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How To Start A Club In Middle School: A Step By Step Guide

How To Start A Club In Middle School: A Step By Step Guide
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Date
January 28, 2025
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Back In The 90s

When I was in 7th grade, I joined forensics! For the life of me, I can’t remember why. I had just transferred from a nearby parochial school with my two best friends and, after two weeks, we were no longer friends–likely due to the harsh but true reality of moving from a class of 20 to 200. In need of a fresh start, I joined the 7th grade band, took a woodworking elective, and, yes, joined forensics. I didn’t make any close friends that year. But I do remember enjoying the challenge of memorizing the classic baseball poem “Casey At The Bat” and gaining some confidence in public speaking at forensics competitions! It’s actually amazing how the kindness of one teacher (i.e. the club advisor) made such a difference for me that year. I felt connected to my new school despite the dramatic changes I went through.

Clubs Are Important

That positive connection is just one of many reasons why joining a club is beneficial. It also likely improved my grades! According to a study by the National Library of Medicine, “Extracurricular participation in Grades 7 and 8 or only in Grade 8 in middle school promotes academic motivation and achievement for at-risk youth” (Knifsend, 2018). Now, I must admit, at that time in my life, I was probably considered “at risk” due to my change in schools and loss of friends. Keep in mind, at risk isn’t a diagnosis. It’s just the idea that instability puts kids at more risk for negative behaviors. Gosh, you might think all middle school students are “at risk” given all of the developmental changes that occur at that age! That’s why the same study encourages “...schools and families to view participation as an educational asset rather than an expendable option, thereby increasing opportunities for participation by all students.” In a related study by the same organization, they discuss the critical need for friendships to blossom while students engage in extra-curriculars. As stated, “...it may not be enough to encourage youth to join an activity, but once they join, efforts should be made towards improving peer relationships in activities” (Im, 2016). They recommend that club advisors intentionally focus on peer to peer relationships during club meetings. Keep that in mind as you read on!

Join Existing Clubs

I don’t think I’m breaking new ground here. Aside from the academic and social benefits, clubs are just a whole lot of fun. In the spirit of do-it-yourself learning, clubs are an obvious extension of connecting personal interests to your school work. It’s very likely that super amazing clubs already exist at your middle school. So the first step in starting a club is to just join one! Make it a priority to find out what clubs are offered, when they meet, and how you can join. Then give one or two a try. Go by yourself or bring a friend. Just go! Some highlights of my own club experiences are as follows:

  • Working the haunted house at my local zoo (Key Club)
  • Choosing music for the school dance (Student Council)
  • Learning the art of printmaking (Art Club)
  • Designing a lego robot to perform tasks for competition (Lego League)
  • Playing ping-pong against friends (Ping-Pong Club)
  • Reading and discussing “The Missing Piece” by Shel Silverstein (Philosophy Club)
  • Touring a hydroponic urban farm (Club Action)

As you can see, I’ve had some pretty wild and memorable experiences in clubs over the years. Some I joined (e.g. Key Club) and some I created (e.g. Club Action).

Create Your Own

If you’ve exhausted what’s available and you’re still not satisfied, then create your own! I’d start with obtaining your school’s policy on clubs. I’m sure it exists (in)formally and should provide logistics needed to get started. In general, here’s a checklist of things you will need:

  • Club focus
  • Advisor
  • Dates, times, and locations
  • Permission slip and/or joining fee
  • Supplies needed
  • Meeting structure and/or activities
  • Leadership roles/responsibilities
  • Membership roles/responsibilities

Your club focus could be as simple as “socialize with friends while playing ping-pong.” Yep, Ping-Pong Club! Or consider when I created Club Action, there were a handful of students interested in starting an environmental club, another handful of students interested in starting an endangered species club, and a third group of students interested in starting a club focused on helping poor people. I realized that all of these students shared a common interest in “fundraising and volunteering to help people, animals, and the environment.” Do you see what I did there? I created a club focus that was inclusive of all of the students. This is super important because a club needs enough students to exist and endure. No members, no club.

Next you need an advisor. This is nothing more than a dedicated adult (e.g. teacher or parent) that is willing to help you establish and run your club. A good advisor will give voice to the students in the club to set meeting agendas, activities, and encourage peer to peer interactions that are positive and nurturing. Remember, a club should expand your social network, make school more fun, and give you lots of memorable experiences. Lastly, an advisor can work with your school’s administrators to make sure your club meets all requirements.

With a suitable advisor chosen, your next step is to discuss dates, times, and locations. That is, meeting logistics. Should the club meet before, during, or after school? Obviously before school can limit attendance. During school is great but not always an option. After school typically gives you the most freedom and flexibility but it can also compete with so many other things like sports, homework, family obligations, etc. Don’t let any of this worry you. Your club isn’t for everyone. It is for all interested students. If it’s a fun, welcoming club, you will get students who make coming a priority! Figure out what works best for your advisor and core members and start with that. Then consider how often you need to meet (e.g. monthly), where you will meet (e.g. a classroom, library, common space, etc.), what time you will meet, and for how long. All of this can change as your club gains momentum. Start simple and with realistic expectations. A few super high quality meetings will be much better than a lot of poorly planned ones.

As you plan meeting logistics, you’ll naturally start to think about more important details such as permission slips, fees, and supplies. A lot of this just depends on the type of club you want to have. T-shirts cost money. Field trips cost money. If you start a bowling club, you’ll need money to pay for games. So just consider what your expectations are and decide if you’ll charge up front, on a case-by-case basis, or exist without fees. Keep in mind that even snacks cost money. A lot of clubs work fundraisers into their activities. Anything from candy sales to organizing a community event (e.g. snowman building contest) to getting a local restaurant to offer sales rewards can generate funds for your club. Get creative and find ways for your community to financially support your club! The larger your budget, the more possibilities you will have.

Yes, activities may include fundraisers. But, more importantly, they include your actual reason for meeting, like playing ping-pong, discussing books, making art, planning volunteer work, etc. Who decides? Well, that needs to be determined. Will you have club leaders? Or can any member plan meetings? If so, will you take turns? Look to the existing clubs around your school to find out more about leadership structures. Some clubs have very specific roles chosen by voting or some other selection process. Other clubs choose members to take lead on certain activities. Every good idea requires a lot of planning and preparation. You need someone to follow through to ensure those things happen. Your advisor will also take an active role to help leaders learn leadership skills. This is all part of the experience!

The First Meeting

I hope you’re motivated to join or create a club. Clubs make school more fun. There are no grades. There isn’t homework, at least in the traditional sense. You’re encouraged to talk and be social. You’re encouraged to share ideas and take leadership roles. Join with a willingness to try new things, meet new people, and grow your interests, skills, experiences, and perspectives.

If you want to start a club, get creative and resourceful. Find an advisor that shares your passion. Recruit some friends and work out the logistics. When it’s finally time for the first meeting, take advantage of all advertising options at your school. Make posters, flyers, announcements, and even ask your teachers for a moment of class time to plug the new club. Also consider what social media or other tech platforms might be appropriate. Make sure the information is clear, concise, and complete. Make sure the poster, flyers, and other advertisements are exciting. Include that there will be free food. Yup, free food always attracts a crowd. Choose a date/time with minimal conflicts. In other words, find out when teams practice, identify upcoming holidays and when other clubs meet. Lastly, make the first meeting fun, social, and memorable. How will you get students to talk to each other? What activities will be memorable? How can you share logistics without letting those details take away from the fun?

My first meeting for Philosophy Club went as follows:

  • Students arrived to hot cocoa and popcorn
  • We made a huge circle and, one by one, shared “why are you interested in philosophy?”
  • Students were given a handout of club logistics and a short philosophical passage and told to “read the passage first, then read the logistics while you wait for others to finish”
  • We took turns sharing one thing we agreed with and one thing that challenged our thinking from the passage
  • Students formed small groups, were given a blank piece of paper, and asked to generate ideas for topics, activities, and readings for future meetings
  • Lastly, students were told to write down the next meeting date on their handout

Do you see a balance of logistics and fun? Do you see opportunities to socialize and take ownership? Do you see how excitement for the second meeting was generated? Do you see how we were able to philosophize at the very first meeting?

References:

Im, M. H., Hughes, J. N., Cao, Q., & Kwok, O. (2016). Effects of extracurricular participation during middle school on academic motivation and achievement at grade 9. American Educational Research Journal, 53(5), 1343-1375. https://doi.org/10.3102/0002831216667479

Knifsend, C. A., Camacho-Thompson, D. E., Juvonen, J., & colleagues (2018). Friends in activities, school-related affect, and academic outcomes in diverse middle schools. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 47(6), 1208-1220. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-018-0817-6

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