It’s easy to get wrapped up in the academics of homeschooling. From planning history lessons to grading math tests, educational pursuits can quickly fill up every square inch of brain space. However, in order for our children’s education to be balanced, they need time outside of the home. If they can consider the needs of others in those activities, all the better!
There are so many wonderful hands-on learning experiences available by volunteering together as a homeschool family. With the flexibility of a homeschool schedule, many of these projects can be easily worked into your regular routine. You may even want to set aside your fifth day with no BookShark lessons especially for volunteer projects.
Start by finding your family’s main interest; then seek out service opportunities to complement those strengths. When you get creative together, you can find something you enjoy that will also strengthen the community around you. Here are 50 ideas to get you started:
Crazy About Animals
- Help raise future assistance dogs
- Give a hand at the zoo
- Become a Humane Society of the US Ally
- Donate supplies to a local animal shelter
- Volunteer to help at a local pet adoption event
- Walk an elderly neighbor’s dog
- Foster a pet in your home
Food Focus
- Deliver a warm meal with Meals on Wheels
- Work at a food bank
- Serve a meal at a local homeless shelter
- Partner with a Feed My Starving Children event
- Create blessing bags to have on hand to give out to homeless
- Gather and donate food to a local food bank
- Grow vegetables and share them with those in need
Books on the Brain
- Tutor at a local elementary school
- Read stories to younger children at a local school/library
- Volunteer at your local library
- Donate books to a homeless shelter for children
- Donate books to the library for their fundraising sales
- Pack a back pack with school supplies for local schools to give to children in need
Show A Little Love to the Military
- Greet soldiers when they return from deployment
- Make cards and letters to send to troops overseas
- Volunteer at a Veteran’s home
- Adopt a soldier to encourage during their deployment
- Send care packages to soldiers through Operation Gratitude
- Help Remember, Honor, and Teach with the Wreaths Across America in remembering the lives of fallen soldiers
Connect With Your Local Community
- Bring cookies, coffee, or other treats to your local fire or police station
- Donate stuffed animals to S.A.F.E., a non-profit organization that provides comfort for children experiencing traumatic events
- Participate as a lawyer or juror in a local Teen Court
- Volunteer at your local police department
- Give a helping hand at a community theater with creating sets, ushering guests, or participating in a performance
Environmentally Friendly Volunteering
- Clean up your neck of the woods with Keep America Beautiful
- Volunteer at a National Park
- Join a local 4-H club’s community service project
- Join clean up teams after community events
- Pick up trash at a local beach
- Serve an elderly neighbor by helping with yardwork
- Help out in a community garden
Volunteering Opportunities for a People Person
- Serve at a nursing home
- Entertain elderly with music
- Volunteer at Ronald McDonald House
- Join with the Salvation Army in a variety of service projects
- Volunteer at or join in on a fun run for a favorite charity
- Volunteer at a local hospital
Find More Opportunities to Volunteer as a Family
- Generation On
- Youth Service America
- Volunteer Connection
- United Way
- Volunteer Match
- Corporation for National & Community Service
No matter where you choose to serve, giving of your time and talents will not distract from your child’s education; rather it will enhance it.
