Listed below are some volunteer service opportunities that are upcoming. This is a chance to do some worthwhile service and also earn service hours.

How do you find volunteer opportunities at LFHS?  Students can find volunteer opportunities not only through the numerous service-based clubs and extra-curricular activities at LFHS, but also throughout the community with not-for profit organizations or through churches.  Information about the various LFHS service-based clubs is HERE. Volunteer opportunities throughout the community are also routinely posted below as they become available.  Ms. Kathy O’Hara, Student and Community Service Coordinator, also emails students at their school account with the latest volunteer opportunities.

What is volunteer service?  Volunteer service can mean different things to different people.  Here at Lake Forest High School, volunteer service is defined as any work done for the benefit of others without any direct financial, material, or personal compensation or gain.  Below are some guidelines to help you determine what qualifies as volunteer service at Lake Forest High School:

• Attendance at a regular service club organizational meeting does not count as volunteer hours unless the meeting is used to perform a community service.  For example, meeting at the Open Lands to do environmental work is considered volunteer service.
  
  
• Volunteer work done to receive extra credit in a class does not count as community service.  Likewise, students who belong to a non-service oriented club or team who are required to perform volunteer work in order to participate in that club or team cannot count those hours as volunteer service.
  
  
• Volunteer work that can be considered job training or done for the purposes of career development is not considered volunteer service.  For example, an internship is not considered volunteer service.  In addition, volunteering to direct or act in a play for a paying audience is not volunteer service. 
  
  
• Training hours that are required for performing a volunteer position do not count as volunteer service.  For example, the training required for Student to Student (STS) does not count as volunteer service.
  
  
• A  student who participates in Madrigals, Bel Canto, or any other group that performs for the community must document each performance.  Practice and rehearsal time and performances at country clubs or private parties do not count as volunteer service.  In addition, students cannot receive extra credit in these classes and claim these performances as volunteer service.
  
  
• Being a Counselor in Training (CIT) is not volunteer service when being a CIT is a prerequisite for being hired as a Counselor in future years or if you receive the benefits of participating in the camp activities by serving as a CIT. 
  
  
• Volunteer work for the benefit of a church is not considered community volunteer service because the people who benefit are strictly members of the church.  For example, being an altar server, an acolyte, a Sunday school teacher, or performing music during a religious service does not count as volunteer service.  However, participation in community outreach (soup kitchen, food drives, etc) sponsored by the church does constitute community volunteer service.  Likewise, volunteer work performed on a church sponsored mission trip does count as volunteer service, but typically only counts for up to 8 hours a day of work.  Travel time for a mission trip does not count as volunteer service.
  
  
• Volunteer work done as a requirement for a Boy Scout award of Girl Scout award or for rank advancement or for a badge does not count as volunteer service.  For example, work hours spent on your own Eagle project does not count as volunteer service, but work hours spent helping a fellow Scout on his Eagle project does count.
  
  
• Volunteer hours spent for Tech Crew in support of a normal Lake Forest High School production do not count as volunteer service.  However, hours spent to support the Talent Show, an APT fundraiser, do count as volunteer service.  In addition, volunteer tech crew hours to support a meeting or event at the school, without any pay, do count as volunteer service.
  
  
• Hours spent planning or preparing for a community event do not count as volunteer service when they are done during attendance at a club meeting.  Hours spent planning or preparing outside of a club meeting, however, do count.
  
  
• Volunteer work done for family members does not count as volunteer service.  For example, shoveling snow for your family for free, or baby-sitting your cousins for free, or planning a birthday party for a grandparent does not count as volunteer service. 
  
  
• Time spent traveling to perform volunteer service does not count as volunteer service hours.  For example, if you volunteer at a food pantry in Chicago, the time spent working in the pantry counts as volunteer service, but the time spent driving to and from Chicago does not count.

Should students record volunteer hours? 
Yes, students should keep track of their time spent performing community service. They can do this by using the LFHS online service hour reporting form, which can be found HERE. The Volunteer Service Office will keep track of a student’s hours for their entire high school career and can print out a record whenever it is needed.   It is important to record service hours because the Student Services Office frequently refers to the volunteer records of students when asked to suggest candidates for leadership seminars, conferences, scholarships, and national and local service awards.  When filling out the online form, please note that only one date can be put in as the date for volunteer service.  If the service was done throughout a period of time, just put in the most recent date of service and use the description portion of the form to state the period of time in which the service was performed.  For example, if a church work trip was for an entire week in June, please list the last day of the trip as the date of service and then in the description section state when the trip started and how many days it lasted.  It is important to fill in the name of the adult in charge as well as a contact number.  The Volunteer Service Office does periodically check to verify the information.

What is the President’s Volunteer Service Award?
The President’s Volunteer Service Award is a nationally recognized award presented by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation.  Students who complete at least 100 hours of service for their community within a year are eligible to earn this award.  Our year at Lake Forest High School runs from March 16, 2011 to March 15, 2012.  There are three levels of recognition:  Bronze for 100 hours; Silver for 175 hours; and Gold for 250 hours or more.  Parents and students are encouraged to learn more about this program by visiting www.presidentialserviceawards.gov. 

Only students who have recorded their volunteer service hours with the Student and Community Service Office will be eligible to receive one of these awards.   Students should record their volunteer hours on the LFHS website, www.lfhs.org/services/volunteer_hours_form.html.
Why should students volunteer?  Volunteering promotes citizenship and community awareness. It also provides opportunities to develop leadership skills and exposes students to potential career or college interests. And, helping others usually makes a person feel good and is a great way to meet new friends! Volunteer service is a requirement for entrance into the LFHS chapter of the National Honor Society and can be a significant factor in college admittance.
More questions? Contact Kathy O’Hara, Student and Community Service Coordinator, at 847-582-7774 or kohara@lfschools.net.

Therapeutic Riding Programs for Special Needs Individuals More Info

YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT

The City of Lake Forest offers an opportunity to youth who are residents of Lake Forest to have a unique experience with their local government by serving on a board or commission. Civic-minded students who will be high school seniors during their year of service are appointed by the Lake Forest Mayor and work alongside other community volunteers whose dedicated work continues to ensure that Lake Forest remain a special place. This involvement with their local government helps them develop lifelong leadership and business skills. Read More and complete Youth Volunteer Profile Sheet

COOL Food Pantry (Waukean) – Volunteer opportunities vary throughout the year, but can include working in the food pantry on a Saturday or during a school break or doing general yard maintenance or planting flowers on a week-end. It is best to call them to see what their current needs are. Website: www.coolministries.org. Contact Volunteer Manager, Amber Abbott, at 847-662-1230

Family Network, a Family Focus Center (Highwood) – After school homework helpers are needed at Oak Terrace Elementary School. This is an opportunity for Spanish speaking student volunteers to practice their skills. Website: www.familynetworkcenter.org. For more information, contact Bobbie Hinden, After School Activity Program Director, 847-433-0377 ext. 303, bobbie.hinden@family-focus.org.

The Garden at Elawa Farms (Lake Forest) – From May until November, garden volunteers are needed weekdays after school until 5pm to help with digging, planting, seeding, weeding and watering. Website: www.elewafarm.org. For more information, call 847-234-1907.

Kids Korner (Waukegan) – Help provide a safe and enjoyable experience for kids ages 2-12 in the waiting area at Lake County Courthouse by reading to them or playing with them while their parents are conducting court business. This program only operates during the day, but is a great summer opportunity for students who can commit to at least 4 hours twice a month. Website: www.19thcircuitcourt.state.il.us/services/Pages/KidsKorner.aspx If interested, call 847-377-3825.

Got Musical Instruments?
The not-for-profit, Bravo Waukegan, and Applause, the music booster organization at LFHS which provides support for all band, choral and orchestral activities, are working together to locate unused string, brass or woodwind instruments to donate to the music department at Waukegan High School. With over 80% of the students at Waukegan on the free lunch program, most of the students who want to participate in band or orchestra can't because there are not enough instruments and/or they cannot afford the monthly rental fee to borrow an instrument. Instruments can be dropped off with Kathy O’Hara in Room 103A, the Volunteer Service Office. Please label each instrument with the name, address, and phone number of the donor. Donations are fully tax deductable. 

Club Spotlight: Big 2 Little – LFHS Students Learning and Sharing in North Chicago
Every Wednesday after school about 30 LFHS students, freshman to seniors, board a bus and travel to AJ Katzenmaier Elementary School in North Chicago. Through a program sponsored by the Gorter Family Foundation of Lake Bluff, LFHS students work either one-on-one or in small groups to provide homework help, do arts and crafts, or play games with the elementary students. Students interested in joining this fun group should contact Kathy O’Hara, Student Service/Community Coordinator, in room 103A, or by email kohara@lfschools.net.

Spotlight: Alliance – Working to Make LFHS an Accepting Environment
for All
The newest group at LFHS, Alliance, is working to make LFHS a more accepting environment for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, through education, support, social action, and advocacy. They believe that schools can be truly safe only when every student is assured of access to an education without fear of harassment or violence. This past week, during Ally Week, club members manned a table during lunch, asking students to take an Ally Pledge, affirming that schools should be a safe and supportive environment for all students and listing ways to help support Alliance’s mission. In addition, students signed a banner and wrote a note about why they are an Ally. Alliance welcomes all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons, and their heterosexual allies. Meetings are the first Friday of every month after school in room 160J. For more information, contact group advisors Lisa Huffman, lhuffman@lfschools.net, and John Wanninger, jwanninger@lfschools.net.

Volunteers needed for The Center for Enriched Living which helps provide quality social and recreational programs for people with developmental disabilities and a place where these people can find friends, fun and belonging.  See attached sign up form and contact Brian Booth 847-948-7001 or Brian@CenterforEnrichedLiving.org

Great Lake Adaptive Sports Association (GLASA), which helps physically disabled children and young adults, needs student volunteers for the following events:

GLASA Volunteer Interest form (.pdf)
GLASA Program Brochure (.pdf)