How to Start a Club in School

School clubs are a great way to make a large school seem smaller. I have spent 10 years teaching at an elementary school with over 900 students and we have lots of clubs. They are a great way for students with similar interests to meet. I've even started clubs myself such as a roller hockey club, a technology club and a Dad's Club. I also attended UCLA which is one of the largest student bodies in the country. The clubs at UCLA were a great way to find students with similar interests who you would not have found otherwise. If you find that your school doesn't offer any extracurricular activities that interest you, then start your own club. It's really not that hard and could have a tremendous payoff.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Check with the principal's office to make sure the club or team you want to start doesn't already exist or if it existed in the past. If it did exist you might be able to find out why it ended.
2. If it doesn't, find out your school's requirements for setting up a new club. Most schools are very welcoming to clubs so the process should not be too hard.
3. Get a sponsor for your group. Usually, a teacher or other school official needs to be responsible for extracurricular student activities. In certain instances the sponsor can either attract or repel possible members so be mindful of who you choose to sponsor your club.
4. Recruit club members. Get permission to post notices announcing your new club around campus, and include a contact person for interested students.
5. Schedule an inaugural meeting to discuss what activities your club will pursue. Use this time to try to focus on a direction of the club so that no one is getting into something they did not plan for.
6. Set up a structure for your club. Elect officers and decide who will be responsible for what. If you are collecting funds you may want to have more than one treasurer so that they can oversee each other's work. It may not be a good idea to place all the funds in the hands of one person.
7. Make plans to raise any necessary funds. Stamp collectors may have modest financial needs, but a ski club won't get far without cash. Try to get your club sponsored by a local merchant who might stand to benefit from the exposure.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you get any necessary permission to meet on school property, as well as permission and/or insurance waivers from club members' parents for athletic activities or trips.