<p>I love working with kids so much. I swear it is my calling or something. </p>
<p>I will be a sophomore in the fall, and would love to participate in EC's that allow me to work with kids, because well, like I said, I love kids.</p>
<p>Besides tutoring kids, or reading to them in the library, what else can I do to interact with the bundles of joy? I and Google teamed up to find ways to do that, and I came up with zilt. </p>
<p>(Sorry if I put this under the wrong thread. I couldn't think of anywhere else to put it.)</p>
<p>Do you participate in a sport? Many high schoolers volunteer as assistant coaches or referees for youth leagues.</p>
<p>My D wants to be a teacher so she’s been tutoring either officially or unofficially since 6th grade. This summer she’s an assistant counselor at a summer camp that includes academics as well as traditional camp activities. This is a camp with tied to a religious organization that helps low-income kids of color, which is her target teaching population (she is black). It’s probably not an option everywhere, but she just went and asked if they needed help. She is not paying to be a CIT or anything. If you live in a city or town large enough to have community centers, they may have after-school care and/or classes where help is needed. If you belong to a religious organization, that’s another good place to find ways to work with younger kids.</p>
<p>But don’t underestimate tutoring. Kids who need tutoring can have their lives completely turned around when someone works with them one-on-one to “get” a topic. D tutored one third grader who struggled in math(as in, failing it) but who ended up winning his grade’s “top student” award that year. If you look beyond whether that EC will get you into college and look at the sheer impact you can have, I can’t think of a much better way to be spending your time with kids.</p>
<p>Many churches need childcare workers. If you are involved at a church or know of one in your neighborhood, ask if they need help (especially if you like working with younger kids). You may need to be the same religion/denomination, though.</p>
<p>missmbv, you are right about the need. I am an admin for a church and because they usually only need child care for a few hours on Sundays, it’s hard to find someone willing to work such short hours. We have often hired teens. Our requirement is that the people be Christian, but they do not need to be our denomination (in fact <em>I</em> am not of "my church’s denomination). </p>
<p>BTW, since many churches take the summers off as far as Sunday school/childcare go, they are ramping up for fall right about now. The OP should check the Craigslist in her area for jobs like this. The pay won’t be great but the experience will be worth it.</p>
<p>@sseamom I actually suggested it because that’s what I do part-time. 
Some places you can work evenings, too, if they need childcare for specific events.</p>
<p>become a camp counselor! it’s super fun :)</p>
<p>Many after-school daycare programs need additional staff in the hours that high schoolers are typically available.</p>
<p>Big Brothers Big Sisters has a program for high school students called High School Bigs. You may want to look into that.</p>
<p>Check and see if your area has a Boys’ and Girls’ Club. You can volunteer with homework help, computer lessons, sports programs, etc.</p>