Middle School Clubs
Extra-curricular Groups Offer Opportunities to Explore Interests
A few of the clubs that students can join are as follows: Mathcounts, Science Olympiad, Envirothon, Future Problem Solvers, Odyssey of the Mind, and Builders Club.
At the middle school level, there are many academic clubs in which students can participate. Students can choose clubs that focus on an area of interest.
Mathcounts Club
Mathcounts tries to increase excitement towards mathematic achievement. It hopes to provide students with the foundation for success in science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers. Schools select individuals and teams to participate in competitions. Local competitions are held in February with winners progressing to state competitions and then on to the national level. Mathcounts works to challenge student math skills, develop self-confidence and give rewards for their achievements.
Envirothon
The Envirothon program focuses on natural resources knowledge and exposes students to diverse environmental issues, ecosystems, and topography. The ecology field competition for five-member middle school teams offers competitions in wildlife, soils, forestry, current environmental issues and aquatics. Students work and learn in middle school clubs and can compete at the local and state level.
Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad is an academic club that focuses on science. Students can choose to become specialists from 23 different areas: amphibians and reptiles, anatomy, balloon launch glider, bio process, crave the wave, disease detective, ecology, food science, meteorology, metric mastery, mystery architecture, oceanography, reach for the stars, road scholar, robo-cross, rocks and minerals, science crime busters, science word scramble, simple machines, tower builders, trajectory and write to do it. There are local and state competitions.
Future Problem Solvers
Future Problem Solvers is an academic club that uses a six-step process to solve problems that may happen in the future. Students who are in the talented and gifted program, who like to “think out of the box,” or who enjoy thinking about futuristic problems may like this club. Teams comprised of four students read future scenes and write up solutions in a booklet using the six-step process. Teams that score high enough can go to the state competition and then to the international competition.
Odyssey of the Mind
Odyssey of the Mind is an academic club that provides opportunities for students to develop creative problem solving skills. Students learn teamwork, self-respect, the appreciation and understanding of others, and the importance of a team. Teams compete and are scored on three components: long term problem, style and spontaneous problem. The long-term problem is a skit of around eight minutes, which takes three-to-five months to produce. Style is a component of long-term where teams are judged on the five elements of the skit. The spontaneous problems encourage quick, off-the-top-of-the-head thinking. There are state and national competitions.
Builders Club
Builders Club is open to any middle school student who wishes to perform community service. Each Builders Club is co-sponsored by a Kiwanis club and the middle school. The members learn by doing, and they learn organization, teamwork, and leadership. Builders Clubs can sponsor a "Teacher of the Year" program, provide a recycling collection point, organize canned food and clothing drives to support local shelters, adopt a resident at a local senior citizens home, adopt a highway, tutor, etc.
Middle school academic clubs offer students a niche or a place to explore interests or talents. The clubs they join in middle school can help guide choices in high school and beyond. For additional information on the clubs, contact the school or visit the club website.
