Club Ideas

Put together a club kit: it might include:

Word and number games such as Boggle, Scrabble, crosswords, Jumble, sudoku, Fictionary, Banangrams, Upwords

“Challenging” magazines such as The New Yorker (read an article with a dictionary handy to look up unfamiliar words)

Reference materials such as an atlas, almanac, dictionary, thesaurus, newspapers and magazines

Guides and brochures for colleges

ACT and SAT test prep guides

Have get-togethers: (any adult-led activity shows kids that they are “worth it”!)

Watch inspiring movies (see list below)

Host parties with mentors

Create a journal based on a Grow to College activities: write down thoughts and lists, make collages…this personal record could help you get scholarship $$$! Here’s a great link for inspiration: http://www.kerismith.com/

Throw biography parties (everyone comes with a name tag of an inspiring person and introduces and describes him/herself as that person during the gathering)

Throw word parties (everyone has a word pinned to their front and a definition pinned to their back)

Organize field trips to college events

Arrange participatory enrichment activities relating to sports, music, dance, theater

Role-play hypothetical situations

Hold mock job-interviews

Have game nights (Cranium, Pictionary, Apples to Apples, Taboo…)

Hold song-writing contests to come up with inspiring jingles for kids of all ages

Hold “College Knowledge” contests to see who can name the most colleges, where they are located, and interesting facts

Arrange a “Lunch with Leaders” and invite community leaders and professionals to speak with your group

Host a panel discussion with adults with different education and career backgrounds

Invite college recruiters to speak with middle and high school students at your school or church

Mount a publicity campaign to get students and adults involved

Seek out local businesses to offer activities or products as incentive and rewards

Organize “Teach-a-thons” where kids and adults offer mini-clinics on something they know how to do or find interesting (skateboard tricks, magic or card tricks, knitting, decorating a cake, Simon Says, a dance, sew on a button, hem a pair of pants, change a tire…)

Start a Grow to College summer day camp that’s fun and educational so younger kids don’t fall behind or get in trouble

Host a vacation clinic to help kids and parents learn about Grow to College

Start a “detective service” to scout out summer options, job opportunities, college scholarships, and other opportunities for students

Start an advice column in your school newspaper for students at your school to ask college, career, and life questions

Have a “Back to the Future” high school reunion party where everyone pretends to be what they aspire to.

Host a college application and essay workshop

Host a FAFSA workshop to help parents and students with the Free Application for Student Aid required for college aid and scholarships

Links to inspiring movies: available from Netflix or local video rental:

Spellbound (2004) G http://www.amazon.com/Spellbound-Angela-Arenivar/dp/B0000WN13Q/ref=pd_cp_d_1?pf_rd_p=413864101&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000G1R394&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=16XBG4E24T8SX7QT2FVG

Music of the Heart (1999) PG http://www.amazon.com/Music-Miramax-Collectors-Angela-Bassett/dp/B00003CWUI/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1224102803&sr=1-8

Akeelah and the Bee (2006) PG http://www.amazon.com/Akeelah-Bee-Widescreen-Angela-Bassett/dp/B000G1R394/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1224102899&sr=1-3

Dead Poet’s Society (1989) PG