| Young people in the United States have
a wide variety of inte-rests apart from their school work. As children, both
boys and girls play many of the same games. They swim, play baseball and
basketball, go boating and camping, and have fun in many kinds of sports and
outdoor activities. Numerous youth organizations give young people a chance to develop and broaden their interests, and to gain experience in working with others. Among these groups are the Boy Scouts, which serves more than four million boys, the Girl Scouts, with nearly three million girls, and the Boys' Club of America, with over one million participants. These and other groups are guided by adults who volunteer their services. Civic, cultural and religious groups also sponsor special programs for young people. In farm areas, boys and girls learn to work together in agriculture, homemaking and citizenship activities through more than 158 360 clubs which have about 4 420 932 members. In these clubs youths compete for prizes in raising farm animals and growing crops. Secondary schools offer students a wide variety of activities to develop talents and skills. There are clubs for photography, music, theater, art, stamp collecting, natural science and debating. Often schools have orchestras, bands and singing groups as well as a variety of competitive sports for boys and girls. Most schools and colleges have some form of student government with election to choose class representatives. These elected officers speak for their fellow students at student council meetings with teachers and school officials. They also organize social activities and take part in such community projects as raising money for public welfare. Many young people hold part-time jobs after school hours. Thousands earn money delivering newspapers or helping care for infants and young children in private homes. Later, when they go to college, many youths continue to work part-time at a variety of jobs to help pay their expenses. For several weeks during the summer vacation, about five million school-age children go to camps where they get plenty of recreational activity and learn various skills. There are more than 10 000 camps operated by private citizens and organizations. College students often work as counselors(顾问) at these camps. |