Clubs are usually sponsored by one or more families who design the club to meet the unique needs of their families. The desire to create clubs often arises from the children. Leadership is voluntary and unpaid. Clubs tend to develop around interactive and participatory activities. Clubs usually have no dues or cost requirements beyond actual expenses.
Attendance is optional.
A newly formed club is usually announced through state or local support groups, newsletters, church, library, and community center bulletin boards, or e-mail loops. Clubs may limit membership. Sometimes a maximum number of students is set, or final enrollment date may be established. A Spanish Club may want a larger group to defray the cost of paying a native speaking teacher. A group planning to study microscopic pond life may be limited by the number of microscopes.