Service in Schools Program Launch

Service in Schools (SIS) officially kicked off this year’s service-learning programs: Kids Action Team for grades K-3, Students Taking Action Today for grades 4-8, and Students Advocating For the Environment for grades 6-10. As part of these programs, 62 teachers from schools across all five boroughs are launching service-learning projects focusing on one of the following topics: animal welfare; water conservation; disability rights; ageism; food insecurity and waste; fabric waste; air quality; and housing and homelessness. Participating teachers attended kick-off professional learning sessions to learn from community partners who are experts on the topics, delve into the five stages of service-learning, and collaborate with each other in developing rich learning experiences that will culminate this spring in their students showcasing their action + advocacy. This year SIS is excited to partner with the NYC Department for the Aging, FABSCRAP, Rethink Food, Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC), Center for Independence of the Disabled (CIDNY), MET Council on Housing, and NYC Department of Environmental Protection.

Leif Ericson Park Cleanup Event

Volunteer at the Leif Ericson Park Cleanup event with Parent-Child Relationship Association. Volunteers are responsible for maintaining the appearance, health, and safety of landscapes and features in public parks, working to beautify the park grounds by keeping lawns green and litter-free, raking the leaves, planting and tending the flowers and shrubs, and removing weeds. Support the community in maintaining a clean environment for their neighborhood. Volunteers between the ages of 6 and 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Sign up online to volunteer.

Food and Climate Education Per Session Opportunities

Are you a teacher interested in food education? The NYC Department of Education’s Food and Climate Education team is looking for teachers to participate in food education, professional learning, curriculum development, resource review and evaluation, and other related work. Applicants must be in possession of a NYC Public School license and/or NYS certification as a teacher, and must be eligible to earn per session. Visit the per session vacancy page to learn more — search for vacancy notice #0695 and vacancy notice #0696.

Dorot

DOROT's Winter Package Delivery brings hundreds of older adults and volunteers together to share warmth and companionship. Join them on January 28, 2024 in Manhattan to deliver a thoughtful, seasonal care package and connect with an older neighbor! Register online to participate.

Downtown Little League

Downtown Little League's fastpitch softball program is looking for volunteer coaches to work with girls ages 9-18 during the spring, fall, and winter seasons. In addition to outstanding parent volunteers, Downtown Little League has had a lot of success with non-parent volunteers, including several who currently serve on the league's Board of Directors. Downtown Little League is always looking for volunteer softball coaches, particularly people with experience playing or coaching sports at the high school and college level, or who can teach pitching. To volunteer, contact felix.zhang21@gmail.com and gabriellamarino11@gmail.com or visit the Downtown Little League website.

Saturday Night Lights



The NYPD, the Department of Youth and Community Development, the city’s five district attorney’s offices and several city agency partners, community based organizations and foundations have joined together to open over 100 Saturday Night Lights sites across the city. Each Saturday, from 5:00-9:00pm, children ages 11-18 can participate in a variety of sports programs including basketball, soccer, volleyball, dance, martial arts, and more, all FREE. To volunteer, visit the NYC Service website.

MLK Sensory Day

Volunteer at MLK Sensory Day to support a day of fun for children and families that have someone with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other learning disabilities. Participants can choose from a variety of activities such as music, drama, arts and crafts, storytelling, robotics and coding adopted for special needs, and much more. Sessions are limited in size for participating children/families and are limited to 30 minutes to ensure personal attention to accommodate everyone who wants to participate. Participants must be at least 14 years old and are expected to arrive at 8:00am for training before the event. Volunteers should be patient and understanding of the uniqueness of the participants at this event. For more information, visit the MLK Sensory Day website.

Harlem Street Care

Come work with NYC Parks Stewardship to care for local street trees. Volunteers will learn how to aerate, cultivate, mulch, and identify street trees. Volunteers should dress in clothes that can get dirty and wear closed-toe shoes. Registration is required and volunteers under 18 years old must be accompanied by a chaperone. Sign up online to volunteer. To register a group of 10 or more people, email stewardship@parks.nyc.gov.

Snug Harbor Coastal Cleanup

Volunteer with the Stewardship Team to protect coastal areas at Snug Harbor. Volunteers will help remove debris from the coastline creating a healthier ecosystem. Come dressed in sturdy boots or shoes, long pants, and clothing that can get dirty. Registration is required and volunteers under 18 years old must be accompanied by a chaperone. This event is in partnership with the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden. Sign up online to volunteer. To register a group of 10 or more people, email stewardship@parks.nyc.gov.

Bedford-Stuyvesant Street Care

Come work with NYC Parks Stewardship to care for local street trees in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Volunteers will care for street trees and learn about the important roles trees play in New York City. Volunteers should dress in clothes that can get dirty and wear closed-toe shoes. Registration is required and volunteers under 18 years old must be accompanied by a chaperone. Sign up online to volunteer. To register a group of 10 or more people, email stewardship@parks.nyc.gov

MLK: Kids! Package Kits For Migrants in Carroll Gardens

Honor MLK’s vision for a more just world through meaningful service and learning. Take action to welcome migrants to New York City and join in community learning with Repair the World. Specially created for kids, volunteers will dive into a dynamic learning experience with a guest educator where participants will unite through song, play interactive games about equity, learn about welcoming new neighbors, and more. The program will wrap up with hands-on service: packaging hygiene kits for Mixteca. Families of all ages are welcome, children must be accompanied at all times. Each shift is 75 minutes, from 10:00-11:15am. For more information, email micali.morin@weRepair.org. Visit the Repair the World website to register.

Climate Action Days

Integrating climate education into the curriculum can arm students with knowledge to help them meet one of the biggest challenges of their lifetime. Four Climate Action Days will take place during the 2023-24 school year, each with a specific focus: December 6: energy; February 7: waste; April 17: health, wellness, and green space; and June 12: water. Remember that climate change can be an anxiety-producing topic, especially for students who live, or who have family members who live, in vulnerable areas. Don’t share resources without context and hope. Use examples of how climate change could be slowed if humans enact change. Show how climate emergencies create opportunities for communities to make a difference. Allow students to brainstorm solutions and channel their ideas into action plans. Access resources for your classroom from the Office of Energy and Sustainability, check out the Student & Educator Climate Resource Toolkit from the Climate and Resilience Education Task Force, and the NYC Department of Environmental Protection's Climate Change Module.

Talk Space and NYC Healthy

Anyone ages 13 to 17 living in New York City has access to free online therapy through NYC Teenspace from @nychealthy. Talkspace therapists share these warning signs as a critical first step to understanding when teens may need help, but are not able to express it. It’s important these symptoms don’t go unaddressed. Working with a licensed therapist is one way that can help a teen learn coping skills and alleviate their stress. Learn more at NYC Teenspace about free mental health services.

Does your school have a great service project to share? If so, the Service in Schools team wants to know!

Invite the Service in Schools team to visit your service project. We want to see your students and school community in action. Email the Service in Schools team at ServiceinSchools@schools.nyc.gov with two weeks’ notice, and we will schedule a visit to your school to learn about your project and see the impact you are making on the community. 

Visit our website. Follow @ServiceinSchools on Twitter and @ServiceinSchools on Instagram to receive program updates, upcoming service opportunities, resources, and more. We encourage students who use Twitter and Instagram and are interested in service opportunities to follow us.

Mission: Service in Schools strives to expand the number of NYC students engaged in transformative community service and service-learning experiences that enable them to use their voice, skills, and critical thinking to strengthen communities.