- Hone your skills at, or take up, a visual art (painting, drawing, photography, etc.). If you’d like to try something new, your research (e.g. online tutorials) can be included as part of the experience.
- Hone your skills at, or take up, a performing art (dancing, making music, acting, etc.). You could make practice or rehearsal goals with an end result of being able to play a particular piece or record yourself performing. Service overlap: create a tutorial for others and share, or plan a benefit event to raise money for a local non-profit.
- Learn a new skill or try something new, such as crafting, scrapbooking, making beauty/health products, crocheting, sewing, knitting, etc.
- Create a research project for yourself investigating something you’ve always wanted to know more about. Include a final report, handout, or other material that could be shared with an authentic audience.
- Build (and publish!) a website or start a blog, vlog, or podcast dedicated to a topic you are passionate about and would like to investigate and share
- Enter an essay, writing, or other contest; document your process as you prepare your work for submission. (If you win, donate your proceeds!*)
| - Set a goal for running, walking, hiking, cycling; consider goals surrounding time, distance, and/or pace. Use an app (Strava, MapMyRun, RunKeeper, etc.) to track your workouts.
- Commit to doing an in-home workout (yoga, HIIT, kickboxing, body-weight routines, etc.) - there are many options available for free online. Again, record a fitness goal of some kind and/or a time or frequency goal. Documentation may include a daily journal (what you did, for how long, how it went, how it felt), pictures of you completing workouts, or…?
- Workouts don’t have to be solo! Many companies offer free live workouts you can tune into (here is one of many articles compiling them - be sure to scroll past those pesky ads). Documentation may include a recording sessions, screenshots, or something along the lines of journaling (see previous bullet).
| - Check with a community organization such as the United Way, Food Bank, Catholic Charities, Meals on Wheels, Adopt a Neighbor, etc. to review their current volunteer needs. (Scroll to bottom of this document for more suggestions.)
- Check out this article for a wide array of service learning opportunities that can be done from home! (Originally published during the pandemic but still some viable options.)
- Handwrite letters (creativity overlap!) for nursing home residents or those serving in the military. Take pics for documentation! (If you’re feeling artistic, drawing or comics or poetry - blackout poetry? - or anything along those lines could be a nice addition!) Be sure to research where to send them - consider this part of the experience.
- Consider using an app like Next Door to offer services (free of charge*) to neighbors (such as dog walking, yard work, childcare, grocery shopping).
- Create a scavenger hunt or other fun activities for kids in your neighborhood to bolster a sense of community - see this Coloradoan article for an example
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