ideas for short Community Service project???

[Wishing on a star]

My son is in Scouts, and to move up to his next rank, he needs to do a Community Service Project this summer. Nothing Major... It can be something that can be done in one afternoon.

He likes working outdoors. He has now had a few small jobs in the neighborhood with mowing and yard work.

We are trying to come up with some interesting ideas, but somehow nothing is coming to mind. Of course, picking up trash along a road in the community is tried and true. But, there has to be something different or more interesting.

Do you guys have any ideas?
Thanks so much for any input!

 

[Glynis]

My son is also in Scouts and his den just did this project.

They talked to some people at the food bank, and found that a lot of people come into the food banks asking for stuff to make a birthday party for their small children. The food bank generally doesn't have stuff like that. So our Webelos den sent out flyers to the neighborhood asking for donations of cake mixes, frosting, candles, small party favors, etc. We gathered enough to put together 300 bags for the food bank. Each bag will have:

cake mix
frosting
candles
balloons
noise makers
small party favors (bubbles, play dough, etc)

This was a wonderful project, and a way to help the food bank!

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

has he thought about making sure that the traffic signs in a residential neighboorhood are visible and in good repair?

Maybe take a survey and if bushes/trees obscure seeing the signs or the oncomeing traffic, to either trim it back or alert city crews if necessary?

maybe see if there are a lot of small kids in the area playing that could necessitate putting up the "slow, children playing" signs that I have seen in some areas.

 

[momrek06]

My son is in Scouts, and to move up to his next rank, he needs to do a Community Service Project this summer. Nothing Major... It can be something that can be done in one afternoon.

He likes working outdoors. He has now had a few small jobs in the neighborhood with mowing and yard work.

We are trying to come up with some interesting ideas, but somehow nothing is coming to mind. Of course, picking up trash along a road in the community is tried and true. But, there has to be something different or more interesting.

Do you guys have any ideas?
Thanks so much for any input!

Call the VETERAN's ASSOCIATION in your town ... they may have something the boys could do OR call any CHURCH ... they always have projects ... OR call the TOWN ADMINISTRATOR's office in your Town, tell them your son is looking to do community service for rank advancement ... see if the TA has something the scouts could do!!!

Both my DS' are EAGLE Scouts!! They are 24&27yo and still to this day, IF it comes up, people commend them for reaching that rank.

I am proud of your son ... if is a fabulous organization.

 

[RangerPooh]

I think that the food bank idea is a good one, and one that is often not thought about. Last year I worked for an after school program in an inner city where every Thursday the kids were given food bags to take home with them for the weekend that had canned goods, juice boxes, cereal, and fruit snacks. The kids and their parents appreciated it. Have you considered calling your local food bank and seeing of they are in need of people to help put bags like this together?

 

[momrek06]

I thought of another one ... SOUP KITCHEN's ... call any soup kitchen in your COUNTY and see if you could set up a time for your son (have him take scouts with him, they ALL need hours for rank advancement) to work the soup kitchen.

 

[golfgal]

Do you have a "Feed My Starving Children" assembly point near you. That is a great way to volunteer and you can do it in just a couple hours.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Is there any graffiti in your town? There is in ours and scouts often have Saturday Clean-Ups and they cover the scribbles with donated paint.

It is really hard work, too. And so appreciated!

 

[Mrs.Toad]

If he likes working outdoors, have him plant some trees or maintain some trails. My dd's GS troop did a bunch of these types of projects last year. They planted a bunch of trees and painted fences at a State Park, they planted flowers and weeded at the City Center, they helped to clear a hiking trail in another state park.

Try asking some of the schools in your area. Sometimes they need playground maintenance done, like painting basketball backboards, attaching new nets, and pulling weeds out of the asphalt.

Good luck

 

[Pooh Crew]

Some things our boys have done:

built wooden benches for our school and sponsor church
cleaned up the flower beds at a nursing home
cleaned up flower beds at their school

I'll try to think of more...stumped right now.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Our troop has always been real good about arranging a "group service project" for the troop to do, like picking up trash in a local park, or setting up/taking down chairs for a community program (like for Memorial Day?) so that whoever needs service hours can get hours that way. They also count any hours that a scout helps on another scout's eagle project as creditable hours.

 

[McKelly]

Is there a Head Start program near you or a Salvation Army type daycare? Your son could collect gently used children's books, bring them in one afternoon, read to the kids and then have the kids take the books home.

When I was a Girl Scout leader, we did the "birthday boxes" for the Food Pantry, they were a big hit, and fun for the girls to make!!

 

[Ceila]

Maybe your son could contact either the local township office to ask about cleaning up a park or perhaps a nearby retirement community to see if they could use some help with outdoor gardens.

 

[mom2boys]

My son volunteered at the local animal shelter. It did require a parent to accompany him because our animal shelter requires that for kids under 14. He had to get there somehow so played with dogs for a couple of hours at time.

 

[englishteacha]

What about cleaning up a playground? He could make sure the swings work (WD40 does wonders!), clean up the equipment and maybe give some things some fresh paint. I know in our town, our basketball backboards look really sad. It would be great if someone gave them some paint and new nets (though that involves a ladder or taking down the backboard). The b-ball court at the park nearest my house has no paint on the court, so you have to guess for foul shots and stuff. Our local grange has adopted that park and will sign off on community service hours for scouts or high schoolers needing service time (our local school district requires community service to graduate).

 

[stsomewhere]

My DS troop is out of a church. He has done:

Set up cots for warming shelters for the homeless
raked leaves for the elderly church members
planted flowers for the church
eagle projects
volunteer staff member for Cub scout day camp
picked up garbage at a local park
volunteered to work a game at the church's Easter party for kids
visited a nursing home over the holidays
helped make cancer kits
help with the cub scout overnights

 

[olena]

We have a Foster Care Support charity here that is a 'store' for parents who take in foster children. If there's something similar in your area, it's a worthwhile charity. I've spent days there sorting diapers, donated children's clothes, cleaning toys and car seats, etc.

Also, look for a local chapter of the Miracle League, which is an adaptive baseball league for disabled children and adults. Our local one also has bowling and other activities and are looking for volunteers. I have spent many happy days running bases with players and cheering them on. Sometimes, they are in wheelchairs and need a push to play, but Buddies are there for that reason. If it's not Miracle League, there's bound to be something similar in your area.

http://www.miracleleague.com/