Student Service Clubs

Student Service Clubs focus on building compassion, learning about animals, and caring for the community through engaging, age-appropriate lessons and activities. Participants learn more about the shelter’s work with guest speakers from various shelter departments, visit with animals, and complete service projects to benefit the shelter. Activities include identifying a problem in their community, creating a plan to improve the situation, implementing it, and completing small service projects at the shelter, including a service project during each monthly meeting, along with volunteer orientation and interacting with the animals.

• Ages: 10–18 years old
• Schedule: Clubs meet after school from 4–5:30 pm in five-meeting sessions
• Price: Each club runs for (5) meetings and requires a $75 fee (scholarships available).

Student Service Clubs are the required first step to become a student volunteer, and students in grades 5–12 are invited to participate. Animal Care Club serves 5th and 6th graders on Tuesdays from 4–5:30 pm, Roots & Shoots serves 7th and 8th graders on Tuesdays from 4–5:30 pm, and the Student Volunteering Club serves 9th through 12th graders and meets once a month on Wednesdays from 4–5:30 pm. Roots & Shoots is based on Jane Goodall’s humane education program. Students 15 years of age and older who have successfully completed a semester of Student Volunteering Club can apply for student volunteer opportunities. All of the Student Service Clubs can count towards community service hours for school requirements. Spring 2026 clubs are now full, with applications for Fall clubs available in July 2026.

Marin Humane states that it is an open-door shelter working to transform lives through exceptional animal care, humane education, and advocacy. Through volunteers, foster homes, and strong community partnerships, the program helps more animals find loving homes every day. Hopalong became part of Marin Humane in 2021.

Last updated May 11, 2026.