completing SSL hours, as they provide not only the number of hours received, but also opportunities to develop leadership and communication skills while working with younger campers. “I think Bullis CIT volunteer program is a great way to become a leader for teens ages 14 to 16 to develop leadership skills, while making an impact on younger campers. As a CIT, you help campers with their daily activities and inspire creativity. Even though the program provides up to 80 hours of service work, what motivates me most is setting a goal and accomplishing it through being consistent. Finishing the program feels rewarding because it shows the effort I put in for most of the summer last year and I’m hoping to continue putting in that effort this year as well,” freshman Olivia Dickerson said.
Students also are finding volunteer opportunities in sports such as soccer or swimming to be a meaningful way to help younger children gain comfort in their environment. By assisting with practices and offering encouragement, student volunteers can share the skills they have learned while building positive connections with younger participants. “Volunteering at Potomac Country Glen swimming pool is a really great experience because I love coaching little kids on my swim team and seeing their growth as a swimmer. I’m doing it because I believe student volunteers are needed the most with younger kids because you can give them one-on-one support and become a role model for them because you can teach them new learning skills like basic front and back floating in the water,” freshman Eleanor Finnegan said.
Freshman Luca Nieto said that he prefers volunteer opportunities that align with his future career goals because he finds that it is an effective way to gain industry experience and a real-world workforce experience. “I plan on working in dog shelters over the summer as well as a children’s sports camp because both opportunities will help me learn how to become a better team leader. I also hope these experiences will help me become a better problem-solver and a more effective leader by learning how to adapt to challenges. In addition, gaining real-world experience through volunteering can help prepare me for future jobs. I believe students should be motivated to exceed the limit of SSL hours, as it makes a positive impact,” Nieto said.
