Some children join clubs to serve the community or explore their faith. Others prefer the spirit of competition that comes from youth sports. When looking for a club for your child, consider what your child hopes to get out of the experience and the various types of organizations available. Here is a quick list to give you some direction and help you and your child find the right club or team for them. Clubs that focus on volunteer work tout developing leadership skills, problem-solving skills, setting and achieving goals, working in teams, and communication skills. The Kiwanis is a volunteer organization with three levels of clubs for elementary through high school youths:
K-Kids for elementary school children Builders Club for middle school children Key Club for high school youth
In addition to the Kiwanis, check with other organizations near you that may work with youth volunteers. Hospitals, food banks, and pet shelters are good places to start. Many children have opportunities through Scouts that they wouldn’t otherwise have. Some top scouting organizations include:
Boy Scouts of America, which includes programs for both boys and girls of all ages including Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouts, and STEM Scouts Girl Scouts of the USA, which includes programs for girls of all ages including Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors Frontier Girls, which includes programs for girls of all ages including Penguins, Otters, Dolphins, Butterflies, Eagles, and Owls Quest Clubs by Curiosity Untamed, which uses badges and awards from Frontier Girls but offers leaders the ability to design their own scouting-style program for boys and girls SpiralScouts International, which offers programs for boys and girls including Raindrops, Fireflies, SpiralScouts, and Pathfinder Camp Fire, which offers programs for boys and girls including in-school and after-school programs as well as camps
Baseball and softball: Little League, PONY, Miracle League Cheerleading: Pop Warner Little Scholars Football: Pop Warner Little Scholars Ice hockey: USA Hockey Soccer: US Youth Soccer
Many towns and cities have their own recreation programs that run youth sports programs. You can also check with schools, community programs, and gyms that may sponsor teams or point you in the right direction. The activities vary by the club but usually include social and educational programs. Some religious clubs also do outreach and community service projects. Examples of faith-based clubs for kids include:
Awana for youth of various Protestant denominations Conquest! Boys Club for Catholic youth Young Judea Zionist Movement for Jewish youth
Contact your local church, synagogue, mosque, or other religious center for information on youth religious groups in your community. Groups that focus on math, science, and computers, for example, encourage leadership skills while helping children learn to work as a team. They are a place for kids to meet like-minded friends who share their passion for certain subjects and learning. Some academic clubs for kids include:
Future Business Leaders of America Junior Achievement Afterschool National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society
Schools also commonly offer academic clubs kids can join. If your child has a particular academic interest, check with their school to see if a related program is offered.
4-H STEM and Agriculture programs National FFA Organization
If these programs aren’t available in your area, look into creating a community garden with other children, or starting a gardening club or conservation group for kids. Contact local music schools and art studios for information on youth groups and programs. Libraries are another great resource for creative camps and programs geared to kids. For the child who loves reading, for example, consider forming a kids’ book club where children take turns choosing a favorite book to read and discuss together. Once you’ve worked out all the details, find a space to hold the club. You can ask the school principal or administrator to use the building after hours. Enlist some other adults to help you run the group and supervise the children. Finally, advertise in the community on social media, mailings, and flyers to find members and get started!
