<p>There is a wide variety of community service opportunities available. Below are some Volunteer Matching Services that can match you with local opportunities based on your preference:</p>
<pre><code>* 1-800-Volunteer.org
<p>There are also internships and summer programs available. Go to your local library’s reference section to browse the many guides on these subjects.</p>
<p>In my area, the public high schools are all obligated to allow homeschoolers and private school kids to access both classes and activities. For private schoolers, it would only be if that particular thing is unavailable at their institution. There may be some restrictions. This is a great way to supplement homeschooling with low-cost or no-cost options. A robotics club, a jazz band, a football team…these are all potential activities. Depending on the type of kid it attracts, there might also be friendship opportunities as well.</p>
<p>You could… you know… do the activities that you enjoy. There’s more to life than ECs and scholarship essays.</p>
<p>There are all kinds of things you can do. There are volunteer opportunities and groups that you can join through a library or a YMCA. People always need tutored at elementary schools or middle schools and there’s tons of things to do in the summer like summer camp or working at a local fair.</p>
<p>I’ve met home school students who work as volunteers at their local hospital. Some communities have orchestras or bands, so they join those. Others play on select soccer or AAU volleyball teams. Various church activities are good. Some go on mission trips with their churches.</p>
<p>Wrap up all your volunteering, personal achievements and travel into the Congressional Award. [Congressional</a> Award: Congress’ Award for Youth](<a href=“http://www.congressionalaward.org/]Congressional”>http://www.congressionalaward.org/) I tried to get my daughter involved in this but she wasn’t motivated enough. A homeschooler with more flexible time would be able to do this more easily than a traditionally schooled teenager.</p>
<p>community theater
ballet
robotics
volunteering at an animal shelter, history museum, food bank, or library
art center classes
nature or wilderness skills classes
cross country and/or track with a running club
yoga
Parks & Recreation classes (often swimming or dance offered)
chess club
gymnastics
book club
youth orchestra
Destination Imagination
music lessons
golf (First Tee offered in some areas, too)
tennis lessons/team
bird watching club
rock climbing
Y Youth and Government
soccer club
language classes
bowling
speech & debate
tai chi
karate
science museum classes
choir
ice skating lessons
writing group</p>
<p>My homeschooled children competed in National History Day (nhd.org). If you love history, writing, and research, it is the BEST type of academic competition around. My daughter won 1st place in State all 5 years, and won an average of $500/year (varies by state). They have wonderful scholarships - partial and full scholarships, but it is the most amazing experience possible. PM me if you have detailed, personal questions about this competition.</p>
<p>Anyone reading this thread just to “understand” the difference between a homeschooler and a regular HS kid, read #10 again.
Makes me wish I had homeschooled my kids.</p>
<p>One thing that my son absolutely loved when introduced to it at HS, but would be a great EC for someone who’s homeschooled: science research. Then enter the state and national science fairs. Or: intern doing science research with some professor.</p>
<p>What does the home schooler like to do? The home schooled student has more time to pursue their interests than do students in traditional schools.</p>
<p>Homeschooled students I know:</p>
<p>participate extensively in community theatre
volunteer as docents at museums
do research in history (He was a civil war buff and visited various battlefields and also used the state archives to get info).
participate in community sports teams
Take music/dance lessons</p>
<p>raise and release Monarch butterflies
raise guide dog puppy to training age</p>
<p>Volunteer</p>
<p>Research volunteer opportunities that interest you</p>
<p>I’m not trying to be mean or unhelpful, but being homeschooled makes it EASIER to get involved in worthwhile ECs because of your more flexible schedule. At least in my experience, clubs and activities (other than sports) associated with school are largely a waste of time. Get involved with any organizations that interest you; try to find opportunities outside of the typical high school kid variety. You have a HUGE advantage in that you’re not bound to the 8AM-3PM schedule.</p>
<p>Pick up something that can help you interact with others.</p>
<p>If you aren’t to aged, I would pick up chess. It’s a game you can practice online (with your free time) or play in person.</p>
<p>My daughters all did hard-core competitive gymnastics. Most of the elite-potential athletes were homeschooled, so we formed study groups with other kids. Eventually they all quit–too expensive, too time-consuming, and too short-lived. It was a great experience while it lasted, though. </p>
<p>One thing I wish we had spent more time on, though, is team sports. The girls felt a little silly being rank beginners at volleyball and lacrosse in high school (they shouldn’t have, but it’s hard when you’ve been really good at another sport…) </p>
<p>For what it’s worth (this doesn’t answer any question, I just thought I’d add my 2 cents about life after homeschool): Three of my daughters went to a private school after their freshman year in high school, which for them was an excellent choice. They have still retained the sweetness that I associate with homeschooled kids. My oldest went directly to community college and has mixed emotions about not having gone to a conventional school. She would have enjoyed it, but I don’t think she would have fit in. She still doesn’t relate as well to kids her age, given their propensity for partying, but that doesn’t break my heart.
Only one of my four had any problems moving to a classroom after independent study, and she’s done OK. She just did a lot better being homeschooled. She still was accepted and given a scholarship for the two colleges she applied to. The others did great.</p>
<p>OK, enough unsolicited commentary :–)</p>
<p>Don’t forget Boy/Girl Scouts. If all the troops in your area seem to be meeting at the local schol, contact the Council and ask whether there are ones you are not hearing about. </p>
<p>Also, Mom, you can start a troop yourself!</p>
<p>I’ll make a plug for Civil Air Patrol for those with an interest in leadership. The Cadet Program gave me leadership experiences that most adults haven’t even had. The program also has focuses on aviation and search and rescue operations (for downed aircraft), for those interested in those areas. The annual membership is incredibly cheap and the experience is phenomenal. I can’t wait to graduate college and get involved again. Read some more here: [Civil</a> Air Patrol - United States Air Force Auxiliary - Teens](<a href=“http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/cap_home/teens/]Civil”>http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/cap_home/teens/)</p>
<p>Also, don’t discount part-time work as an extracurricular. It demonstrates responsibility and the ability to juggle yet another thing in your schedule.</p>
<p>I was homeschooled through 11th grade (after which I attended college full time), but I got lots of comments on my really unique and varied EC’s. This is where homeschoolers tend to shine because they have more flexibility that PS students. Here’s a sampling of what I did:</p>
<p>-Started my own drama and film club with a group of homeschoolers. I wrote screenplays, directed, ran camera, edited film footage, made soundtracks, and designed DVD covers for about five or six short films between 8th and 11th grade. My largest cast had nearly 20 actors for a 30-some minute adaptation of a Shakespeare play. I also let other homeschool groups use my scripts to do their own productions. I felt like I “made it up” as an EC when I put it on applications, but then I looked back on how many 100’s of hours went into that and didn’t feel bad after that. Plus, it demonstrated leadership initiative that a lot of admissions people like even if it was “nontraditional.” On top of that, it makes you stand out from the crowd if you have something that different.<br>
-“Taught” an online literature class for junior high homeschool kids
-Tutored introductory Spanish</p>
<p>I also volunteered a lot at church
-assisting in directing a choir
-being part of a youth worship team
-doing administrative work in a Sunday school
-working in nursery
-singing in a choir</p>
<p>There were also community things my siblings and I have done like volunteering at the library and washing cars at the police department.</p>
<p>I’m home schooled, as well. I’m heavily involved in area theatre companies, a local ballet school, as well as the Young Life club in our area. Both my siblings do sports, take dance, and volunteer at a stable. All three of us play piano, my sister takes guitar lessons, I take voice lessons, and my brother is going to take drums.</p>
<p>Instead of trying to cram in a bunch of extracurriculars the last bit of high school (because admissions counselors can spot this a mile a way), try extending what you’ve already done into something that shows initiative and leadership. Can you train other people to work with the lights/cameras at church? Can you lead a fundraising project for new equipment? Something like that.</p>
<p>With extracurriculars, colleges are really looking to see that you did something and how you spent your time and what that says about you. Recently, at an information session at Bowdoin College (selective school) the admissions counselor assured us that even though the common app had room for ten things, you should not feel bad about one. (And should not try to cram in a bunch your senior year because they would recognize that for the desperate ploy it was). He said to remember that extracurriculars could include things like a job or babysitting siblings after school or helping to care for an elderly relative. They were more interested in finding out ABOUT you and how you spend your time and what your interest were than in evaluating your extracurricular choices.</p>