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What is Service Learning
Service Learning is more than just volunteering.  If young people collect trash from a local river, they are providing a service to the community as volunteers. If young people collect trash from a local river, then analyze what they found so they can share the results with residents of the community along with suggestions for reducing pollution, they are engaging in service learning.

Through service learning youth are providing an important service to the community AND, learning about water quality and laboratory analysis, developing an understanding of pollution issues, learning to interpret science issues and practicing communications skills by presenting their results to the community. They may also reflect on their personal and career interests in science, the environment, public policy or other related areas.

Thus, service learning combines SERVICE with LEARNING in intentional ways.

How can Service learning benefit my students?
A growing body of research recognizes service learning as an effective strategy to:

• Improve Academic Achievement - When explicitly tied to academic standards and learning objectives, service learning positively impacts student outcomes on measures of academic achievement, including standardized test scores.
• Increase Student Engagement in school – Service learning engages youth by helping them make critical connections between classroom lessons and real-world applications.
• Improve Social Behavior – Service learning participants are less likely to engage in risky behavior, and more likely to build social skills like communication, teamwork, and problem solving.
• Build Civic Skills - By giving youth the responsibility to identify and meet pressing needs, service learning builds civic skills and commitment that last a lifetime.
• Strengthen Community Partnerships – Service learning brings youth into the community, and the community into lives of youth.  In this way, youth develop a sense of belonging and responsibility, and communities view youth as valuable assets.

• Community Need/Voice – If we are to solve problems in communities and provide authentic learning opportunities for young people we must make sure we are actively engaging the community in identifying their needs.
• Learning Objectives – Essential to service learning is understanding what young people are expected to learn through their service. Developing learning objectives provides an opportunity to identify what young people will learn on a personal, social and intellectual level.
• Youth Voice & Planning – Listening to and engaging young people in the planning process provides more ownership and learning opportunities for participants.
• Orientation and Training – Young people must understand the organization, issues and skills required to provide effective service and to maximize learning.
• Action – The actual service experience itself requires much planning and thinking. There are many logistics that are important to ensuring a meaningful experience, including age appropriateness, transportation, supervision and risk management.
• Reflection – Reflection is a process where young people use critical thinking skills in order to learn from their service experience. This process helps young people grow on a personal, social and intellectual level.
  Evaluation – Evaluation provides an opportunity to assess the process (what did we do well, what could we have done better) and the impact (how have young people and the community changed).
• Celebration & Recognition – When young people provide valuable service to the community their efforts need to recognized and celebrated. This reinforces the value and their connection to what they accomplished.

How do I get Service learning started in my classroom/group?

• Assess what needs ALREADY exist within your community.  A great way to find out where your community could use help is by either contacting the Youth Programs Manager at the Volunteer Center in Waukesha County (262) 547-8459 or by visiting the website www.unitedwaywaukesha.org
  
• Evaluate what the availability of your group is and if there are limitations (such as transportation issues) that would prohibit your group from participating in a particular service project.
• Pick age appropriate projects for your group.  Developing age appropriate service activities will ensure that they and the agency they are serving receive the most out of their experience.