Student Engagement in the American Cancer Society Student Relay For Life Events

The American Cancer Society is committed to providing students with challenging and rewarding volunteer opportunities through Relay For Life – helping them develop leadership skills, and fight back against a disease that takes too much from too many.

WHY HIGH SCHOOL RELAY FOR LIFE? Leadership Skills Character Building Opportunities Lifelong attribute development Foster Volunteerism Youth are impacted by cancer too Large network of friends Build camaraderie within the student body Promotes healthy lifestyle to students Students who volunteer are more likely to do well in school, graduate and volunteer the rest of their lives

What does a High School RFL Event look like? Student led committee with at least one school assigned adult liaison Event is 12 hours in length (overnight, usually 6 pm – 6 am) Students participating should expect to stay through Closing (use bracelets to ensure participants stay on site) All participants must sign a waiver* Every team should recruit a chaperone for a shift Adult Chaperone must be in a ratio of 1 per 5 teams for each shift and assigned location

How much support from the school is required? Provide track/field house/gymnasium for the event School will most likely want maintenance personnel in attendance throughout the event. Lighting and electricity If school has security on staff, they could potentially be event security ACS will provide Certificate of Insurance for duration of event Cleanup will be provided by volunteers to ensure facilities are left as they were pre- event Administration verbal support to the students At least on Adult Liaison from the School

What is the Adult Liaison role? The lead relationship to the School Administration and the American Cancer Society Strong leadership skills Enthusiastic, goal-oriented Able to motivate the students Organized, able to delegate Respect/understand the mission of the ACS and roles of the staff in volunteer/staff partnership

What is the Adult Liaison role? Assist in identifying/recruiting volunteers Meet with Committee Chairs/Staff to ensure everyone understands their role Attend Committee meetings Partner with ACS Staff partner Serve as official Relay For Life spokesperson (along w/youth volunteer) Assist staff in motivating steering committee to maximize efforts

Risk Management Lock-in overnight event Students are all student teams Student must register in advance, provide participant forms, and raise the required participation fee to ensure they receive a wristband are cleared to participate Entrance Process include bag check Any youth not wearing a wristband will be escorted from the site at designated time (ex: 11 pm) Chaperone of 1 per each 5 tents in 4 hour shifts

What can I say? Friday night was one of the most inspirational events that I have every attended. It is clear that many people worked very hard in order to pull off such a wonderful evening. Congratulations and thank you to the staff and all the student volunteers. I am so proud of the students and staff of District 230 and their compassion and desire to help others in their time of need!” For a cure, Dr. James Gay Superintendent High School District 230