Youth ActivitiesSheila Spaulding2021-2022 National Ambassador

“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” –– Albert Einstein

TechnologyRemote Hybrid In-Person

OpportunityIllustrating America Art Contest

Illustrating America Art Contest• Patriotic art contest for students in grades K-8.

• Enrolled in a public, private or parochial school or home study program.

• Three Grade Divisions:

• K-2

• 3-5

• 6-8

• National awards for first, second and third place in each grade division.• First place: $100 Visa gift card• Second place: $50 Visa gift card• Third place: $25 Visa gift card

Illustrating America Art Contest• Art and entry form due to Local Auxiliary by March 31, 2022.

• This contest is for two-dimensional forms of art.

• Paint, crayon, colored pencil, charcoal and even glitter are accepted.

• Coloring sheets, digital art and photography are not accepted.

• Entries will be judged on patriotic theme and technique.

• Encourage youth to share their own view of America.

• If the American Flag is used, it DOES NOT need to conform to the Federal Flag Code in relation to colors or number of stars and stripes.

Illustrating America Art Contest• National grade division winners of previous Illustrating America

contests may enter the subsequent grade division but are ineligible for the same grade division of which they are a previous national winner.

• NOTE: Artwork is the property of the student and will be returned to the address provided on the entry form no later than September 1 of the contest year.

OpportunityGet Excited for the Red, White and Blue!

National Anthem Singing Contest

Get Excited for the Red, White and Blue!

• National anthem singing contest for students in grades K-12.

• Two Grade Divisions:

• K-8

• 9-12

• National awards for first, second and third place in each grade division.

• First place: $500 Visa gift card

• Second place: $300 Visa gift card

• Third place: $200 Visa gift card

Get Excited for the Red, White and Blue!

• Video entry and entry form due to Local Auxiliary by March 31, 2022.

• Videos will need to be saved to a DVD or flash drive or uploaded to an online platform such as YouTube or Vimeo.

• This contest is designed to showcase creativity and vocal ability.

• Solo performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in the style and genre of their choice such as rock, pop, hip-hop, country, etc.

• It can be sung with or without music.

• The only requirement is they cannot change the words.

• Entries will be judged on vocal ability, mastery of lyrics, originality or interpretation and entertainment value.

OpportunityPatriotism through Literacy

Patriotism through Literacy

Promote and support reading among youth by introducing them to historical figures in our nation’s history.

• Ways to participate:

• Volunteer to read in classrooms or libraries.

• Start a book club where members participate with students.

• Host a read-a-thon or a contest with small incentives.

• Collect books and donate to libraries, bookmobiles or classrooms.

• All of these activities can be done remotely.

• Get creative to make history come alive.

Patriotism through Literacy

A suggested book list is available at vfwauxiliary.org/resources under Youth Activities.

• Nearly 80 titles provided.

• Historical fiction and creative non-fiction.

• Age-appropriate lists.

• Toddler/Preschool

• K-2nd grades

• 3rd-4th grades

• 5th-6th grades

• 7th-8th grades

• 9th-12th grades (high school)

OpportunityPatriotic Youth Award

Youth Groups Supporting Our Veterans Citation

Youth Awards and Citations

• Patriotic Youth Award is for individual youth.

• Youth Groups Supporting Our Veterans Citations is for youth groups.

• Girl Scout or Boy Scout Troops

• JROTC Units

• Sports Teams

• Faith-based Youth Groups

• Homeschool Groups

Youth Awards and Citations

• Examples for both individual youth and youth groups:

• Volunteer at food distributions.

• March in patriotic holiday parades.

• Teach veterans more about technology.

• Help service members’ families with learning stations for remote schooling.

• Deliver meals or groceries to homebound veterans.

• Do yard work for veterans or service members’ families.

• The list goes on and on.

Youth Awards and Citations

• NEW for the 2021-2022 Program Year…

• Both the Patriotic Youth Award and Youth Groups Supporting Our Veterans Citation will be fillable and available for download under Youth Activities at vfwauxiliary.org/resources.

• Reason: • More than 7,500 Patriotic Youth Awards given in 2019-2020.• Fewer than 500 Youth Groups Supporting Our Veterans Citations

given in 2019-2020.

• No need to fill out a request form and send it to National Headquarters.

• We hope this will increase the number of both awards given to youth.

OpportunityCreating, Sponsoring and Working

with Youth Groups

Creating, Sponsoring and Working with Youth Groups

• Youth Group Examples for VFW Auxiliary Sponsorship

• School clubs, service learning and civic engagement groups

• Girl Scout or Boy Scout Troops

• JROTC Units

• Sports Teams

• Faith-based Youth Groups

• Homeschool Groups

Creating, Sponsoring and Working with Youth Groups

• Help with a fundraiser for the VFW National Home.

• March in a patriotic parade.

• Package items for troops overseas.

• Distribute “Buddy”® Poppies.

• Prepare a dinner for Gold Star Families.

• Participate in funeral detail or play “Taps.”

• Volunteer at VA hospitals and clinics.

• Create artwork or make gifts to send to hospitalized veterans.

• Post home clean-up and beautification (planting flowers, painting murals, etc.)

• Decorate for events.

Ask Auxiliaries if a youth group could be included in their events, projects and activities.

The extra energy these groups bring might be just what is needed to put that event, project or activity over the top.

vfwauxiliary.org/resources under “Youth Activities”

• Contest Applications

• Contest Scoresheets

• Contest Flyers

• Fillable Patriotic Youth Award

• Fillable Youth Groups Supporting Our Veterans Citation

• And More!

“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” –– Albert Einstein