Make a Difference Day is a national celebration that has fallen on the fourth Saturday in October since 1992. It’s a day that schools and businesses have embraced as a way to give back to the communities that support them.
In previous years, we’ve suggested ways for schools to promote community engagement on Make a Difference Day, but often these activities are focused on younger students. As much as we’d like to believe our high school students would participate in making crafts or Thank You cards, it’s not always realistic. For older teens, put their expanded capacity and desire for independence to positive use with some more unique activities.
What better way to promote responsibility and service than tutoring? Everyone loves to share their knowledge, and high school students have enough life experience to leave young learners in awe. You may find some students will enjoy doing it and continue tutoring beyond October. This is also a great opportunity for teens looking to their future to see if teaching is a profession to consider.
If students are looking for a good workout, late October is prime time to start raking leaves. Homeowners know well that fall yard work is an especially frustrating chore. There are plenty of people in the community who could use some help. Ask parents to find neighbors and friends who need this help and give their permission. Then create a list for the day and accompany students to each home. A handful of students could knock out a to-do list in a very short time. If you get through the list early, pick random houses and ask them if they need any assistance.
Oh, and don’t forget the leaves in the rain gutters.
First Aid Training
What better way to make a difference than to give students a life skills that could literally save lives? Many states already make CPR training a requirement for graduation, so Make a Difference Day is a great opportunity to fulfill that requirement.
The American Heart Association offers CPR and AED programs for training teachers and students in schools. If a student wants to reach full certification, use this locator tool from AHA to find a center and encourage them to enroll.
High school is a great time for student leaders to emerge. And Make a Difference Day is a great time for student-led organizations to shine in their communities. If these organizations already exist, encourage them to find ways to use their organization’s purpose towards a positive community impact.
A student-led publication could print or post an article just like this one to inspire their fellow students with community service ideas. The chess club could use the day to teach the game to younger students. An art or photography club could explore the community and find creative ways to represent it in their works.
In the absence of student-led organizations, Make a Difference Day could be used by students to research how to get one started. Establishing a chapter of a national club like the Key Club or the Conrad Challenge.
Another option is to have them create a unique club based on their personal interests and career aspirations. The start of a cooking club now would give them plenty of time to create and develop recipes for those in need heading into the holidays. What about a blogging club? And hey, we know where they can find a great example of a successful blog!
There are tons of opportunities for high school students to make a difference. Helping students find ways to serve their communities can springboard them to community engagement long after Make a Difference Day has passed.