The start of the new school year is just around the corner! However, if you just PCSed, your kids may be looking for more than one avenue to make new friends. Consider these ways to make the process easier for them.

Sign your kids up to volunteer

Volunteering is a great way for kids to make new friends and give back to the community. There are multiple organizations that offer volunteer opportunities, such as the American Red Cross, Armed Services YMCA, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Family Readiness Groups and the USO to name a few.

Check out programs and clubs

Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) and Force Support Squadrons (FSS) are the perfect places to find activities for your children. MWR provides a local directory to libraries, outdoor recreation, pools, sports and fitness centers, social and dining venues, theaters and more. Find tons of awesome events through the calendars on their websites.

The School Age Program offers before- and after-school care for children 5 to 12 years old. All-day care is available during school holidays. There are also great camps during the summer, winter and spring breaks that your kids will love!

Teen Centers have video games, pool, ping-pong, dances and lock-ins. Basically everything teenagers love! There are different clubs such as the Keystone Club, Smart Girls, Passport to Manhood, cooking, photography and fine arts clubs. There are also fun events for teens to meet new people and establish friendships.

Youth Centers have events and classes, such as karate, dance and piano, for kids. Baseball, softball, flag football, basketball, cheerleading, soccer and more are available for registration. Throughout the summer, winter and spring breaks, youth centers plan trips and hold day camps. Lock-ins and kid nights out are also scheduled throughout the year.

Installation community centers have a variety of fun activities for children and families. The community centers have different classes, clubs and events for both you and your kids to participate in.

Instructional Youth Classes are for the whole family! Try out gymnastics, dancing, martial arts, music, yoga or acting!

Outdoor Recreation is your one stop to finding travel tours, trips for bike rides, skydiving, rock climbing, hiking, canoeing, fishing and other exciting outdoor activities.

Look into chapels and religious programs

Installation chapels in the Kaiserslautern Military Community include the Ramstein Northside Chapel, Ramstein Southside Chapel, Vogelweh Chapel and the Kapaun Chapel/Annex. Local off-base chapels include Calvary Chapel Kaiserslautern, Faith Baptist Church, Apostelkirche, Frontline Community Church and many more. Most chapels offer different programs for children based on their age and interests. Keep their options open and explore on and off base.

Making friends can be hard for anyone who moves to a new area. These resources should be helpful for your children to meet people in no time!