Tips for Keeping Students Around

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(taken from the Big Dummies Guide to Service-Learning)

After recruiting volunteers, find or develop opportunities for them to get involved right away.
Have clear goals and expectations of what volunteer will do.
BE FLEXIBLE- have volunteer projects on weekends & weekdays, morning and evenings. This kind of diversity of opportunity will enable students to balance school, work, family, and service!
Make sure volunteers understand the importance of the task they are doing, and how it fits into the overall project / agency / mission.
Never allow people to feel that you wasted their time or that they weren't really needed.
Provide food & refreshments after projects.
Provide a structure so that those who want to can take on roles of greater responsibility.
Give honest and sincere praise, say "Thank you", make people glad they came and participated.