What is community service good for at High School?

[Laura H]

We just came from Mexico to live in Colorado, and my daughter (11th grade) and son (9th grade) would like to know what IS community service, when should they start doing it, and what is it good for (I mean is it required for graduating or what?)...thank you!

[Regina]

Community service can involve helping others, most likely thru organizations such as the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, churches, and civic organizations in your community. I would talk to your children's guidance counselor, and get some ideas of where to get started. As I understand it, this is not necessary for graduation, but in your school this might be different. At any rate, community service is a wonderful thing for your kids to do, and will give them a good feeling of helping out where help is needed.

[dlphnlvr_5]

some high schools do require it for graduating. I know that at my high school you needed 20 hours to graduate. I think it just gives kids a different learning experience and teaches them life skills how to volunteer their time and that you don't always need money to help someone out. If you volunteer at a soup kitchen those people that you serve have nothing and it teaches kids on how not everyone has food and places to live. I hope that helps.

Try Soup Kitchens, Nursing homes, Daycare centers, mentoring younger kids, teaching older people how to read...

here are a couple of websites to check out

1. Volunteers of America / Colorada
2. A Better Community / Extreme home makeover

[nette]

Most high schools don't require it for graduation, but some do. That would be a good thing to ask either a counselor or a vice principal, or even a teacher at the school.
They can and should start doing it whenever they want to. There is no set limit that says "you have to start doing community service when you're in 9th grade" (or anything similar).

The biggest benefit is that just about every single college in the world looks for community service hours. It's not normally required but it looks good on applications, showing that the applicant is well-rounded, concerned with the community, active outside of school, etc. If it comes down to two almost identical candidates for the spot at the university/college and one has community service hours but the other doesn't, the former will most likely be chosen.