service hour ideas needed

[kittle 10]

Can you share some ideas for service hours. My son just made First class and now needs 6 hours of service hours. Our Troop doesn't have very many chances for service hours and he was wanting some ideas that he could present to his SM for approval. We don't live in the same town as the Troop that we are members of. Maybe it could be something that he did for his own community.

[FScouter 24]

Page 88 of the Handbook has several ideas.

[Oak Tree 15]

I find the best, most reliable source of easy projects to be local parks. They always have an almost infinite backlog of projects that they'd like to tackle, some of which require no special skills or equipment. It also ties in nicely with the outdoor method.

 

Another easy source of projects is our church.

[frank10 12]

soon Our troop will be setting up our big tarp in front ofthe food bank to feed the mailmen as they do their food drive.

An other area troop reflags all veterans graves in town each year.

[scottteng 11]

Lets see what have the boys come up with lately two of them worked for Greyhound rescue, several have done the food bank, one was a volunteer in the library, have had some volunteer at their church, one just crossed over assisted at family camp, several were cub day camp workers, and the last Eagle project was for the Humane society. The requirements are a floor not a ceiling and most of our scouts stay involved. There is also a requirement for service hours in the school system which is a lot bigger hour wise than the boy scout requirements. As long as they bring in a note from the organization with a signature we pretty much let then pick where they do the hours. The only time we draft them is if our CO needs something.

[Lisabob 13]

At this time of year school libraries are often doing inventory and trying to figure out what they need to request to purchase next year. Your son might see if his librarian needs any assistance.

 

Memorial day and Flag day are approaching and veterans groups often welcome scouts' assistance at ceremonies.

 

It is a busy season for animal shelters and rescue groups.

 

The post office is doing a national food drive on May 10th.

 

Any community organization - food banks, churches, public libraries, friends of the parks, PTOs, Lions, Elks, Kiwanis, VFW, etc., are good groups to approach. The opportunities are only as limited as your scout's imagination and his SM's willingness to approve.

 

(Congrats again to your son!)

[msnowman 10]

When Nephew was looking for service hours this winter it was amazing the number of places that turned him down - including the local library. Apparently the library only wants your money, not your time. I hope you have far better luck at your local library.

 

Ultimately he did some time at a larger library in a neighboring town (in the children's room). He also volunteered for the school's BEAR night (Be Enthusiastic About Reading) that ended up being postponed. He also cleaned dog kennels for the local animal control officer. Now that it is spring there are always parks to be cleaned up, roadside trash gathered, etc.

 

Good luck, have fun and be safe

 

YiS

Michelle

[eagle90 125]

Many local towns have an annual spring cleanup day wher volunteers clean up parks, medians, roadways, etc. Our scouts have done this many times. Unfortunately this year it fell on a campout weekend, but that is normally a great source of service hours and a benefit to the community.