Teen Volunteering Workshop

Leanna Hampton March 2015

Rationale & Goals
The Teen Volunteering Workshop is a one-hour session for teen students, from 8th to 12th
grade. The workshop is to be given at least twice a year, with one in October and one in
February. The workshop can work easily in either school or public libraries. The only change
needed would be the time of the meeting, daytime for the school library and after school for the
public library. The goal of the workshop is to introduce students to the concept of voluntarism,
provide examples of volunteer opportunities, and show students how to find more information
using the library catalog and online sources. Through the course of the workshop students will
view a Prezi presentation that includes the subject matter, and the students will use handouts and
participate in activities that will help narrow the volunteer options for each student. The
handouts include an area to answer brainstorming questions from the presentation, a complete
list of resources used in the presentation, additional resources, and a teen volunteer decisionmaking flowchart.
According to the Ohio Social Studies K-8 Government standard, Civic participation
embraces the ideal that an individual actively engages in his or her community, state or nation
for the common good (Ohio Department of Education [ODE], 2010, p. 6). Also, the high
school Contemporary World Issues theme states that, students can impact global issues through
service learning and senior projects (ODE, p. 38). The Partnership for 21st Century Skills cites
that civic action is one of the ways, in which citizens can participate and contribute positively to
their communities and the worldlocally, nationally, internationally and digitally (Partnership
for 21st Century Skills [P21], p. 12). In order to become responsible citizens who actively
participate in the community through service projects, students must first learn how to locate and
safely engage in the community through volunteering opportunities. The outcome of the
workshop is that students will leave with confidence, having gained knowledge about their
options, their personal preferences, and the online tools they need locate volunteer opportunities.
Standards Addressed
Ohio Social Studies Standards

Grade 8: Civic participation and skills

o Government strand: 18. Participation in social and civic groups can lead to the
attainment of individual and public goals.
High School Topic: Civic participation and skills
o 7. Individuals can participate through non-governmental organizations to help
address humanitarian needs.
High School Topic: Sustainability
o 13. International associations and nongovernmental organizations offer means of
collaboration to address sustainability issues on local, national and international
levels.

American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Standards for 21st Century Learner

2.1.5 Collaborate with others to exchange ideas, develop new understandings, make
decisions, and solve problems.
3.1.2 Participate and collaborate as members of a social and intellectual network of
learners.
4.2.1 Display curiosity by pursuing interests through multiple resources.
4.4.1 Identify own areas of interest.
4.4.2 Recognize the limits of own personal knowledge.
Program Details

Location: The workshop will take place in the library or media center.
Duration and frequency: The one-hour workshop will be given twice a year during either
homeroom period for a school library or after school for a public library.
Equipment and supplies: The workshop will utilize the digital projector, laptop, wireless Internet
connection, and whiteboard in the media center. Additional equipment includes a copier to print
the student handouts and promotional flyers. Donut holes and a party size Skittles bag (for the
activity) will be purchased as well.
Cost: $20-$30 for refreshments, less than $10 in paper and toner
Collaboration: This workshop does not include collaboration with a guidance counselor, outside
agencies, community members, or volunteer partners. After successful completion of the first
workshop it would be a good idea to decide if additional co-presenters or participants from the
community would benefit the workshop participants.
Promotion: A one-page flyer, placed in common areas at the school and/or the public library,
will advertise the workshop. Additionally, morning announcements at school and the library
website will advertise the workshop.
Outline
The workshop is completely contained within the Prezi presentation, including slides that show
when to stop and perform an activity. It is best viewed in full screen mode and requires Internet
access.
Prezi URL: http://prezi.com/qiuzlazvn7rl/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy
I. 5-10 minutes - Greet students as they arrive, and guide them toward the first slide of the
Prezi, which asks them to "get a snack, chat with friends, and write on the whiteboard as
many volunteer location ideas as you can." The purpose of this activity is to get students
to start thinking collaboratively about the types of volunteering opportunities that are
available. This also serves to gauge how much students know about the topic.
II. 10 minutes The slide Tell us what you think is a personal reflection activity. Students
will take some Skittles and answer the questions associated with the colors. Students

should be encouraged to answer the questions that are shown in the Prezi and are written
on their handouts. The questions are geared toward helping students think through what
types of volunteer opportunities they would and would not like, and to help spark ideas
about their own skills and desires. Students will choose two of the questions that they
would be willing to share with the group. This can also serve as an ice breaker activity if
the students do not know each other.
III. 5 minutes - Show students the two YouTube videos. One video is a two minute clip of
the animated movie, Up, where a young scout is trying to "assist" an elderly man by any
means necessary in order to earn a merit badge. The purpose of this video is to entertain
and make connections with the teens' lives. The second video is a three minute video
consisting of teens talking about why they choose to volunteer and how they have
benefitted from volunteering.
IV. 10 minutes - This next section of the Prezi is the informational pathfinder portion of the
presentation. During this section, students will learn what types of volunteer service are
available and how to find more information using the library catalog and the Internet.
Students are given subject terms to use in the catalog, instructions on using Boolean
searches, sample search results and books, questions to consider before volunteering, and
how to find more information.
V. 5-10 minutes - When the presentation reaches the slide titled "Take 5 to try out some
options," students will be encouraged to work their way through a decision-making
flowchart that will help them find a volunteer opportunity that suits their personality and
skills. Encourage students to work with others classmates. The flowchart is available as
a close-up slide on the presentation, and each student will have a personal copy in front
of them on their handout.
VI. 5-10 minutes - On the "Before you go" slide, students will be encouraged to answer three
personal assessment questions about their current ideas about volunteering. The three
questions are on the handouts that the students will keep. Additionally, students will be
asked to fill out and turn in a short evaluation form that will help the leader make positive
changes to the workshop.
VII. 3 minutes - The last few minutes will be used to point out the complete list of
volunteering resources (books, online app article, additional Prezi and YouTube videos,
and more) that are listed on the student handout.

Supplemental Materials
Included supplemental materials:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Complete Bibliography
Promotional flyer for workshop
Student handouts (3 pages, includes flowchart)
Evaluation form for workshop
Conference proposal

Bibliography
American Association of School Librarians. (2007). Standards for the 21st Century learner
Retrieved from
http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/guidelinesandstandards/learningstanda
rds/AASL_LearningStandards.pdf
App Advice. (2014). Apps for volunteering. Retrieved from
http://appadvice.com/applists/show/apps-for-volunteering
B Wrt. (2013). Pathfinder: Volunteer opportunities for teens. Retrieved from
http://prezi.com/iqwcmc3jdrwl/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share
Donovan, S. (2013). Volunteering smarts: How to find opportunities, create a positive
experience, and more. Minneapolis: Twenty-First Century Books.
Go Eco. (2014). Teenage volunteering. Retrieved from http://www.goeco.org/tags/teenagevolunteering
Go Over Seas. (2014). High school volunteer programs. Retrieved from
http://www.gooverseas.com/high-school-abroad/volunteer-abroad
Hampton, L. (2015). Teen volunteer flowchart. Creately.com. Retrieved from
https://creately.com/diagram/i6uxyttu1/nAQYoYLdINk7eOoR933BhRuRFU%3D
Hampton, L. (2015). Teen volunteering. Retrieved from
http://prezi.com/qiuzlazvn7rl/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy
Lewis, B.A. & Lee, M. (2009). The kids guide to service projects: Over 500 service ideas for
young people who want to make a difference. Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishers.
Marcovitz, H. (2014). Teens and volunteerism. Philadelphia: Mason Crest Publishers.
Ohio Department of Education. (2010). Social studies standards. Retrieved from
http://education.ohio.gov/getattachment/Topics/Ohio-s-New-Learning-Standards/SocialStudies/SS-Standards.pdf.aspx
Oya Bykn. (2011). Why is volunteering important? Retrieved from
http://youtu.be/flyiGMNGQyA
Partnership for 21st century skills. (n.d.). Reimagining citizenship for the 21st century: A call to
action for policymakers and educators. Retrieved 3 March 2015 from
http://www.p21.org/storage/documents/Reimagining_Citizenship_for_21st_Century_webver
sion.pdf
Pillar Nonprofit Network. (2012). Youth volunteerism. Retrieved from
http://youtu.be/q4je9N26ouY
Teen Life. (2014). Volunteer opportunities. Retrieved from http://www.teenlife.com
Visions. (2014). Service adventures overview. Retrieved from
http://www.visionsserviceadventures.com/about/mission
Volunteen Nation. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.volunteennation.org/
Volunteer Match. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.volunteermatch.org/volunteers/
The Prezi by B Wrt called Pathfinder: Volunteer opportunities for teens, was the most
helpful resource used to develop this workshop. The presentation focuses mainly on three
YouTube videos about how to search for information about volunteering. While the presentation
is more academic than I desired to use during my inservice, it was a helpful tool in making
decisions about the content I wanted to cover in my own presentation.

Teen Volunteering Workshop

Teens do you know how to navigate the winding road to finding

a place to volunteer?
DETAILS
WHAT:
Join Miss Hampton to find out what kinds of volunteer opportunities are
out there, which one might be right for you, and how to find more
information.

WHEN:
Homeroom Period, 7:40AM
Tuesday, October 6th, 2015 AND Tuesday, February 9th, 2016

WHERE:
The library

WHO:
You and your friends

WHY:
If not for the info, then come for the donut holes and Skittles.

Teen Volunteering Handout

Activity:
Take some Skittles when the bowl comes your way.
Answer the questions below, then pick two colors that you wouldn't mind sharing out loud.
Purple - Right now I'm leaning toward volunteering at ____________________.
Red - I don't want to volunteer as a ___________________________. (ex. tutor)
Orange - Would you rather make something or help someone? ______________
Yellow - I have been told I am good at _________________________________.
Green - If I could make a $1,000,000 doing any job, I'd be _________________.

Follow up questions:
Please take a minute to answer three take-away points for your own benefit.
1. Right now, I like the idea of volunteering ____________________________.
2. I might like to try _______________________________________________.
3. I'd like to find more info about ____________________________________.

__________________________________________________________________

Additional Information
This is the Teen Volunteering Prezi used in the workshop.
Hampton, L. (2015). Teen volunteering. Retrieved from
http://prezi.com/qiuzlazvn7rl/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

Access to the volunteer decision-making flowchart found on Creately.

Hampton, L. (2015). Teen volunteer flowchart. Creately. Retrieved from
https://creately.com/diagram/i6uxyttu1/nAQYoYLdINk7eOoR933BhRuRFU%3D

Check out these websites if you need more ideas on where to volunteer.
Teen Life. (2014). Volunteer opportunities. Retrieved from
http://www.teenlife.com
Features a wide variety of volunteer opportunities for grades 7-12 including traditional,
community service, and summer programs. The jobs can be searched by keyword and
location.
Volunteen Nation. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.volunteennation.org/

Searchable VolunTeen site that allows teens to search for volunteer opportunities using
their zip code, age, and choice of activity. Once a volunteer job is selected, it provides a
summary of the volunteer job and contact information.
Volunteer Match. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.volunteermatch.org/volunteers/
Search for volunteer opportunities nationwide using location, age preferences, job type, and
more. This site also allows users to limit searches to virtual opportunities only.
Go Eco. (2014). Teenage volunteering. Retrieved from http://www.goeco.org/tags/teenagevolunteering
Offers overseas programs designed by a US company, Go Eco. They have a directory with a
category for teen programs, type, and location.
Go Over Seas. (2014). High school volunteer programs. Retrieved from
http://www.gooverseas.com/high-school-abroad/volunteer-abroad
Features a directory of high school summer abroad programs with reviews from users and
information about the trips and host organizations. There is a special article on free service
programs as well http://www.gooverseas.com/blog/free-volunteer-programs-high-schoolstudents
Visions. (2014). Service adventures overview. Retrieved from
http://www.visionsserviceadventures.com/about/mission
Visions provide middle and high school students with summer service projects in both the
US and overseas.

Also, check out this website which features a few volunteering apps.
App Advice. (2014). Apps for volunteering. Retrieved from
http://appadvice.com/applists/show/apps-for-volunteering

This is an additional presentation with in-depth YouTube videos about how to

search for volunteer info online and on the library catalog.
B Wrt. (2013). Pathfinder: Volunteer opportunities for teens. Retrieved from
http://prezi.com/iqwcmc3jdrwl/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

These were the three featured books from the catalog.

Donovan, S. (2013). Volunteering smarts: How to find opportunities, create a positive
experience, and more. Minneapolis: Twenty-First Century Books.
Lewis, B.A. & Lee, M. (2009). The kids guide to service projects: Over 500 service ideas for
young people who want to make a difference. Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishers.
Marcovitz, H. (2014). Teens and volunteerism. Philadelphia: Mason Crest Publishers.

These were the two YouTube videos featured in the Prezi.

Oya Bykn. (2011). Why is volunteering important? Retrieved from
http://youtu.be/flyiGMNGQyA
Pillar Nonprofit Network. (2012). Youth volunteerism. Retrieved from
http://youtu.be/q4je9N26ouY

Teen Volunteering Workshop Evaluation

Directions: Please circle whether you Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, or
Strongly Disagree with the statements.
This workshop gave me new ideas
about volunteering.
I have at least one idea about where
I would like to volunteer.
I know how to find more
information about volunteering
online.
I know how to find more
information about volunteering in
the library catalog.
This workshop told me about some
new volunteer opportunities I had
not considered before today.
I feel confident that I can find a
volunteer position in my
community.
This workshop was worth my time.

Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree

Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree

Please answer the following.

I wish we had talked more about __________________________________________________.
I wish we had talked less about ___________________________________________________.
I think I will look into volunteering at ______________________________________________.
Anything else you would like to share? _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for filling out this evaluation form. We are always looking for ways to improve!

Ohio Library Council Conference Proposal (for Public Libraries)

Primary Speaker Information:
Name: Leanna Hampton
Topic Area: Programming
Intended Audience: Librarians and programmers, both school and public, who
work with high school teens
Audio Visual/ Room Setup: Digital projector, Internet access, white wall or
screen, table for presenter and equipment, chairs for participants. No tables
needed for participants. Laptop will be provided by presenter.
Program Information
Program Title (less than 10 words):
Helping Teens Discover Volunteer Opportunities
Program Description 50-75 words Market your Program:
Its true, most schools require teens to volunteer in order to graduate high
school or even gain college admission. This workshop is geared toward helping
you learn how to help your teens understand their volunteer options, find volunteer
information, and select a position that fits them. The workshop provides an
adaptable Prezi volunteering pathfinder, which includes all of the above, complete
with activities and handouts to help teens pick their just-right volunteer
opportunity.