How do we facilitate this educational experience?

Weeks 1-4:  Middle school students are oriented to the program, develop a definition of community, and consider new concepts such as civic responsibility, social justice and empowerment. Through activities, discussions, readings and journaling, students engage with their teacher and SSC facilitator in a way that combines classroom norms with new and exciting learning methods.

Weeks 5-7:  Students prepare for and then participate in a community mapping day wherein the students walk through the neighborhood(s) surrounding the school in order to assess both its needs and its resources. As they walk, the students also focus on the importance of environmental health by carrying out a community clean-up. Once the students have mapped the surrounding community, they will revisit their assessment of the area, and use their findings to identify the community issue(s) most important to them.

Weeks 8-12: Facilitated by SSC staff and the classroom teacher, students are then engaged in an academically enhanced, hands-on process through which they continue to learn about social issues, develop leadership skills and begin to value the importance of teamwork. Most importantly, students develop a youth created and directed community service project.  They network with community leaders and representatives, research, and market a service project of their own design. Throughout the program curricular connections are also made to enhance what the students are learning in the classroom.

Weeks 13-14:  Finally, student participants will spend an entire day implementing their service initiatives.  Past projects have included renovating homes, neighborhood beautification, community murals, advocacy campaigns for specific issues, and working with local community based organizations to meet the needs of community.  Once service projects are completed the program ends with a day of recognition and reflection on the experience.