So you’ve decided you want to “give back” by forming a community service group in your neighborhood. Where do you start? Whether you’re an ambitious teen or a civic-minded adult, Youth Squad® makes it easy to get your program off the ground.
1) Pick a Topic you are Interested In
If you haven’t already, decide what type of projects you would like to do. Youth Squad® has four interest areas: Animal Welfare, Environmental, Humanity and Community. Choose an area to focus on. You can always move to other areas after completing a project.
2) Form Your Group
Who will your community service group consist of? Think of the people you are already involved with including your:
- scout troop
- worship group
- family and their friends
- neighbors and their children
- customers and their children
- extended family
If you don’t have a group in mind, you’ll want to start forming one. If possible, find someone with a similar interest to buddy-up with you. It’s recommended that teens find an adult to work with as a mentor.
Set up a Facebook group where interested individuals can find out more about the group you are forming. Start getting the word out. Use social media and your local media; also ask business owners if you can leave flyers or hang a poster.
If you haven’t already done so, sign up. Membership gives you access to all program requirements, tools and discounts. Membership is free in 2019. It’s important to sign up everyone in your group. This will help protect you legally during your project.* Youth memberships are $1, paid through paypal. This fee acknowledges that a guardian has given permission for the child to join as required by COPPA.
3) Choose a Section in Your Interest Area
Each interest area has five sections. With your group, decide which section you want to start with. If you’re working with younger children, download some of our meeting starters. This will give them an activity for each section to help familiarize them with the topics.
4) Decide Levels
Each section has different levels. Your group can all participate in the same
level during a project or they can participate at different levels while completing the same project. Decide which is best for your group.
When working with multi levels, it is recommended that each level has access to a device with internet access. All participants should be able to complete the meeting starter and the first requirement independently. If not, you might consider a different level.
5) Start Your Project
At this point your group probably has a good idea if they have picked the right section. If not, it’s okay to pick a different one. Move on to Requirement 2.
Our program is self-guided. You should be able to just jump right in and continue working on your project by following the suggested requirements. It’s also okay to change things up. It’s your project. Complete it whatever way works best for you and your group as long as you
do good things.
*YouthSquad and MakingFriends.com,inc. do not take any legal responsibility for you or your group. If you have any concerns, seek legal advice. Our full terms and conditions apply.