Thanks all! I'm curious about the school and neighborhood work. Is it an individual or an HOA behind it for the neighborhood, is it the PTA for the school? I would be interested in starting something like this. I'm also interested in helping those less fortunate, perhaps sponsoring a family for the holidays or helping at a shelter or any other ideas where my DC will see the good we are doing for others. Any animal shelters that accept youth would be great to know about too. Thank you.

Both our neighborhood and our elementary school have clean up days twice a year that all ages can participate in. At the school it's a lot of weed pulling and mulch spreading. In the neighborhood it's more picking up trash along the trails and out of the streams.

My kids' middle school requires community service hours starting in 6th grade. Some of the things my kids (age 12 & 13) have done...

Help with school events or after school programs at their old elementary school (the school often sends out requests for their help since they know the MS kids need the hours)
Help with neighborhood events
Invasive plant removal at nature centers (with parent)
Church service opportunities
Rake leaves, shovel snow for elderly neighbor

For Montgomery County, there's a great database of volunteer activities: http://www.montgomeryserves.org

On advanced search, you can search for activities open to youth 14 and under then look to see age restrictions.

Some things that come up: park clean-ups (14 and under need to be with an adult), teacher assistant at a child care facility (must be 12), music performances for seniors, working at Manna food center, etc.

Echo on Old Keene Mill Rd in Springfield.

Your church will have youth appropriate volunteer opportunities. I woukd start there.

Does anyone know of local charities that provide hands on opportunities for kids as young as 12 (with or without a parent)?