Building Strong Bonds

We describe successful and transferable strategies for simultaneously bonding Chemistry Club members to first-year chemistry students in creative and instructive ways. Our program involves directly linking the Chemistry Club to the first-year chemistry classroom, with regularly planned educational activities. We outline a cycle of activities to be performed by a student affiliates chapter, which have been found to have a positive effect upon recruitment of chapter members, while simultaneously affording an enjoyable and enhanced educational experience for first-year chemistry students. We have found that by extending their social valence to first-year chemistry students through regular, planned interactions, clubs can enhance their own esteem as well as plant the seeds of their future sustainability.