Join the (School) Club

TCAPS offers 50+ clubs for high school students

By Abby McKiernan | Feb. 1, 2025

Whether you’re a student who wants to find challenging chess opponents, talk about your faith, or take a deep dive into a favorite hobby, Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) probably has a club for it.

In fact, a quick look at the TCAPS high school extracurriculars list shows 54 clubs between TC Central and West High schools—everything from the National Honor Society to the Gay/Straight Alliance to the Dungeons & Dragons Club to the Color Guard. (And this doesn’t even count athletics or activities like band, journalism, or yearbook.)

Here’s a look at just five of the many extracurriculars in the TCAPS school district.

Ghost Hunting Club

Founded in 2023 at Traverse City West Senior High, the Ghost Hunting Club started as a lighthearted initiative to explore the paranormal.

“Despite never having come across a ghost myself,” says student president of the club, Owen Chadwick, “I think it’s a fun, harmless way to explain the irrationalities of the world’s approach to engaging with the unexplained.”

Over time, the club has evolved into a space for students to delve into different ghosts and cryptids and discuss how to track paranormal activity around the school.

“Recently we have been using technology to actually search for and hunt ghosts around the school and discuss our theories about the who, what, and why of the ghost,” says Chadwick, noting that they haven’t come across any ghosts at the school so far. The club focuses on safety and mutual respect during their investigations, fostering a fun yet thoughtful approach to the unknown.

The club’s activities range from theoretical discussions about the paranormal to hands-on experiments using technology to search for spirits. Fittingly, they only meet on full moons.

Lake Effect Ultimate Co-Ed High School Frisbee Club

Bringing athleticism and camaraderie together, the Lake Effect Ultimate Frisbee Club hosted through the TCAPS LEAP program (Learning, Enrichment and Athletic Program) welcomes kids from grades 9 through 12 to participate in one of the fastest-growing sports in the country.

Meeting twice a week at Carlisle Fields, the club emphasizes teamwork and the “Spirit of the Game,” a core principle of Ultimate that prioritizes mutual respect and fair play. The group stresses that “first and foremost, ultimate is a community. The sport belongs to everyone, and everyone is welcome.”

Ultimate combines physical fitness with strategic thinking, offering students a balance between competition and fun. With its inclusive ethos and low barrier to entry, the club has become a popular choice. According to USA Ultimate, the sport has seen remarkable growth, with increasing participation rates at the high school level.

Want to get your student involved? The season runs March 17-June 13 (weather permitting). Registration is $50 (and includes USA Ultimate membership). There is a $70 uniform fee for a personalized jersey, and $30 fee per tournament (typically 3-4 per season). Learn more at tcaps.net/programs/leap.

Environmental Club

At TC West Senior High, the Environmental Club is dedicated to promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship. With a mission to reduce waste and increase eco-consciousness, the club is entirely student-run and has completed several impactful projects over the years.

These include: A dress swap to raise awareness about reducing single-use clothing for events like homecoming; a recycling campaign to collect items such as used markers, batteries, and old electronics that don’t belong in regular recycling bins; a holiday cookbook featuring meatless options to highlight the environmental benefits of eating lower on the food chain; and a can drive to keep cans out of landfills while generating revenue for club initiatives.

“Projects that are on the drawing board include planning for a pollinator garden, starting seeds in soil and in an aquaponics system, ramping up school-wide recycling—particularly during lunches—and a compost program,” says Mary Brisbois, a West science teacher who supervises the club.

Want to pitch in? The club would love to see a compost collection spot next to the landfill and recycle bins and a partnership with a local company to haul the compost to their facility.

Club members say that participation empowers students to make a tangible difference in their community while preparing them for broader environmental advocacy, especially given that over 75 percent of Gen Z considers climate change a top societal issue.

Co-Ed Fencing Program

The Traverse City Fencing Club, also available through the LEAP program, introduces students ages nine and up to the strategic and physically demanding world of Olympic fencing. The program offers sessions that cover everything from the history of fencing to the fundamentals of swordsmanship and épée technique.

Why fencing? The sport can help young athletes develop discipline and strategic thinking along with physical agility. With certified coaches and an emphasis on both competition and personal growth, fencing also provides students with a supportive environment to learn a sport that has continued to gain popularity due to its appealing combination of both physical and mental challenges.

Session 1 runs February 3 and 10, 5:30–7:30pm (registration deadline: January 30). Session 2 runs March 10 and 17, 5:30–7:30pm (registration deadline: March 6). Cost is $100 per session. Sessions take place at the Traverse City Fencing Club, 2419 Sybrandt, Suite B, in Traverse City. Get more details at tcaps.net/programs/leap.

The Tritons Co-Ed Competitive Rowing

Keep this on your radar for next year! The local competitive rowing team, The Tritons, is active each fall, usually August-October (start and end dates vary). The program proudly shares that a significant number of its athletes are recruited by colleges and offered scholarships, often with multiple options to choose from.

Fall races challenge endurance with distances ranging from 1,500 to 3,500 meters, while spring’s championship season features thrilling 1,500-meter sprints. During spring championships, rowers represent their individual schools, but the team trains and competes as one cohesive unit throughout the season. This shared commitment and unity—along with structured regattas that progress from local to national levels—allow students to develop resilience, teamwork, and a passion for the sport.

Cost varies by season and competition level; contact the program for details at tctritonsrowing.org. (Financial aid may be available.) Practices are held at Medalie Park and East Middle School.