Bel Air High School is back in session for the 2024-25 school year! With the expected educational classes comes after-school activities. But many students, especially incoming freshmen, do not know what clubs are available or how to join. Let this be your introduction to just a fraction of clubs whose interest meetings are fast approaching!
Clubs are not only a way to have fun, but can also be an effective method to add to your college application. Princetonreview.com states, “participation in clubs can hone your communication skills, foster creative thinking, and teach you how to work effectively with other people.”
Joining a club is easy! Most have zero requirement, and the ability to join throughout the year. Honor Societies are a little different, as they have an application that can be received from the advisor. In some clubs, you even get to compete in competitions against other schools, such as the Speech and Debate team, and the Engineering Team!
Core Club
Core club is run by Mrs. Laura Willhelm. Its mission is to spread kindness through action and awareness. “[It’s] a really welcoming, easy going club where we focus on in-school projects to promote inclusivity and kindness in our community,” said Willhelm. Some examples of projects include making holiday themed goodie bags for first responders and kindness notes containing messages of positivity on lockers. “I think that joining a club is important for a variety of reasons,” continued Willhelm. “Core club is a fun way to feel good about giving back to your community.” Its interest meeting is Thursday, September 19 in room C302.
Games Club
The Games club is run by Mr. Simpson. Meeting every Tuesday in C215, this club allows for collaboration while playing tabletop board games such as Dungeons & Dragons, Warhammer 40,000, Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh! and more. No experience is required as they teach you to play.
The Game Station
This club is for fans of video games! This club is hosted by Mr. Max Flerlage in A206 at 2:15 on Fridays, meeting on Tuesdays if Friday is an early release day. Games played are usually ones of the Nintendo brand.
Book Club
Book club is run by the librarian, Mrs. Holly Olive. It holds its meetings once a month, usually being the first Thursday. Each month, four books are given as choices to be read. It’s an easy-going club where students get to collaborate with people like-minded peers who like to read. An interest meeting will be held Thursday, September 19 at 2 pm in the media center with the next meeting being either Wednesday October 2 or Friday October 4.
Reverie
Run by Mrs. Orth with help from Mrs. Olive, this club organizes the school’s literacy magazine. They take students’ work to edit and publish them for the whole school. Even if you are not interested in joining, you can submit short stories, poetry, photographs, and artwork. The interest meeting is being held on Tuesday, September 24 after school in room C301.
National English Honor Society
This honor society is for people who love English classes. There is an application and a requirement of having done an English elective (creative writing, journalism, drama, yearbook) and English relative club (book club, drama, reverie). NEHS organizes the school’s book drive, helps out Emmorton Elementary School’s reading night, and other related volunteer opportunities. It is headed by Mrs. Forbes and Ms. Lyman. Meetings are held in the mornings before school. The interest meeting is Monday, September 23, at 7 am in C222.
Engineering Club
If you like teamwork and building, this is the club for you. Run by Mr. Christopher Serokos, this club builds boats to race in the Maryland engineering competition run by the Baltimore Museum of Industry. In 2024, the Bobcats won first place. It meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays in room A123.
Girl Up
This club is run by Mrs. Capozzoli and meets the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 2pm in room A220. Their mission is to help, “girls access their inner power to advance the skills, rights, and opportunities of girls everywhere.” It organizes a feminine hygiene drive each year. The first meeting was on Wednesday, September 18 in room C222.
Sports for Life
This is “a program that involves students with disabilities participating with nondisabled peers.” Sports have included Bocce, Bowling, Basketball, Cornhole and other Lawn sports. There is one sport each season with practice being 1-2 times a week with a tournament at the end of the season. It is headed by Mr. Ackley. Meetings will be held every Thursday from 2-3 pm in room C311.
Envirothon
This club is led by Mrs. Long and Ms. Hamilton. It is a program that combines classroom training and in the field hands on training in Wildlife, Forestry, Soils, Aquatics, and an annually changing Environmental Issue known as the fifth topic. You must commit to meetings and attend two field trips and two competitions in the fall and spring. It’s first meeting is Thursday, September 19 in room B308.
Genders & Sexualities Alliance Network (GSA)
GSA is a LGBTQ+ racial and gender justice organization that advocates, organizes, and mobilizes an “intersectional movement for safer schools and healthier communities,” according to their website. It is for anyone whether part of the community or an ally; all is welcome. Past activities have included tie-dying shirts, breakfast get-together, a book talk collaboration with book club, and much more. It is advised by Mrs. Laura Willhelm and meets in room C302.
WISE
WISE stands for Women in Science and Engineering. Headed by Ms. Barry, its mission is to, “to expand and improve educational opportunities for women in all fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) by facilitating individual, institutional, and social change.” It meets every second Thursday in room B306.
Honor Societies
Remember to look at requirements for applying for honor societies.
- National Honor Society
- National Art Honor Society
- National Business Honor Society
- National English Honor Society
- French National Honor Society
- German Honor Society
- International Thespian Society
- Math National Honor Society (Mu Alpha Theta)
- Science National Honor Society
- Social Studies National Honor Society (Rho Kappa)
- Spanish Honor Society
- Tri-M Music Honor Society
These are just some of the many clubs that Bel Air High School hosts. For full list and details go to: