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PARKERSBURG - Opportunities for activities abound in Wood County's middle and high schools, officials say, but what kinds of clubs are available can vary dramatically between schools.

Mike Boyd, director of secondary schools for Wood County Schools, said most offerings rely on both student interest and the availability of staff sponsors.

"If there is interest in an activity from a group of kids, they can come to the principal and ask for a group to be formed," Boyd said. "The main questions are do you have enough participation and do you have a sponsor who is willing to take over the club?"

Boyd said district policy requires a staff member to act as a mentor and guide for any school-endorsed group, such as a chess club, debate team or drama club. Most clubs fall into one of two categories, (hobby) interest-based or service-based.

Tom Eschbacher, principal of Parkersburg South High School, said each year a list of past and present clubs is printed in the school's student handbook to give potential members an idea of what is available.

The clubs range from the color guard and drill team associated with the school's ROTC program to a kazoo band to Model United Nations to Bible Club.

"There are just a whole bunch of groups," Eschbacher said. "I tell kids if they can't find something at the high school level to become involved with, they are just being a slug. There are too many opportunities available to not get involved."

Not all of the clubs listed exist from year to year, he said, but many do. Some groups form quickly and then fade out as interest wanes or when a sponsor quits or transfers to a new school.

"We had a Super Bouncy Ball club last year," said Kaitlyn Yerby, a senior and member of the PSHS National Honor Society. "It didn't work out."

Service organizations tend to have the best participation, as year-round and seasonal projects help bring the students together and give them valuable experience.

Brittany Johnk, a senior and member of both Key Club and National Honor Society at Parkersburg South, said the two groups sometimes overlap in activities but serve different purposes.

"Honor Society is more of an academic organization while Key Club is about service," she said. "I do Key Club because I like to help people. I do National Honor Society because it looks good on a college application and we do get to work some in the community."

Both Key Club and National Honor Society were wrapping up service projects Friday at the school. Key Club members gathered hundreds of canned food items for local food pantries, while society members held a one-day fund-raising drive for cystic fibrosis, netting the cause more than $300 in donations.

At the middle school level there also tends to be a focus on service-oriented groups as students are taught to become involved with their communities.

VanDevender Middle School, for example, has a very active Raze Crew, a statewide program dedicated to tobacco awareness and prevention, said Principal Steve Taylor.

Eighth-graders Kristin Ramsey and Zach Bunner act as crew leaders for the Vandy Raze Crew. The two said students are encouraged to participate in group activities and to log their work online through the www.razewv.com Web site.

"You get points for the different things you participate in," Bunner said. "You use those to buy items from the Raze site."

Bunner said he first got involved with Raze when he tried to help a family member quit smoking.

"It helps to teach kids when they are younger not to smoke," he said. Raze "is fun and it helps kids."