Acceptable Hours in Lynden NHS
- Coordination of fundraising activities and services performed for day care centers, retirement homes, animal hospitals, nature parks or other non-profit organizations. (fundraising alone does not count)
- Doing performances (dance, theater, music) will count as service hours if the production is created specifically to address identified community service needs as defined above. To count the student and/or organization cannot receive financial benefit from the production.
- Hours spent coaching youth sports count as service hours.
- Services performed on staff at non-profit athletic or music camps for no financial compensation(including lowering cost of tuition) will count as community service hours, as well as hours on long-distance service projects. (See limitations, below.)
- Involvement in service projects of for-profit businesses that address a community service need will result in justifiable community service hours.
- Tutoring when sponsored by a community organization or performed in school and signed off by an LHS staff member.
- Parents cannot sign for their children. If the event is not a school sponsored activity, then a letter on the organization’s letterhead documenting the service should be acquired.
- For performances (dance, theatre, music), individuals will receive service hours for the time of the actual performances only. Hours are not awarded for rehearsal, set-up, or travel.
- All youth group or church activities must be service to a community in order to receive credit. Youth group or church activities that in purpose or practice primarily further a religious cause are not community service.
- In all cases, volunteers receive a maximum of 8 hours credit for any 24-hour period of service, and a maximum of 45 hours credit for any 7-day period. Time for travel to and from a service site or time sleeping overnight at a service site does not earn service credit.
- In general, service rendered directly to a for-profit organization will not count as service hours. Service must be rendered to a community cause or need rather than to an organization.
- Fundraising for clubs or organizations. For example (car washes, cookie sales, bake sales). Fundraising will only count as service hours if the activity is created specifically to address identified community service needs/ group as defined above. Just donating/collecting money does not count.
- Volunteer work to promote a particular religious or political point of view such as proselytizing or campaigning for a party candidate does not count as volunteer service hours.
- Managing or being on an athletic team, chorus and participating in the school play are considered school activities and do not meet the definition of service to the community
- Fundraising for a school athletic team or club
- Something done for your family such as painting your house, moving, or taking care of a grandparent
- Hosting a foreign exchange student
- Making a contribution such as prom gowns, books, soda tabs, coats, food, and toiletries
- Babysitting
- Eating, sleeping, worship, and playtime on a mission trip
- Activities that take place during a normal worship service such as ushering, participation in choir, playing music for a service, or other worship activities
- Teaching, leading, or assisting in youth worship classes
- Private tutoring activities
- Service done for a group with exclusive membership