High School Color Guard Gifts

The color guard is as important a part of a high school marching band as the drum line or trombones. Color guards attend band practice, perform in field shows and travel to faraway band events. Though audiences are delighted by the colorful display of flags and dance, the color guard team often doesn't receive the same reverence as the band. Gifts are a simple way to show your color guard team how much you appreciate their ongoing support.

  1. Team Upgrades

    • Color guard teams often rely on donations to supplement their out-of-pocket payments for items like flags, uniforms or other show props. A gift that upgrades the team's older gear relieves a huge burden for a color guard team. The color guard captain or faculty mentor may offer suggestions about the team's greatest needs or provide insight as to the best color options for uniforms or flags. If you budget is small, the high school home economics or sewing class can create high-quality flags or uniforms as a class project that are then donated to the color guard team.

    Enrichment Gifts

    • Developing new choreography and coordinating with the marching band is challenging for color guard teams. One of the most useful gifts for a color guard team is a gift that encourages the team to develop new skills or expand their talents to increase the impact of their shows. Enrichment gifts like paid color guard summer camps or consultations with expert choreographers are sources of inspiration for color guard teams. Consider recruiting a local university marching band to host your color guard team for a workshop, or gather funds to send the color guard to a weekend workshop in a neighboring state.

    Commemorative Gifts

    • Color guards participate in a range of parades, field shows and competitions throughout the year, and a commemorative gift for color guard teammates celebrates the successes and achievements of the last season. Plaques with a team picture, an individual picture of the recipient and a congratulatory message with the academic year is a lasting gift that is suitable for displaying at home. If you are a bit more technically savvy, a digital slide show with pictures from the previous years events set to music is also a meaningful gift idea.

    Presenting Gifts

    • The type of gift you choose for the color guard team will determine the best time to present the gift. If you opt for a gift that benefits the team, like new flags or uniforms, it's best to present the gift at the beginning of the season so that the team can use the items during the year. Commemorative gifts are better presented at an end-of-the-year event like a school assembly or band party. If you are presenting the gifts before a crowd, include a speech that outline the team's accomplishments and contributions to the band as an added expression of gratitude.