Activities · Community service

Community service: help others, grow, get credit

How service counts in New York (the Seal of Civic Readiness), what honor societies ask for, where to find safe places to help, and a free hours log that stays on your device.

Pick a cause you care about.
Volunteer with a known group and a trusted adult.
Log every hour the same day. Ask the group to sign.
Reflect: what did you learn? Seals and honor societies often ask.

General information. We list only rules and programs with an official page we opened. Rules, dates and fees change: always check the official page and your school. Facts checked November 9, 2026.

🏅 The New York State Seal of Civic Readiness

A seal on the New York diploma. A student needs 6 points: at least 2 from Civic Knowledge, at least 2 from Civic Participation, and 2 more from either. Service can earn Civic Participation points:

Option	Points	What it takes
2d. Middle School Capstone Project	1	Only for work in grades 7 and 8.
2b. Service-Learning Project	1	Minimum 25 hours plus a reflective civic learning essay, presentation or product.
2e. Extra-curricular or work-based learning	0.5	Minimum 40 hours plus an essay, presentation or project.
2a. High School Civics Project	1.5	Limit two times in grades 9-12.
2c. Civic engagement elective	0.5	Earned credit in an elective that promotes civic engagement.
2f. Civics Capstone Project	4	A large civics project (see NYSED).

Example with made-up numbers

Grade 8 capstone (2d) = 1 point High school service-learning, 30 hours + essay (2b) = 1 point Civic Participation so far = 1 + 1 = 2 points (meets the minimum of 2) Still needed: 2 Civic Knowledge points + 2 more from either column = 6 total

Each school decides how it offers the seal. Ask your counselor. NYSED says the chart "is not a checklist".

🎖️ Honor societies

National Junior Honor Society (NJHS)

Grades 6-9. Sixth graders must be in their second semester of grade 6.
National minimum GPA: 85, B, 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent. Chapters may set it higher.
Five pillars: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, Character, Citizenship.
Service hours: there is no national number. Each chapter sets its own rules.

How to become a member (njhs.us) →

National Honor Society (NHS)

For high school students.
Like NJHS, the school's chapter sets its own service requirement and selection steps.
Ask your chapter adviser early which service counts.

nhs.us →

🇺🇸 The President's Volunteer Service Award

Paused. The official site says the award is on a temporary pause, as decided by AmeriCorps effective May 27, 2025. New orders are not accepted and no restart date has been set. Check presidentialserviceawards.gov before you plan around it.

📍 Find safe ways to help

Good places to ask

Your public library (reading buddies, events)
Food pantries and community kitchens
Your place of worship or community center
Animal shelters
Parks, beach and park cleanups
Hospital and nursing home junior volunteer programs
Your school: NJHS projects, peer tutoring, school events

Minimum ages vary. Many places have an age limit or need a parent with you. Ask before you go.

Stay safe

Go with a known group, a school club or a parent.
Tell a parent where you are, who is in charge, and when you will be done.
Never meet a stranger from the internet to "volunteer".
Never give your Social Security number or pay a fee to volunteer.
If anything feels wrong, leave and tell a trusted adult.

New York State: the New York State Commission on National and Community Service runs AmeriCorps programs in the state (mostly for older teens and adults).

📒 My service hours log

Saved only on this device. Nothing is sent anywhere. Print it or download a spreadsheet for your advisor. Write the group's name; no student names needed.

Total: 0 hours

Seal 2b service-learning (25 hours):

Seal 2e extra-curricular (40 hours):

My school or club goal (hours)

Date	Where	What I did	Hours	Delete

Signature of supervisor (on paper): ____________________ Date: __________

💡 Service ideas for a 6th grader

Reading buddyRead to younger kids at school or the library.
Food driveRun a class collection for a local pantry.
Park cleanupJoin a town or school cleanup day with a parent.
Cards and lettersMake cards for a nursing home or veterans group.
Tech helperHelp a grandparent or neighbor learn a phone or tablet skill.
School helperWelcome new students, help at school events.

More: NJHS Community Service Idea Starters.

🔗 Sources

We opened and checked every source in this list on Nov 9, 2026. Rules and dates change: always read the official page.

NYSED, Criteria to Earn the Seal of Civic Readiness: nysed.gov; Seal of Civic Readiness: nysed.gov
NJHS, How to Become a Member: njhs.us; NJHS Student Membership FAQ: njhs.us
President's Volunteer Service Award (pause notice): presidentialserviceawards.gov
New York State Commission on National and Community Service: newyorkersvolunteer.ny.gov
NJHS, Community Service Idea Starters: njhs.us

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