As school districts have tightened their budgets, PTOs have pitched in to landscape school grounds and make improvements to buildings during family workdays. Borrow ideas from these parent groups that put their own spin on events to work for their school communities.

All-Ages Project
The Gullett Elementary PTA in Austin, Texas, renovated the school courtyard to create a butterfly garden and a picnic area. Students and parents joined in on community workdays to move old fencing and prep the area for construction of a stone walkway in the shape of a snake. Kids too young for that work made birdhouses out of recycled milk cartons. After construction, students painted stripes on the snaking path.

Cutting Costs
To save money on a landscaping project, the Andrew Cooke Magnet School PTO called on home gardeners to bring cuttings from perennials to a workday at the Waukegan, Ill., school. More than 200 students and parents turned out to plant gardens and paint hopscotch squares, planters, and picnic benches.

Online Appeal
To find help for a summer workday, the Chelsea (Ala.) Middle School PTO went to where students are: Facebook. The PTO put up a day-before notice with a particular request for high schoolers needing community service hours.