Get Scrappy!
Did you know that American youth played a big role in supporting the Allied victory in World War II? During the war years Americans who were too young to serve in the military were enlisted to help in the war effort, including by planting “Victory Gardens” and through “Scrapping”, which was the term back then for reusing and recycling materials. They also helped their families by not wasting food and by collecting materials that were then used to produce war materials. All of these efforts have modern analogues, but instead of a world war you’ll be fighting against climate change or pollution, or helping improve access to healthy foods.
How do I get started? Learn more about how American teens helped in the war effort. Think about today’s version of each of these efforts. Then build your own community impact project campaign that links a modern conservation need with our history. Build your branding around historical references, and make your messaging mission-based. Download our PDF for more ideas on where to begin.
How do I expand this narrative arc? If your interests and strengths lie in History and Social Science, think about pursuing one or more of these activities:
Enter the National World War II Museum’s Essay Contest;
See our post on getting any historical research you may have done published in The Concord Review.
If your school offers the ability to do an independent study or writing projects, consider doing a larger research project that expands on the themes you explored in your WWII-inspired modern day impact project. Colleges love “pointy” students, and expansion on a theme will demonstrate your ability to go deep!
HOT TIP: You’ll get a lot more mileage out of your community impact project if you combine it with one of the other activities above. Make sure there’s a thematic link between the activities so that it doesn’t look like a random assortment of choices!