Photo courtesy of Animal Conservation Club Instagram account (@animalconservationclub.lfhs)
An important part of many students’ high school experience is participating in school clubs. Whether it’s Spanish Club, where students learn about culture, or Robotics Club, where members build ingenious machines, each club has its own special value at LFHS – and each club brings students together for a common goal.
However, the goals of many clubs overlap and they compete with each other. This leads to less money being collected during fundraising campaigns and the events being less successful.
An example of this is the shared goals of the Animal Conservation Club and the Environmental Club. Both clubs strive to protect the environment and the species that live there, and take similar actions to address these concerns.
In addition, the Interact Club, Human Rights Club, Women’s Club and Crafts For a Cause Club focus on solving human problems by conducting service projects in various locations and organizing events such as food drives. Sydney Kirages, a former LFHS student who now attends the University of Illinois, believes it is important for the clubs to work together.
“It’s amazing and impressive that so many people want to start clubs that reflect their passion. It would be truly incredible if there was a way for clubs to work together to increase impact while also increasing membership. Perhaps each club could agree to do at least one crossover event with another club each semester,” Kirages said.
This would not only increase the number of club members, but it would also diversify ideas for different events and introduce students to each other who may not yet know their classmates.
Neighboring schools like Highland Park High School have increased their club membership numbers to impressive heights. The Interact Club, which focuses on community service projects, is part of the larger International Rotary Club. At HPHS, the Interact Club has nearly one hundred students – far more than any club at LFHS.
The Rotary Interact Club has made real changes and helped several local nonprofits, including Volunteering at Feed My Starving Children and helping with events at Equestrian Connection and Elawa Farms.
The Interact Club’s success is due to the number of members who attend the events, and Kristen Carlson, head of the English department at LFHS, believes the clubs should combine their efforts to continue to make this larger impact.
“I think there are a lot of clubs and activities that do a lot for those in need, but sometimes it’s hard to get support from the community and from students because there are so many clubs. If these clubs could streamline their communication and their efforts, it would pay off in a big way,” Carlson said.
With the focus of our clubs in mind – whether it’s women, children, animals, the environment or those in need – we need to think about what makes us successful as a community. With increased membership, we can make real change.
