A new federal study finds that 55% of American teenagers volunteered last year – nearly double the rate of adults.

The national study, conducted by the Corporation for National and Community Service in collaboration with the U.S. Census Bureau and Independent Sector, found that 15.5 million teenagers volunteered during 2004, contributing more than 1.3 billion hours of service. That translates into a rate of 55% compared to the adult volunteer rate of 29% as established by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The report, titled "Youth Helping America – Building Active Citizens: The Role of Social Institutions in Teen Volunteering,” was released by the First Lady, Laura Bush.

 “This study suggests that the 9/11 generation may offer the antidote to declining levels of civic participation in our country,” said David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “Too often, young people are seen as the recipients of service. Instead, they should see themselves – and be seen – as leaders and assets, who can make powerful contributions to their communities. By starting early and unleashing the energy and idealism of young people, we can help meet pressing needs and create a generation of lifelong citizens.”

According to the new survey, approximately 10.6 million youth – or 38% of the youth population – have engaged in community service as part of a school activity. Of those, 65% have also participated in related activities typically associated with service-learning, such as planning the service project or writing about it in class. The survey found that only 5% of youth attributed their volunteer activities to a mandatory school requirement.

 “Our past research shows that adults are twice as likely to volunteer if they began participating when they were teens,” said Diana Aviv, president and CEO of Independent Sector. “We are delighted to find that teenagers are now volunteering at higher rates than adults, and we hope charitable organizations will find ways to engage teenagers in their work.”

The Youth Volunteering and Civic Engagement Survey was conducted between January and March of 2005. In telephone interviews, a cross-section of 3,178 American youth between the ages of 12 and 18 were asked about their volunteer activities and experiences with school-based service and service-learning projects. In addition to information on youth volunteering, the survey gathered information on youth religious involvement, academic achievement, family relationships, and ties to community groups.

The survey found that the likelihood that young people will volunteer is directly related to their connections to the social institutions of family, religious congregations, and schools. Among other key findings, the survey found:

• 74% of youth who volunteer do so at least in part through a religious organization, a school-based group, or a youth leadership organization such as Scouts or 4H, while 64% do so primarily through one of those three institutions.
• Students who volunteer do better in school than their counterparts who don’t volunteer.
• A youth from a family where at least one parent volunteers is almost twice as likely to volunteer as a youth with no family members who volunteer, and nearly three times as likely to volunteer on a regular basis.
• Among youth who attend religious services regularly, 64% also volunteer.

Robert Grimm, director of the Corporation’s Office of Research and Policy Development, noted that the social institutions of family, school, and religion are not only critical factors in whether youth will volunteer but also the extent of their commitment to volunteering. “Our analysis suggests that these social institutions encourage volunteer activities among youth, and also influence the frequency and intensity of their service” Grimm said.

The Corporation for National and Community Service provides opportunities for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities and country through three programs: Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. Together with the USA Freedom Corps, the Corporation is working to build a culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility in America. For more information, visit http://www.nationalservice.gov.

Download a copy of "Youth Helping America – Building Active Citizens: The Role of Social Institutions in Teen Volunteering” at http://www.nationalservice.gov/pdf/05_1130_LSA_YHA_study.pdf.