NEWS TO USE
SEPTEMBER 2005
NEWS 11th Annual Florida Service-Learning Institute The 11th Annual Florida Service-Learning Institute will be held on November 16th-18th in Tampa. All 2005-2006 Florida Learn & Serve grantees are required to attend and the Institute is open to anyone interested in learning more about service learning. There is no registration fee and we encourage you to invite administrators, community partners, and teachers. Several national service-learning trainers will conduct pre-conference trainings and approximately 25 informative workshops will be offered for beginners to advanced practitioners. There will be a strand of workshops for students and we will once again host off-site service-learning projects. New this year will be a principals' luncheon keynoted by one of Florida's superintendents. Registration will be available on our website on September 1, 2005. For more information, contact Min Cho at mcho@admin.fsu.edu or visit our web site. The Numbers Say it All Florida Learn and Serve’s latest numbers for the 2005-2006 academic year;
Department of Education Press Release Supports Service Learning On June 20, the U.S. Department of Education produced a press release to announce the show, Service-Learning: Creating Community and Developing Citizens, as part of the “Education News Parents Can Use” television series. The press release featured a quote from Margaret Spelling supporting service learning. "Through service-learning, students have unique opportunities to learn the value of teamwork and build critical thinking skills while completing service projects in areas such as education, public safety and the environment," said U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. "Studies have shown that students who participate in such programs demonstrate increased civic and social responsibility and improved academic achievement." See the entire press
release here. Independent Sector Announces New Estimate for Value of Volunteer Time (Washington, D.C., March 24, 2005)—Independent Sector announces that the 2004 estimate for the value of a volunteer hour has reached $17.55 per hour. This is a tool that can be used to help organizations quantify the enormous value volunteers provide. This year’s estimate increased from $17.19 per hour in 2003. Nationally Independent Sector estimates in 2004 the total value of hours volunteered was equivalent to approximately $272 billion of contributed service, assuming the total number of volunteer hours held constant from previous years. “No number can adequately capture the true value volunteers bring to so many causes and communities across this country,” said Diana Aviv, president and CEO of Independent Sector. “Nevertheless, this yearly estimate helps us all focus on the enormous contribution of our nation's volunteer corps.” The hourly value of volunteer time is based on the average hourly wage for all non-management, nonagricultural workers as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a 12 percent increase to estimate for fringe benefits. To view original article visit: www.independentsector.org. Americorps*VISTA Search The Florida Alliance for Student Service is currently recruiting for an AmeriCorps*VISTA member to coordinate a new service-learning program. State Farm Insurance and the State Farm Companies Foundation have awarded funds to Florida to support student advocacy and information campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of building codes and disaster preparation. This program, called the State Farm Florida Service-Learning and Home Safety Initiative, will be coordinated by an AmeriCorps*VISTA member at the Florida Alliance for Student Service in Tallahassee, Florida. The ideal applicant will have a B.A. and experience in program management, budget management, and excellent written and oral communication skills. Service learning experience is a plus. AmeriCorps*VISTA members receive a living stipend of $785 per month and a $4,725 education award at the completion of the 1-year term. Our anticipated start date is September 1, 2005. For more information or to send a coverletter and resume contact, Deborah Burr at dburr@admin.fsu.edu. Einstein Supports Coral Reef Research Coral Shores High School
Marine Studies Program has received an $11,700 grant from the Einstein
Fund to help pay for two 5-day research expeditions to the Dry Tortugas
aboard the RV Tiburon. In preparation for the trip over 20 of the
students enrolled in the Marine Studies Program completed a 3-day
coral reef assessment certification program and a reef fish identification
workshop. The Marine Studies Program focuses on the Florida Keys, an area designated as an “Area of Critical Concern” by the State of Florida. The Program has a number of on-going projects focusing on monitoring and restoring seagrass habitats, assessing the conditions of the coral reefs, and monitoring artificial reef habitats. National & Global Youth Service Day, April 21-23, 2006 National and Global Youth
Service Day, the largest service event in the world, mobilizes youth
to identify and address the needs of their communities through service,
supports youth on a life-long path of service and civic engagement,
and educates the public about the role of youth as leaders and assets.
National & Global Youth Service Day Planning Tool Kits, Service-Learning
Curriculum Guides, classroom posters, grants, and more are available
for youth, parents, teachers, and organizations. The State Farm
Companies Foundation is the Presenting Sponsor of National &
Global Youth Service Day. For more information, please visit http://www.ysa.org/nysd.
Youth Service America Presents $200,000 in Grant Funding to Teachers, Students, and Organizations for National and Global Youth Service Day WASHINGTON - (August 1, 2005) - Change the world! Participate in the 18th Annual National & Global Youth Service Day, April 21-23, 2006, the largest community service event in the world. Youth Service America and the State Farm Companies Foundation are offering $1,000 and $2,000 grants to students (aged 5-25), teachers, school-based service-learning coordinators, and organizations to support service-learning projects and city and statewide events. State Farm Companies Foundation is the Presenting Sponsor of National & Global Youth Service Day. See Funding sources section in this newsletter for more information and how to apply. Five Years of Effective Practices! Originally launched as EpiCenter in August of 2000, the Effective Practices Collection has over 650 good ideas, replicable strategies, and evidence-based studies to help service programs solve problems they may face. You can be a part of this growing collection by sharing your own effective practice. Submit your effective practice online and recieve one of the following free gifts: * mini-flashlight You probably use several effective practices in your program already. Think of the challenges your program has faced and the solutions that have worked. Rather than a description of your whole program, we are looking for successful strategies that have worked within your program. FUNDING SOURCES Do something awards $500 grants to change-makers and potential community leaders age 18 and under who identify problems in their communities and create game plans to do something to change their world. Visit www.dosomething.org for complete information, application and examples of funded projects. Teaching Tolerance Grant Program The Teaching Tolerance Grant project of the southern Poverty Law Center offers grants of up to $2,00 to K-12 classroom teachers for implementing tolerance and you activism projects in their schools and communities. There is no deadline for proposals. For more information visit www.tolerance.org. Maurice R. Robinson Mini-Grants The Constitutional Rights foundation is awarding mini-grants up to $500 for K-12 service-learning projects designed to address serious community issues such as poverty, hunger, the environment, mentoring children and youth, crime and safety issues, and aging. The application is short and easy, and can be a great assignment to give to students to design/implement/oversee their own service-learning project. Deadline: October 14, 2005. Details and the links to the application can be found at www.crf-usa.org. National Geographic Education Foundation Announces Guidelines for Teacher Grants As part of its work to promote geographic literacy for all children, the National Geographic Education Foundation is offering grants for up to $5,000 for a teacher, or group of teachers, to help support innovative geography education projects. Project proposals should engage and involve students in the active research and study of a particular geographic issue/problem. The foundation plans to make approximately $100,000 in grants. Grants will support work conducted during the period between January 2006 and August 2006. Visit the foundation’s web site, www.nationalgeographic.com for the online application. Deadline: September 2, 2005. National and Global Youth Service Day Lead Agency $2,000 Grants Fifty $2,000 grants, funded by the State Farm Companies Foundation, are available from Youth Service America for U.S.-based organizations to be Lead Agencies for National & Global Youth Service Day. Lead Agencies increase the scope, visibility, and sustainability of National & Global Youth Service Day by leading large city, regional, or statewide celebrations. Serving as a Lead Agency is a great way to increase membership, garner media addition, develop new partnerships, and generate support from elected officials. In addition to the $2,000 grant, Youth Service America offers lead agencies national media exposure, outreach support, planning resources, and year-round service planning assistance. Lead Agency applications must be received by September 12, 2005 (U.S.-based applicants only). For more information or to apply, please visit www.ysa.org/nysd. State Farm Good Neighbor Serve-Learning $1,000 Grants One hundred $1,000 grants, funded by the State Farm Companies Foundation, are available from Youth Service America for teachers, youth (ages 5-25), and school-based service-learning coordinators to implement service-learning projects for National & Global Youth Service Day. State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grants enable youth and educators to bring the positive benefits of service-learning to more young people across America. Service-learning is a teaching method that combines meaningful service with curriculum or program-based learning. Schools and organizations use service-learning as a tool to help youth build stronger academic skills, foster civic responsibility, and develop leadership skills. Grant applications must be received by October 17, 2005 (U.S.-based applicants only). For more information or to apply, please visit http://www.ysa.org/nysd.
Hurricane Katrina Relief Service-Learning Resources and Tools The National
Service-Learning Clearinghouse has collected resources and tools
to help students and teachers develop a service-learning or http://www.servicelearning.org/nslc/hurricane_katrina/index.php If your
service-learning organization or program would like to include Constitutional Rights Foundation Launches New Service-Learning Resource Online Since 1993, NETWORK has provided educators, students, school administrators, and policy makers with valuable resources for linking classroom work to vital community needs. Now the CRF is proud to introduce Service-Learning NETWORK Online! Check out the latest resources for Service-Learning from the CRF at their new site by clicking here or on our Resources page. Service Learning Fact Sheets These fact sheets show the impacts of service learning from student achievement to sustaining service learning in K-12 schools and are now available on our Research page. This resource was created by RMC Research Corporation, the National Service Learning Clearinghouse senior program advisor for K-12 service learning. Check out the fact sheets here. Project Descriptions for Funded Category 1 Service Learning The first round of Category 1 (one-year) school project descriptions for the 2005-2006 year have been complied and are available on our Current Projects page. See what other schools are doing in service learning or get new project ideas for your school. See the projects here. The Category 2 and 3 projects descriptions will be available soon. NEWS FROM THE FIELD Florida Learn and Serve Welcomes Its Newest District Coordinator Recently, FL&S conducted a telephone interview with the new District Coordinator for Volusia County, Louise Chapman. After being introduced to service learning over 9 years ago, Mrs. Chapman was a convert. “It changed the way I teach and the way my students responded to learning. Service learning empowered them and gave them a true sense of self-esteem. They feel a sense of ownership, (by) stewarding the environment. Most people don’t realize that service learning is real, hands-on learning, not just one-time volunteerism.” There has been much growth in the Rose Bay Project since its inception in 1994. “When we first started out, the program was very small, with only a couple of teachers and a few students,” Chapman said. “ We hope that in 5-10 years, every school child in Volusia County, 68,000 children, will be participating in the project.” They are poised for meeting their goal with the support of District Science Specialist, Theresa Northrup, and the Volusia County School District. The new Volusia County Environmental Service-Learning Project focuses on three tracts of land: Rose Bay, a saltwater estuarine system, Bicentennial Youth Park, and the Lyonia Preserve Habitat. The students in Volusia County schools will monitor the areas by collecting and testing water and soil samples; complete animal counts and a biodiversity inventory. In addition to addressing the FCAT science skills, the project will also serve students in Title I schools. A few service-learning challenges have been met along the way, from having the right materials available to adapting to unexpected changes. Most recently, the focus of the project had to be changed due to last year’s hurricanes. The planned service activities had to be modified to include disaster recovery, clean up, and repair. However, the students continued the scientific research and documented the changes or trends they witnessed after the storms. A new school has joined the Rose Bay Project since Mrs. Chapman has become District Coordinator. The Community Learning Center in DeBary, Florida will be engaging its students to the environmental sciences through service learning. One hundred and fifty middle and high school students will be participating, as well as their parents. When asked what advice she would like to give to new service learning teachers, she replied. “Do not be impatient. It takes twice as long as you would expect. Ask for help from people who have done it before such as other teachers, Florida Learn and Serve, and your district coordinators.” Prior to her current position, Louise Chapman had been the Project Director for the Rose Bay Project since 1995. Due to her significant impact on the growth of service learning in Florida, Florida Learn & Serve in 2004-2005 selected Mrs. Chapman for her to receive the Steven Tunick Service-Learning Award. For more information about the Rose Bay project or service learning in Volusia County, please contact Louise at lchapman@mail.volusia.k12.fl.us.
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