Get kids

Starting a group is easy. Because you are really not affiliated with an organization, you just find kids to make up the group. Some ideas for finding students:

• Place flyers in student cubbies or hang flyers in schools
• Advertise on your city's http://craigslist.org under community groups or activities. It's free!
• Advertise in your local paper. It might be free if you promote your group as a not-for-profit organization
• If your child is in the group, entice him or her to spread the word on the playground

Make a list of activities and dates

Next: Search here for activities. If none are found, do a google search for [your city] field trips or a like search. Sometimes you can find a list of field trips from Boys and Girls Club or schools. ADD them to the database! We don't need to reinvent the wheel in every town. A list of ideas can be extremely helpful for those down the road.

Communicate with parents and children

Whether you use email, a yahoogroups.com list, or make a website (contact us), ensure everyone knows when and where the activities are occurring. Try to plan 6 months to a year ahead.

Entice and teach

Entice the students by grabbing their attention on the activity. Try to think of why the activity sounds fun or "cool". Once you hook them, pre-teach what they will learn. During the activity, point out the items that were pre-taught.

Some guidelines

• Ensure there is a background check on all leaders and drivers
• Parents must accompany their kindergarteners through second graders at all times
• Ensure there is one leader per three students for unaccompanied third through fifth graders
• Ensure there is at least one leader per 10 students for 6th grade on up. This is mostly to maintain control and your sanity
• Drivers must gain permission slips with waiver of liability from all students except their own
• Some states may require liability insurance
• Try to find field local field trips that are free. Slip in learning activities and teaching and use of vocabulary specific to the trip.
• To motivate students you may want to consider t-shirts and explorer hats. Pins found on the internet can be placed on hats. Home made fabric patches sewn on shirt sleeves bottom hems can be used to show participation.
• Sometimes a school district can charter a bus and driver for activities.
• Make sure everyone has fun!

Tax Exempt 501(c)(3) Nonprofit vs. Loose Not-for-Profit Organization

Because this is not a tax exempt organization, either create your own 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for your region or state or ensure all donations are accepted on the fact that it is NOT tax deductible. By being a not-for-profit organization without tax exempt status, you simplify paperwork and rules. To cover liability issues certain issues will need to be researched: insurance, good samaritan laws, other children programs such as boy scouts.