8 Ways to Level Up Your School Animal Rights Club

Posted by Reilly on August 20, 2024

So your animal rights club is up and running, but what’s next?

It’s time for some fun! Students join clubs because they want to feel empowered and make a difference, so give the people what they want by working together to plan an activity. They are easy to host, take little effort to plan, and—above all—can help animals while club members have fun. Plus, once students see what a great time your club is having while taking compassionate actions, they’ll be eager to join—and there’s power in numbers.

Engage your club’s members this year with these activities: 

1. Hand Out Leaflets 

Leafleting is a super-easy and effective way to speak up at school for animals. Pick a spot with heavy foot traffic, like the cafeteria, the dining hall, or another location where students frequently gather. 

2. Set Up a Table at Lunch 

Passing out leaflets is great, but add an eye-catching table and you’ll be able to get a bunch of materials to students at once. Make the most of it by having informative leaflets, stickers, petitions, pledges, and club signup sheets so you can stay in touch with people who stop by. peta2 will mail you as many leaflets and stickers as you need. E-mail [email protected] with your full name and mailing address, the topics you want the materials to cover, and how many you need—and you’ll receive a package from us in two to three weeks.

3. Grab Some Chalk

Grab a box of cruelty-free sidewalk chalk and some members of your club and get artsy for animals on sidewalks around your school or community—just make sure you have permission first. Chalking is a great form of activism: People will read your powerful message when they stop to look at the beautiful art you’ve created. 

4. Organize an Animal Shelter Drive 

Host a shelter drive for cats, dogs, and other animals in your community—all you need is a box. It’s as simple as collecting toys, blankets, food, and other items to donate to your local open-admission shelter. Be sure to lead by example by donating a few things yourself to get the drive started. 

5. Get Vegan Options Into the Cafeteria 

Have you ever wished there were more vegan options at your cafeteria? You aren’t alone. Schools all over the U.S. continue to make the compassionate choice to carry more vegan foods. As a student, your voice is super-important, and every student deserves a healthy lunch. Sometimes it’s as easy as just asking for more options. 

Download peta2’s Veganize Your Cafeteria guide for helpful tips to get started. 

6. Hold a Vegan Bake Sale 

There’s nothing like a bake sale to fundraise and show students how delicious eating vegan can be. Check out PETA’s recipe page for some great eats we’ve cooked up in the kitchen. Trust us—if we can bake it, you can, too.

7. Host a Movie Screening

There are plenty of inspiring animal rights documentaries out there. All you have to do is decide which one will attract the most students. It helps to have free vegan snacks for people to try, too.

Pro tip: Ask a few teachers who support your club to offer their students extra credit for attending. 

8. Host a Virtual Presentation From peta2 

Did you know that peta2 offers free virtual presentations? And if you’re near one of our offices, we might even be able to come to your classroom. Whether the topic is the importance of healthy vegan eating or being an effective advocate for animals, we want to present to your class or club about all things animal rights. E-mail us at [email protected] to schedule a presentation.