Don’t let your club fizzle, make it the envy of the school!

Kaleigh Baker, OWLA Immediate Past President

As the school year winds down, so too might your clubs. I am here to offer some fun ideas to keep your kids involved and (hopefully) spark some interest in getting more to join the fun next year.

The tough part about springtime is that there is so much testing happening and it feels like every other day you are missing most of your classes. This is the perfect time to end your year on a strong note as far as your clubs are concerned. At this point in the year, you have done your fundraising and you know how much money you have in your account. With a proper budget and a little community outreach, you can get the most out of your funds and provide your students with a few unforgettable experiences.

One favorite activity is a cooking class (or classes if you have the space and time!). Coordinate with your school’s food service department and have them add whatever ingredients you need to their next delivery order. You can also have students sign up to bring in some ingredients the day of! For my Spanish classes, some easy recipes are gazpacho, tortillas, and cookies.

Staying along the lines of food, another option is a local restaurant field trip. Here in the Dayton area there is a restaurant that offers an interactive experience for students with dancing and authentic food. You can reach out to some on your own and see if you can work something out.

Another activity is a dance class. You can reach out to local groups to come in and teach your students some basic steps. Bonus points if they can do it in the target language!

Finally, I remind you of crafts and cultural celebrations. This is your chance to find something that happens over the summer and try to bring it to life for your students. They love any excuse to go outside. Find a celebration that takes place over the summer and see how you can bring it to your club. Even if it is just reading and then writing on the sidewalks in chalk to share with the student body, they love the opportunity to share what they are learning! See if you can join up with another language club in your school and do some sort of cultural exchange. The possibilities are endless, but fortunately, the end of the school year is not.