Counseling Corner: Willowbrook Guidance Department shares opportunities for students to get involved this summer

It’s summer, and that means it’s time for students to get involved.

There are plenty of educational camps (academic, art, music, etc.) for students, which can be found on the Educational Programs and Camps Directory at www.studenteducationprograms.com. 

But what else is there? Don’t forget to consider looking into service learning or community service. Most colleges expect students to have volunteer hours, but are more impressed by projects students have organized on their own. The beauty of it is students end up with amazing personal gains that can even fuel career direction. Finding meaning in work creates career longevity, and those seeds need to be planted early. Below are some organizations/ideas students can look into for service.

DuPage Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS) www.dupagepads.org: Through this organization, students (with parent permission if younger than 18) and parents can volunteer at a homeless shelter that offers many duties and shifts. Participants need to complete a volunteer form and online training.

Rotary Club of Villa Park (www.villaparkrotary.org) or Lombard (www.lombardrotary.org): Contact your local Rotary Club, and see what they have planned for the summer. They are often looking for student involvement in community service events they sponsor.

Places of worship: If you attend a place of worship, find out what service opportunities are already set up. If you don’t attend a place of worship, contact one near you. Ask to speak to the person in charge of serving ministries, and learn about their programs.

Hospitals, nursing homes, animal shelters, etc.: Many of these places have volunteer opportunities available.

Getting involved provides many benefits for students.

“As the Willowbrook Interact Club sponsor, I have found students have only gained from ‘giving back,’” said Erik Engel, Willowbrook social worker. “They attest to this. They get into better schools. They become better people. They end up thanking us for the opportunity to serve – a rarity in today’s society.”