Service Learning and Youth Enrichment

 

 

Service Learning and youth enrichment is making its mark in the Cedar Valley!

Youth from pre-school age through college and including individuals with special needs have been involved so far in 2013. Here we see volunteerism at its best.

 

 

 

To get involved call 272-2087 or visit www.vccv.org!

Youth Engagement in Volunteerism

Youth engagement involves working to make a difference in the life of one’s community and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make that difference.

 

Many of the nation’s volunteers are young people. More than half (59 percent) of teenagers in the United States reported that they participated in youth volunteer work in 2009, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service , CNCS, (2010). Most youth volunteers do so out of selflessness and an interest in making in a difference in the lives of others, according to one survey. Only five percent of students reportedly volunteered because of a school requirement (Corporation for National and Community Service).

 

Youth Volunteer Statistics:

·        55% of youth volunteer.

·        The typical youth volunteer contributes 29 hours per year.

·        ¾ of youth who volunteer do so through youth, school or religious organizations.

·        10.6 million Youth have engaged in community service as part of a school activity.

·        If family members volunteer, youth will too.

Benefits for youth:

• Youth who volunteer are more likely to feel connected to their communities and, do better in school, and are less likely to engage in risky behavior (CNVS).
  
• Research has shown that when disengaged youth are involved in quality volunteer opportunities, their level of social trust increases and the likelihood that they will engage in risky behaviors decreases (Flanagan et al, 2005).
  
• Youth are not only more likely to volunteer if their entire family is involved in the effort, but the shared experience can result in strengthened family bonds (CNVS).
  
• Empowerment - youth believe they can make a difference.
  
• Increased self-worth - youth develop a sense of identity, moral and ethical values.
• Citizenship – youth obtain increased community awareness.
• Academic skills – youth recognize increased relevance of subject, developing critical thinking skills.
• Career related skills – youth develop more positive work orientation attitudes and skills.
• According to a recent study, students who performed voluntary community service were 19 percent more likely to graduate from college than those who did not (Dávila & Mora, 2007).
• Participation in civic engagement activities can help youth become better informed about current events. For example, according to the 2006 National Civic and Political Health Survey, approximately a quarter of youth who had not participated in civic engagement activities within the last year did not answer any questions regarding current politics correctly (Dávila & Mora, 2007).
• Youth who volunteer just one hour or more a week are 50% less likely to abuse alcohol, cigarettes, become pregnant or engage in other destructive behaviors.
• Youth who volunteer are more likely to do well in school, graduate and vote.
• Young people involved in community service are more likely to have a strong work ethic as an adult.
• Youth who volunteer are three times more likely to volunteer as adults.
• Eighty-one percent of Americans who have volunteer experiences when they are young give to charitable organizations as adults.

 

Interested in volunteering? Call the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley at 272-2087 or check out www.vccv.org.

What is Service-Learning?

According to the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse, Service-Learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities.

Through service-learning, young people—from preschool to college students—use what they learn in the classroom to solve real-life problems. They not only learn the practical applications of their studies, they become actively contributing citizens and community members through the service they perform.

 

Service-learning can be applied in a wide variety of settings, including schools, universities, and community-based and faith-based organizations. It can involve a group of students, a classroom or an entire school. Students build character and become active participants as they work with others in their school and community to create service projects in areas such as education, public safety, and the environment.

 

Community members, students, and educators everywhere are discovering that service-learning offers all its participants a chance to take part in the active education of youth while simultaneously addressing the concerns, needs, and hopes of communities.

 

FAQ’s

 

What is service-learning?
Service-learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley has been providing service-learning support for area schools, after school programs and other youth-serving agencies for over a decade.

What is the difference between service-learning and community service?
Community service participants volunteer for the primary or sole purpose of meeting the needs of others and bettering the community as a whole. Young people engaged in high quality service-learning meet the needs of their communities while increasing their academic achievement. Service-learning students also take part in structured time to investigate community needs, thoughtful planning of the service project, and guided reflection regarding the relationship between their service experience and their more traditional in-class learning. Overall, the most important feature of effective service-learning programs is that students engage equally with learning and service and reflect on their intersections.

Where does service-learning occur?
Service-learning programs are found in all subjects and grade levels and in a wide range of community-based organizations in the Cedar Valley through the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley’s youth service-learning program. The Cedar Valley benefited in a variety of ways from service-learning programs. Some examples include: A preschool group beautified the ground of their center. A fifth grade class in Waterloo partnered with residents of a nursing home, interviewed and wrote life stories about the residents. A high school group in Cedar Falls created a web page designed to educate people about the issue of child abuse. 

 

Can service-learning occur in community-based settings?
Yes. The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley is actively involved in having students at the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley participate in service-learning projects as part of an after school program. Last year a youth group at a local church participated in a service-learning program. Students at a local middle school conducted mini classes at the Waterloo Public Library for students in the after school programs at the Salvation Army and Boys and Girls Clubs. Two groups at North Star participated in a service-learning program this summer. Service-learning can occur anywhere there are interested, committed people.

 

Is service-learning just for certain students?
No! Service-learning is for everyone. Service-learning is an effective teaching method for all students, including gifted and talented students, special education students, students with disabilities, at-risk youth, youth in inclusive classrooms, and students in alternative education.

 

How can I be sure that service-learning is a part of my child’s education?
Talk to teachers and administrators to find out whether service-learning is already taking place at your child’s school. If it’s not, contact the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley and see if providing this service is a possibility.

 

How widespread is service-learning in the United States?

• 24 percent of America's elementary and secondary schools have adopted service-learning programs.
• 35 states have adopted some form of service-learning policy–either a mandatory, state-wide policy or one granting districts the freedom to create their own.
• At least a quarter of all higher education institutions and more than half of all community colleges have adopted service-learning programs.

To secure volunteer opportunities call the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley at 319-272-2087. Volunteer opportunities may also be accessed at www.vccv.org.