HOBY alumni are encouraged to volunteer and participate in community service and service-learning whenever possible.  The guidelines below will help determine if your service hours will count toward service accepted by the PVSA and HOBY. 

In general, fundraising for, volunteering for, or participation in events, performances, festivals, competitions, activities, etc. will only count as volunteer service if all the following apply:

1. The service meets an identified community-related service need as illustrated by the mission of the service organization.
2. No for-profit admission is charged for the event, activity, performance, competition, etc.
3. The participation of the student is completely voluntary in nature.
4. Fundraising activities are not for the profit of the service organization.

Community service and service-learning projects done for a class or for a graduation requirement, as long as it meets the other HOBY LIA requirements.

• Your English class researches, writes, and publishes a series of articles about your community’s history for its bicentennial celebration in the spring.
• Your pottery class creates bowls to sell at an art show and will donate the proceeds to the community art council. The time spent learning to make the art, producing the art, planning the art show, the actual art show (from set up to take down) and final reflection and art show evaluation.

Community service done as a requirement for another organization, as long as it meets the other HOBY LIA requirements.

• A Boy Scout who is trying to earn the Eagle Scout medal can count the hours he spends planning, conducting, and evaluating his Eagle Scout Service Project.

Training and orientation required by an agency for its volunteers.

• The Humane Society requires all volunteers to participate in a facility tour and one-hour orientation so they can learn and practice the duties required of them during a shift.
• As an after school tutor at the library, you must complete a two-hour training to teach you how to interact with elementary students, log your hours, and handle common tutoring challenges.

Planning and evaluating a community service or service-learning project.

• Some members of the student council meet for one hour each week in October and November to plan several December/holiday drives for toys and food. In January, those members meet to evaluate the project and make recommendations for the following year.

Training and ongoing meetings of a nonprofit board or local government entity in which you are a chosen or elected representative.

• You were elected to serve as the student representative of your local school board. You are required to participate in the monthly board meetings, trainings, and retreats. You vote on motions and provide monthly reports to the board.
• You applied and were chosen as one of two young people under the age of 18 to serve a two-year term on the board of directors of the food pantry. You are required to attend ongoing meetings, serve on a board committee, and assist with the organization’s fundraising efforts.

Time spent supporting HOBY programs.

• The volunteer service project during your program.
• Returning to volunteer for HOBY in any capacity.

Extracurricular, sports, or club activities.

• General club activities including meetings, social events, conferences.
  Sports team practice and competitions/meets.
• Volunteerism/service that is paid.
  An activity where you or your club/organization gets paid for the labor.
  Serving concessions at a professional sports venue to raise money for the club/organization.

Volunteerism/service that helps or benefits your own family.

• Spending time with and/or assisting family members.
• Spending the afternoon with your grandmother and helping her clean her house.

Non-charitable volunteerism/service.

• Service that does not help those “in need.”
• Volunteering at your high school’s annual band competition or singing at services at your local religious organization.
• Generally, service performed within the context of a religious service or religious event is not considered volunteer service.

Time not performing actual community service.

• If your youth group takes a three-day mission trip, you cannot count the hours traveling, sleeping, eating, or touring the local community; but you can count the hours you were building the community center, including the training/orientation for how to safely operate power tools.

Court-ordered community service.

• As punishment for committing a crime or violating a local ordinance, you are required to complete 100 hours of community service within six months.