Extra Curricular Activites for College-Bound Homeschoolers

Concerned about extra-curriculars for your homeschooling child?

If you plan to continue homeschooling through high school, you may have considered your options for how to address sports, clubs, graduation, newspaper club, etc.

Before trying to reinvent the wheel, check out your local homeschool support groups to learn about opportunities they may have already established. Many groups offer homeschool sports teams, homeschool drama clubs, homeschool choirs, homeschool debate teams, etc. Homeschoolers also often establish teams to compete in national math and science competitions.

But if you are starting from scratch, be sure to spend some time organizing, pulling people together who can help, and setting up your plan of attack before you jump. This will help to avoid the frustrations that so often result in burnout and the end of a great idea.

With technology where it is today, you can create a sense of community among students with just the click of a button. Better yet, you can have a newspaper or homeschool literary club with contributing members from all around the world.

And as technology continues to make our world smaller, look ahead to ways you can use the developments to your homeschooler s advantage.

Some great places to start are opportunities that add that element of setting themselves apart to your child s transcript.

1. Honor society the National Honor Society won t admit homeschoolers, but a home school honor society exists if you re willing to get one going in your community. Check out http://www.homeeducationpartnership.com for Eta Sigma Alpha Honor Society.
2. Yearbook staff–are you part of a homeschool group Take your own pictures and allow your kids to put together a ‘yearbook.” A yearbook creates lasting memories and gives your child that sense of belonging. With digital photos and on-line publishing options, designing and printing a yearbook is now easy! Visit http://www.blurb.com/; http://www.shutterfly.com/; http://www.mypublisher.com/; http://www.ubuildabook.com/yearbook.html; or http://www.expressly-yours.net/yearbook_steps/prepare_online.php. There are a number of other on-line programs that will allow your group to work from any computer with an Internet connection to contribute to your yearbook.
   Sections to include:
   i) Class pictures
   ii) Sports
   iii) Clubs
   iv) Field Trips
   v) Ministries
   vi) Events
   vii) Group Photos
   viii) Friends
   ix) Awards & Accomplishments
   x) Community Service Projects
3. Literary journal If you have a writer in the family, what better way to showcase his or her abilities than to write for a literary journal. Check out http://www.narrowroadpublishing.com/ for your opportunity to contribute to a homeschool literary journal. ?
4. Newspaper If your student is interested in writing or journalism, check into your local smaller newspapers. When I was in high school, I was able to secure a weekly column in our local newspaper where I had the opportunity to write for an audience every week. It was a terrific experience that forced me to think critically about the events around me and to do my research before writing my article. I am so grateful for my parents confidence in me and encouragement to pursue my interests in ways that were meaningful.
5. Sports check with your local homeschool support groups. Many areas have homeschool sports team that compete against one another or against smaller private schools in the area. Be sure to also look in to community sports and premier sports clubs in your area.
   1. If you have an aspiring athlete, your local premier sports clubs are one great avenue as many colleges and universities do their recruiting from premier teams and tournaments.
   2. In many states, public schools will allow homeschoolers to participate in sports some require your child to attend at least one class; others allow them to play without attending. Often private schools welcome the opportunity to add homeschoolers to their team rosters as well.
   3. Don t assume your child will be unable to play his or her sport on an organized and competitive team. Take the time to pursue your options. We have seen many homeschool students go on to college on athletic scholarships as a result of a diligent and committed parent. ?
6. Choir many areas have local choirs or chorus opportunities. My homeschool daughter joined the local public school chorus to gain experience and now can choose to also participate with our county chorus or a local music school choir.
7. Band another one where there can be many opportunities. Look into your local 4-H club, a local music school, private and public schools in the area, or a county band. Don t hesitate to check into your church band as well. Often churches forget to recruit young members, but welcome them enthusiastically.
8. Leadership leadership comes in many forms. If you do not have a homeschool support group nearby, find other ways for your child to take on leadership roles. As a high school student, I had the opportunity to start a children s choir in my church, to teach Sunday School, and to serve as an assistant softball coach through our community sports organization. These were all leadership activities that not only looked great on a college application, but also served to build my character and confidence in my own abilities. And working with younger children is an ideal way to build leadership skills in a child who is otherwise fairly introverted.
9. Class rings, graduation announcements, etc. no problem. There are a number of companies out there who provide these services. Check out www.jostens.com; www.balfour.com; www.artcarved.com; even K-mart offers class rings.
10. Prom — yep, homeschoolers are simulating proms. We have a local homeschool group organizing a prom. Yes, it will be more conservative than most (thankfully), but the kids are excited about the opportunity to get together as a group in an event that for some is considered to be an essential part of high school.

Extra-curricular opportunities are all around you. But you will have to be proactive in seeking them out or starting them for your local homeschool group. Get you kids involved you will be surprised at how incredibly proactive they can be when working towards an activity that fits into their talents, abilities and passions.