Can you imagine spending your summer watching starfish and being surrounded by other exotic creatures? This is one way you can get credit for required service learning hours needed to graduate high school. Many high schoolers may not be aware that they need service learning hours to get their diploma so that they will be able to walk across the stage at graduation. Service learning hours are a set number of hours a person needs to complete and have signed off by a community organization that serves them in some way, without being paid to do so. For everyone the number of hours they need to complete are different but the Maryland State Department of Education says that the total number needed to be completed is 75 hours. If you had transferred to Calvert County in middle school, your hours will vary anywhere from 50-65 hours, but in high school if you moved during 9th grade then you only need 40 hours, and each grade after that it is 10 less hours from 40.
You can find how many service learning hours you might need by going to your most recent report card to see how many hours you have completed and how many you still need to. You can always make an appointment with your guidance counselor if you are not able to see in HAC.
One opportunity to earn service learning hours in Calvert County would to be to volunteer at the Calvert Marine Museum. The Calvert Marine Museum allows students to earn their hours while also being able to be in an interactive environment. When I last visited the museum back in November I spoke with a younger girl who seemed to work there. When I asked her if she did, she told me she was a volunteer earning her service learning hours. She watched over the starfish in their tank while people came up and touched them. This is an easy but fun way to earn your hours and gives you social interaction along with being able to build your communication skills. To sign up to be a volunteer, you just need to go to the Calvert Marine Museum website and complete a volunteer form or go in person to get a paper form.
Another way to earn your hours is to sign up for the Night to Shine dance that happens annually in February at the Emmanuel Church in Huntingtown. Night to Shine is a dance dedicated to individuals with special needs or disabilities who never had a ‘prom experience’. They are able to enjoy a night of good food, music, and worship. Dress up in your best attire and attend! I went to the dance last year and I had a great time being able to connect with others and see both the younger kids and teenagers having fun. This earns you a short couple hours of service learning time but while you’re there it doesn’t feel like you’re only there to earn your service learning hours. I had the opportunity of meeting new people and creating the purest friendships. It is important to sign up to be a volunteer at Night to Shine right when the sign up comes out because it does get crowded and volunteer spots fill up fast. Anyone is able to volunteer but you have to at least be the age of 14 or older.
Volunteering at a local church is also a great way to earn hours. My sister volunteered at Life Church Calvert in Huntingtown to get her service learning hours. She was able to go into church every Sunday and play with the little kids for an hour during the church service. My sister was behind on her hours and spent every Sunday of her junior year of high school earning hours by volunteering to help the children with crafts, reading stories, and many other engaging activities. There are different age groups that you can help with, and you can start volunteering as early as 14. The church is always looking for help with the kids as it grows each year and completing your hours gradually throughout your four years in high school will give you less pressure to complete them in a short amount of time.
Serving your community isn’t always boring and can be a great experience with fun opportunities. Consider looking into events in Calvert County that you can attend to earn your hours while also enjoying the time you are spending getting them.
