How to Make a School Club Interesting: Tips That Actually Work

If you start a school club and all you do is follow the same old routine, you can almost hear the yawns. Students are already sitting through classes all day—why would they show up for more of the same? Here’s where things need to flip. The real trick is making club time feel totally different from the rest of the school day. That’s when you get people actually excited, not just showing up for snacks.

First step—be honest about what’s boring. If members just sit around listening to one person talk, most of them will tune out. Try something else: open every meeting with a quick poll on what people want to do, or toss out a “choose your own adventure” for club activities. People are more interested when they get some say in what happens. Plus, nobody likes feeling like they’re forced to be there.

• Start with a Shared Purpose
• Offer Surprising Activities
• Mix Up Leadership Roles
• Build Lasting Connections

Start with a Shared Purpose

Every school club that truly sticks around and gets popular usually has one thing going for it: a clear reason why it exists. If you just throw a bunch of people together with no plan, things fall apart fast. When everyone understands what the club is working toward, people pay attention and actually want to help out.

The best clubs are built on ideas everyone cares about. Maybe it’s helping the community, building a robot, raising money for animal shelters, or just having a place where students can geek out over the same hobbies. Before anything else, get everybody on the same page about what the club stands for. You can do this in a chill way—set up a group chat poll or a big whiteboard at your first meeting where everyone writes their reasons for joining.

• Ask: Why are we here? Have everyone share in one sentence.
• Agree on a short goal. For example: "Get more students talking about mental health."
• Put that goal somewhere everyone can see—like on posters or in the group chat description.

When a club has a real purpose, it shows up in every meeting. Here’s a quick look at what students say makes a club interesting and worth their time:

It gets way easier to plan activities and keep things moving forward once everyone buys into the purpose. You don’t have to figure out everything at once, but getting this part right from the start is what makes clubs actually fun—and not just another thing on your schedule.

Offer Surprising Activities

Nothing sends people running for the exits faster than a stale club routine. If you want real engagement, mix things up with activities nobody expects. When Chicago’s Lincoln Park High School turned their regular science club into a series of hands-on experiments—including building small rockets and slime battles—attendance shot up by 40% in three months. The takeaway? The element of surprise works.

First, try doing themed meetings. For example, if your club focuses on reading, throw in a book swap day, or bring in a local author for a Q&A. If it’s about coding or tech, set up a hackathon or a "build your own app" contest. Even something as simple as switching spaces—moving a meeting outside, or hosting it at a local business—changes the vibe.

• Invite unexpected guests—like local artists or young entrepreneurs—and let them run a session.
• Host friendly competitions with quirky prizes, like “Most Creative Solution” or “Weirdest Idea of the Day.”
• Plan surprise field trips (even short ones around campus) tied to your club’s purpose.
• Let members take turns leading quick games or trivia challenges related to the main topic.

Not sure what people want to do? Run a quick online poll. Tools like Google Forms or simple Instagram polls make it fast to ask members for fresh ideas. Keep things moving—if an activity flops, don’t sweat it, just try the next one.

Here’s a quick look at types of school club activities that boost attendance:

The stats don’t lie. When you offer activities that break the expected pattern, people actually want to come back. Make your club the one everyone talks about because it always does something different.

Mix Up Leadership Roles

If the same person leads every meeting, most school clubs just get stuck in a rut. One of the easiest ways to boost energy and fresh ideas is to hand the reins around. When more people get a shot at running an activity or leading a discussion, the whole club feels more personal and fun.

Try setting up a simple rotation—for example, each week, a different club member gets to guide an activity, run a game, or even call for a vote on what to do next. This gives everyone a stake in the club, so they’re way more likely to feel like they belong. If you’re worried about things getting chaotic, just put down a few basic guidelines (like time limits, or making sure everyone gets a turn).

Here’s what happens when leadership rotates:

• New voices bring in new ideas—someone might surprise you with a game or activity nobody else thought of.
• More involvement means less burnout for the usual leaders.
• Even shy students get a confidence boost by stepping up and seeing their ideas work.

Leadership skills are a big deal. According to the National Association of Secondary School Principals, students who take on leadership roles in clubs are 60% more likely to say they’re confident making decisions and talking in front of others.

Don’t forget about small stuff too—let people lead icebreakers, make announcements, or share news. Keeping things fresh helps a school club stay alive, and members start caring as soon as they know they have a voice.

Build Lasting Connections

The best school clubs aren’t just activity lists—they’re magnets for friendships. People keep coming back not just because of what you do, but who they get to do it with. A 2023 survey by YouthTruth found that 68% of students say clubs help them make friends they wouldn’t have met otherwise. That’s not just nice, it’s huge for making your club stand out from the rest.

Start simple. Kick off every meeting with a quick icebreaker. It doesn’t have to be cheesy—think "two truths and a lie" or a lightning round of favorite movies. Switch it up so it never gets stale. The goal is getting people talking, especially those who might be new or quiet.

• Pair up members for mini challenges or projects—rotating partners helps everyone break out of their usual circles.
• Celebrate personal stuff. Got a member who aced a test or won a game? Give shout-outs so people feel seen beyond just the club activity.
• Try out shared traditions. Maybe a special handshake, an inside joke, or an annual event. It makes your club feel like a real group, not just a random collection of people.

Open communication is key. Use a group chat or an app where everyone can share ideas, vent, or set up off-campus hangouts. It’s not about spamming memes—though if your club loves memes, have at it—but keeping that sense of connection going even when you’re not together.

Check this out—clubs where students say they actually made close friends have way higher retention rates. Here’s a quick snapshot:

If you want your school club to go the distance—and fill up, not fizzle—focus on community first. Activities are just one piece. People stick around for the relationships they can’t get anywhere else.