Serteen Program

Youth are the future of society – and of Sertoma. Serteens are young men and women, ages 11 to 19, who are interested in the world around them and who are motivated to improve their world through SERrvice TO MAnkind. The Serteen program is a great avenue for teens to identify and contribute to community needs. In addition, Serteen involvement also fulfills the community service requirement established by many schools. For more information, see Appendix A of the Serteen Manual or contact the Sponsorships Department at (800) 593-5646 or Click here for the “How To Build A Serteen Club” brochure.

Serteen Benefits:

• Serteens form friendships and have fun planning social activities, service projects and fundraisers.
• Personal development, including the development of leadership and social skills, is important to Serteens. Many Serteen clubs attend college fairs and invite guest speakers to their meetings. They learn to appreciate our country’s history and culture through outings, ranging from canoe trips to visits to national historical sites and radio and television stations. And, they “see the world” during end-of-year trips. They don’t just visit radio and television stations – they make the news!
• The potential opportunity to attend the four-day Freedom’s Foundation program at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Click for additional information and application.

School and Community Benefits:

• Serteens initiate projects to assist their schools, such as holding a drug education fair or Valentine Ball, organizing teacher appreciation days or buying needed equipment for the school.
• Serteens exemplify community service in projects such as adopting a stretch of highway for litter pickup, providing Christmas gifts for the needy, assisting with Special Olympics or volunteering at a local senior citizens center, soup kitchen, elementary school or troubled teens home.

Serteen Club Organization:

• Serteen groups are organized by Sertoma clubs. Each Serteen club has a club advisor who is a representative of the sponsoring Sertoma club, and/or a school advisor, usually a teacher or employee of the school where the Serteen club is formed.
• The Serteen clubs are run by their members who decide which needs are most important in their schools or communities. They elect their own leaders, raise their own money, choose their own service projects, plan their own activities and make the news.

Serteens Promote:

• Service to the less fortunate
• Service to local communities
• Good citizenship and good government
• Freedom and Democracy
• Opportunity for everyone
• Mutual understanding and tolerance for all people
• Positive peer association
• Friendship and fellowship as opportunities for Service to Mankind

Serteen Pins & Certificates:

Serteen merchandise is available for purchase through Sertoma Headquarters. Sertoma clubs may purchase member pins & certificates for their Serteen clubs. Contact Laura Roberts to order materials.