Top 10 Reasons to Volunteer

Prior to homeschooling, I do not recall ever volunteering for an organization. Sure, I donated money or food or clothing, but never my time.

Once we officially started homeschooling, I realized that I might not return to the workforce for many years, and figured I had better do something with my life that a future employer would deem valuable. Of course, being CEO of the Wilson family is an important job, but it just does not stand out in a virtual pile of applicants.

So, I decided to start volunteering for organizations near and dear to our family: Cub Scouts, HSC, and GHF (Gifted Homeschoolers Forum). I discovered that I gained so much more than an improved resume. Thus, here are my Top 10 Reasons to Volunteer:

1. Non-profit organizations desperately need volunteers. Without people freely giving of their valuable time, the groups on which we have come to rely would cease to exist. They need us, just as much as we need them.

2. Focus on others, instead of ourselves. Volunteering is all about helping others. Whether we deal with people face-to-face or work in the backroom, volunteering forces us to think about others. Imagine what a better place our world would be if we all spent more time thinking of others.

3. Set an example of stewardship for our children. By putting our time and effort into something about which we feel passionately, we actively demonstrate the importance and power of participation to our children. If we do not take part in our world, how can we expect our children to do so?

4. Make new friends. One of the common mantras in agony columns is “If you want to meet new people, follow your interests.” Volunteering is the ideal way to meet amazing people who share our excitement. We find people who understand and celebrate our enthusiasm, people who really “get” us.

5. Pad that resume. O.K., I know this is more practical than the previous four reasons, but it is important for anyone thinking of re-entering the workforce in the future. Employers want to see an unbroken work history. They may understand taking time off to raise a family, but rightly or wrongly, they will not understand an 18-year gap. They need to see that you were working on your skills, fulfilling job duties, and consistently being reliable.

6. Try new things. Want to learn about web design, marketing, management, or some other area in which you have little to no experience? Volunteer! Since volunteer-based organizations are always searching for new people, they are much more open to training people to do the job needed. Keep in mind that many of the people you will work with are also volunteers, so they may not be able to do a lot of hand-holding, but if you are a motivated self-starter, you can learn an incredible amount.

7. Networking. This tags onto numbers six and seven, but is different from number four. Volunteering allows you to make contact with people who have an even wider access to professionals in the field. By taking your volunteering commitment seriously, learning all you can, even going above and beyond your basic duties, you will find other opportunities opening up for you. If you are not ready to take advantage of them at the moment, keep in touch with your contacts, keep volunteering, and let them know when you are ready.

8. Receive discounts and freebies. Now, we all know that we volunteer for the positive feelings we get doing it; however, a little incentive can be a good thing. Perhaps by volunteering you can get a discount on a conference your organization hosts or on membership fees. Maybe, your organization has ties with other organizations or businesses that offer discounts or the occasional freebie. If you are looking for something specific, ask. If nothing is offered, you have just found yourself the perfect volunteering opportunity: creating volunteer incentive plans for your organization!

9. Television rots your mind. People all too often claim they have no time to volunteer, yet if we add up the amount of time we sit watching T.V., playing around on the Internet, and generally goofing off, we would quickly find we have far more time than we realized. Certainly, downtime is important and not everything on television or the Internet is a waste of time, but doing something you love can be just as rejuvenating as sitting in front of a screen for hours, perhaps more so.

10. Just because. It is the right thing to do. You know you should do it. You have always wanted to do it. You feel compelled to do it. You are tired of my nagging. Whatever the reason, do it just because.

Article by Sarah J. Wilson (Originally published in the February 2011 issue of California HomeSchooler.)

Cub Scouts and Homeschooling

Scouting can be a wonderful addition to homeschooling. Although both Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts have much to offer, I am more familiar with Cub Scouts (the primary-grades level of Boy Scouts), so that is what I’ll discuss. I’ll leave Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts to better-informed writers.

Cub Scouts is for boys in first through fifth grade. Usually organized through a church or school, simply because that is where the children are, many are community-based. If no pack exists in your area, you can always start your own. But check the Cub Scout website, first. Also, ask around. Or, at the beginning of the school year, look for the yellow and blue “Join Cub Scouts” signs posted around schools and communities.

First, some lingo for newcomers:

Local Council: A geographical area encompassing a number of districts

Districts: A smaller geographical area encompassing local Packs and Troops

Pack: The entire group of boys, from grades one through five

Den: The grade-level group

Tigers: Grade one

Wolves: Grade two

Bears: Grade three

Webelos: Abbreviation of “We’ll Be Loyal Scouts”

Webelos I: Grade four

Webelos II: Grade five

Pack leader: Trained adult (usually a parent) who leads the pack

Den leader: Trained adult (usually a parent) who leads the den

Volunteer: Everyone else!

The pack, dens, family members, and scouts all work to achieve the 10 purposes of Cub Scouting:

1) Character development

2) Spiritual growth

3) Good citizenship

4) Sportsmanship & fitness

5) Family understanding

6) Respectful relationships

7) Personal achievement

8) Friendly service

9) Fun & adventure

10) Preparation for Boy Scouts

While scouting can benefit all families, it offers extensive benefits for homeschooling families. Perhaps the most obvious is socializing. Packs meet at least once a month, and dens meet at least twice a month. So, at least three times per month, scouts are getting together, doing activities, and learning new skills. That doesn’t include special pack or den events, such as hikes, going to fire stations, community service, et cetera.

When it comes to the “school” part of homeschooling, Cub Scouts shines. Scouts can earn belt loops (like merit badges, but metal and fit on belts) and pins (like merit badges, but worn on a special red vest). Achievements can be earned in sports (28 possibilities) and academics (25). The requirements get progressively more involved from belt loops to pins. For homeschoolers, the achievements can be used to help focus or add to on-going studies. For example, the geography belt loop requires scouts to draw a map of their neighborhood, identify major landforms within 100 miles, and use a globe to discuss geographical terminology. Scouts working toward their geography pin have even more steps to complete, including making a three-dimensional model, reading a geography book, learning about an explorer, and much more.

But scouting’s benefits go beyond earning belt loops and pins. Scouting reinforces many of the ideals homeschoolers teach: family togetherness, respect for others, community service, and love of learning. Volunteering opportunities abound in scouts, and parents can quickly become an integral part of the scouting experience. All family members are usually welcomed and encouraged at scouting events.

Some homeschoolers may have an issue with the religious element of scouting. If this is the case, then 1) do not join a church-associated group, and 2) ask the school or community-based pack leader what their expectations are in regard to religion. Plenty of packs allow scouts and their families to explore their own spirituality, whatever form that may take, and leave it at that. Be aware that the Cub Scout Promise does state “I, (name), promise to do my best/To do my duty to God and my country . . .,” and the Promise is said at every gathering. Personally, I believe it provides a perfect opportunity to discuss your own spirituality and beliefs with your scout. But, of course, it is a personal decision for each family.

Additionally, the Boy Scout of America's by-laws state, "Because of Scouting’s methods and beliefs, Scouting does not accept atheists and agnostics as members or adult volunteer leaders." With many packs, this is basically a "don't ask, don't tell policy." Personally, I have never had anyone ask about my beliefs in our Pack or Council; I think they're just pleased to have an active, involved volunteer.

Also, some families may be concerned about scouting's call to be "morally straight" and "clean," especially as it relates to homosexuality. Again, some Packs are more liberal than others, and families need to weigh their decision to join accordingly.

Ultimately, scouting has much to offer the scout, the family, and, by extension, the community. Homeschoolers should not overlook this wonderful opportunity to add to their learning experience.

Article by Sarah J. Wilson

Books about People Making a Difference

Any education should include learning about people currently making a difference in our world. Reading (or hearing) about regular people who have done extraordinary things teaches all of us that we, too, have that potential.

Children, especially, need to hear this, as they are often inundated with negative views of the world through the nightly news, newspaper headlines, violent video games and movies, and other media. It can be overwhelming.

Numerous stories of heroism, courage, strength, and goodness are just waiting to be read. Many titles are also available as audio books or e-books.

Here is a list of books that are worth investigating:

Kids with Courage: True Stories About Young People Making a Difference, by Barbara A. Lewis
Listen to the Wind & Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time, by Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth
The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq, by Jeanette Winter

Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canada's Quest to Change Harlem and America, by Paul Tough

Banker To The Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty, by Muhammad Yunus

It's Our World, Too!: Young People Who Are Making a Difference: How They Do It - How You Can, Too!, by Phillip Hoose

Acts of Kindness: How to Make a Gentle Difference, by Meladee McCarty
Random Acts of Kindness, by Conari Press
Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World, by Tracy Kidder

Stories available online:

Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai

People Who Made a Difference
Making a Difference

People to consider:
Kofi Annan
Jimmy Carter

Bill & Melinda Gates
Nelson Mandela

Linus Torvalds

Oprah Winfrey

Places to look for more inspiration:

The Goldman Environmental Price
Nobel Prize Laureates

MacArthur Fellows

For families with Wolf scouts, reading three of these books (or any others along these lines) satisfies Achievement 7e: “With an adult, find three stories that tell how people are protecting our world. Read and discuss them together.” While “protecting our world” can be narrowly defined as environmental, especially given that Achievement 7 is “Our Living World,” it can also be interpreted as anything a person is doing to make the world a better place: fighting disease, making a school safer, providing education to people who want it, giving blood, helping refugees, and so much more. We are part of this “Living World,” and we need to honor those that make it safer, healthier, kinder, and stronger.

Article by Sarah J. Wilson