6 Steps for Forming - and Maintaining - a Vibrant Youth Group

Approximately 600 clubs belong to the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS). While most include kids under age 18 within their ranks, only a fraction boasts a full-scale youth group with deliberate programming aimed right at kids.

- JIM BRACE-THOMPSON

I surveyed nearly 100 clubs affiliated with the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies (one of seven regional federations composing AFMS), and I found six "best practices" the most highly engaged clubs employ in starting and successfully maintaining a youth program within their ranks.

STEP ONE: HAVE A CHAMPION!

The number one ingredient for success? Have a Champion! In my survey, clubs listed two reasons for not having a youth program: 1) no kids; and 2) lack of a volunteer willing to take this on. I'll tackle number one a bit later. Meanwhile, let's focus on number two.

The few clubs experiencing long-term success have one thing in common: a true-blue and committed Champion, with a capital C. Among the clubs where this has proven to be the case, that Champion was often the parent of kids who were especially into our hobby or a current or retired teacher.

Identify who, within your club, is the most "kid centric." Then encourage and help that person. Begin with the parents of a child who is bonkers for minerals or fossils. Or a parent who is already a leader of a 4-H, Girl Scout, Boy Scout, home-schooling or similar kids' program. A Champion will be someone already invested as a parent, an educator, a community leader, or a volunteer involved in a kid-centric program. If you lead a rock and gem society, meet and greet and get to know everyone, and once you spot that one person who might serve as a Pied Piper for kids, latch onto and encourage him or her. My own Ventura Gem & Mineral Society has had ups and downs with our youth program. The times we’ve been up are when we’ve had one truly invested Champion take charge. Without a Champion, there is no youth program.

STEP TWO: SUPPORT YOUR CHAMPION