Back to School, Back to Service-Learning: New Designing & Implementing a Service-Learning Experience Online Course Open

August 22, 2024 | Volume 31, No. 33 | Published Weekly Since 1994

A new professional development resource from Arizona State University offers continuing education opportunities for educators that provide meaningful advancement that translates to student success. The recent launch of the ASU Professional Educator Learning Hub aims to support educators in pre-K–12 schools and other learning environments who wish to do more than just check a box when it comes to adding to their skill sets.

One of the first learning opportunities featured is YSA's new Designing & Implementing a Service-Learning Experience online course developed in collaboration with Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. The course is now open for all in-school, afterschool, and community-based educators, program staff, and caring adults.

Learn strategies to engage students and facilitate meaningful service-learning experiences, including how to:

Create an outline for implementing the meaningful service project over a week, month, or semester.
Recognize strategies that lead to effective and authentic youth/adult partnerships.
Identify ways meaningful service projects can be cross-curricular, involve multiple classrooms, and improve teacher collaboration.
Understand the process of facilitating a student-designed service project that harnesses the development of durable skills.

The course is offered in two formats:

on-demand and self-paced (no instructor), ~15 hours for $149
facilitated (by YSA's Vice President of Education), ~45 hours for $249

If you have questions, or want to discuss options for group enrollment for a cohort from your school, district, or program, contact Scott Ganske.

Learn More and Enroll Now!

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NEWS FROM THE FIELD

Back-to-School Advice From Elementary to High School Students

NPR asked elementary to high school students heading back to school to weigh in on what they're doing to prepare for the upcoming school year. They answered the call with advice for their peers.

How Should Parents and Kids Approach Extracurricular Activities?

Extracurriculars matter for more than college applications. They’re more meaningful than that: They’re a way for kids and teenagers to figure out what they’re passionate about, what they value, and who they are - and to have fun.

Voter registration is a critical step in ensuring your voice is heard in elections. Fifty percent of U.S. teens live in states that allow preregistration starting at age 16. Another 20% of teens live in states that allow at least one year to register before the first election. Find your state’s registration information here.

For youth aged 16-25, it’s especially important to get registered early. Did you know that National Voter Registration Day (September 17) and High School Voter Registration Week (September 23-27) are perfect opportunities to get involved?

Mark your calendars and make sure you and your peers are registered to vote. More importantly, begin to learn about voter registration requirements in your state and gather the resources necessary to register your peers!

Here are some helpful sites to learn more:

The Civics Center – Why Register and Vote:

League of Women Voters – High School Registration Training Manual

The Civics Center – How to Run a Registration Drive

Vote.org – Voter Registration Deadlines

Join the 2024 ServiceVote Challenge Today!

GRANTS & AWARDS

True Blue Fellowship - Deadline: September 1

The True Blue Fellowship will support 10 youth-led projects (by youth ages 13-24) that address ocean, waterways, and/or climate change issues through a creative arts lens. Selected Fellows will receive up to $2,500 in funding, access to a community of Fellows and capacity building programs, and mentorship and support from the Future Blue Youth Council and Bow Seat staff.

Youth as Solutions - Deadline: September 13

Youth as Solutions grants of $250 - $1,000 empower Leadership Teams - at least two young people in grades 6-12 and an adult mentor from a public school, school district, government entity, or nonprofit - using NYLC's guided service-learning process to address one of four impact areas, including environmental justice by addressing issues of access to food or water, infrastructure issues, pollution, and more.

STORIES OF SERVICE

Everyday Young Hero: Aidan Ahmed

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Aidan Ahmed (14 | San Jose, California) noticed a rise in homelessness in California’s Bay Area. While volunteering with his family to deliver sleeping bags to people experiencing homelessness, Aidan met a man who was elderly and disabled, who had all of his belongings stolen. Although Aidan and his family were able to provide him with new supplies, he felt that he needed to do more to help the homeless community. To increase support and provide a platform for his peers who also wanted to give back, Aidan started Kids Kitchen with his brothers, Ayaan and Noah.

Since 2020, Kids Kitchen has been making and distributing meals, with the support of local nonprofit organizations, for people experiencing homelessness. They started with an initial goal of 100 sandwiches: friends and other young people who were turned away from volunteering because they were “too young” would make sandwiches at home then drop them off on Aidan’s front porch before being distributed at homeless camps or through shelters. That original goal was quickly met and to date, over 3,500 lunch packs and hot meals have been donated! Not only does Aidan hope to increase the number of people Kids Kitchen is able to support through their meal distribution, but he also hopes to continue to provide opportunities for youth to take action, especially those who may not have the chance otherwise.

RESOURCES & TRAININGS

2024 KIDS COUNT Data Book

Explore the 2024 KIDS COUNT Data Book, with child well-being state-level data in four areas: economic stability, education, health, and family/community. This year's report, released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, uses 50-state data to call attention to the factors that cause learning loss and poor academic outcomes, from poverty to physical and mental health, trauma and others.

Citizens' Assemblies 101 Webinar - August 28 at 12:00pm Eastern

Citizens' Assemblies (CAs) are a democratic innovation that bring together a diverse group of residents, selected randomly through a civic lottery, to deliberate on public policy issues. In this introductory webinar, we’ll explore the fundamentals of Citizens' Assemblies and their role in modern democracy and provide a comprehensive overview of how CAs work, their history, and their impact on public policy.