Getting Involved
Who may participate in Homeschool Teen Serve (HTS)?
Students must be currently enrolled in a home school and must be either in the 7th grade or turning 13 during the upcoming school year.
How do I join?
Parents of all teens participating in Homeschool Teen Serve (HTS) are required to attend one local 2-hour informational meeting each year. Informational meetings are held in the summer. During these meetings, the HTS Handbook is reviewed and registration materials are distributed. These materials are sent home with parents, who are asked to review them with their students before returning registration paperwork by mail on or before the stated deadline. Students are required to sign a commitment form in which they state their agreement to abide by the policies of the HTS Handbook.
Students and parents inquiring about HTS after the registration deadline may request registration information by emailing via this website. Registrations received after the deadline will be kept on a waiting list should openings become available during the current school year. In that event, registrants will be contacted by a HTS representative with further instructions.
How do I receive assistance from HTS?
Send a request here with your name, address, zip code, and telephone number and someone will contact you and make the necessary arrangements.
How do I start a chapter in my area?
Send a request here along with your pertinent contact information, and someone will contact you directly to discuss the details of this opportunity. Official chapters receive the benefits of Homeschool Teen Serve’s 501(c)3 group exemption. Chapters are required to pay an initial $200.00 start-up fee for the first year, and a $100.00 annual fee each year thereafter. Homeschool organizations or support groups that are interested in having a representative from HTS speak to your group may send a request here.
Cost & Donations
How much does it cost to participate in HTS?
Students are required to purchase a t-shirt and pay a minimal annual activity fee in order to participate. The current student activity fee is $20 for the first student in a family and $15 for any additional students.
Are students compensated for their work?
Students are not paid for their work, but they understand that HTS is a volunteer endeavor. However, their service hours are documented for use on high school transcripts, as well as for scholarship, college, and other applications.
How much does HTS charge for its services?
HTS does not charge for its services, and students do not receive tips. However, donations to HTS are appreciated (but not required).
How do I make a donation?
Donations to HTS may be mailed to:
Homeschool Teen Serve,
P.O. Box 302
Springfield, Nebraska 68059
Donations to Homeschool Teen Serve are tax-deductible, with receipts for donations issued annually at the beginning of each calendar year. Additionally, gifts of $250.00 or more receive individual receipts. Please make out checks to Homeschool Teen Serve.
Homeschool Teen Serve is exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to Homeschool Teen Serve and any of its subordinate chapters are tax deductible under section 170 of the Code.
Projects
Are the projects supervised?
Yes, each project consists of teams of 3-7 students supervised by an adult, who is usually a parent of a current HTS student.
What types of projects does HTS do?
Students are capable of handling many typical household projects, indoor as well as outdoor. Examples would include raking leaves, weeding and clearing landscaping beds, and trimming annuals, bushes, or trees. Other common projects include washing windows, cleaning out gutters, sweeping driveways, patios and walkways, along with interior cleaning, dusting, vacuuming, and organizing. Students are also available to wash cars, decorate for Christmas, or complete simple tasks, such as cleaning light fixtures and replacing light bulbs. HTS also participates in large group projects for community organizations, ministries, food and clothing pantries, senior living facilities, and churches.
How much time is required?
From start to finish, projects usually last a half of a day.
What is expected of parents?
Each chapter has different requirements for parents. Please contact individual chapters for more details.
Have additional questions?
Submit a contact form and a representative will be in touch shortly.