Learn and Serve America's National Service-Learning Clearinghouse

Let's Make This the Best AmeriCorps Week Ever!
AmeriCorps Week is May 9 - 16, 2009. Join the AmeriCorps Week WebChats.  All of your questions will be answered and you will gain the tools you need to make AmeriCorps Week 2009 a huge success.  Participation is free, but registration is required.
www.americorpsweek.gov/about/newsroom/releases_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1291

President Obama Signs National Service Bill
Tuesday, April 21, the President signed the landmark Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. The Serve America Act reauthorizes and expands national service programs administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service.
www.learnandserve.gov/about/newsroom/releases_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1301

President Obama Announces the Corporations CEO Nominee
The President announced his intention to nominate Ms. Maria Eitel to serve as the Corporation's new CEO. Ms. Eitel currently serves as the president of the Nike Foundation and as a vice president of Nike Inc. As the foundation's first president, she has led an initiative to increase opportunities for the world's most disadvantaged girls.
www.learnandserve.gov/about/newsroom/statements_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1298

Service-Learning = Solutions Blog
Explore and share ways service-learning provides solutions for everyone involved, especially communities in need. The most recent post is from Jay Roberts, an Assistant Professor of Education and Environmental Studies at Earlham College, discussing the need to fight the trivialization of sustainability and service learning. What do you think? Let us know.
servicelearningsolutions.blogspot.com/

Service-Learning in Community-Based Organizations: A Practical Guide to Starting and Sustaining High-Quality Programs
Drawing on the 2008 quality standards for service-learning, this guide provides practitioners of community-based service-learning with tips, tools, and techniques they need to start making a positive difference in many people's lives by providing high-quality opportunities for youth to serve and learn.
www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=8543

K-12 Service-Learning Project Planning Toolkit (Updated Edition)
This toolkit guides k-12 practitioners in all of the steps necessary to developing quality service-learning projects. As well as including the same useful information and worksheets as the previous edition, the toolkit now includes information on the K-12 Service-Learning Standard for Quality Practice and the five core components of a service-learning project: investigation, planning and preparation, the service activity, reflection, and demonstration/celebration.
www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=8542

Service-Learning: In Action Guide (Updated Edition)
This guide to the basics of service-learning for K-12 practitioners is a companion piece to the Bring Learning to Life video. This new edition has been updated to include the K-12 Standards for Quality Practice and the five core components of service-learning.
www.servicelearning.org/lsa/bring_learning/index.php#inaction

This month, the Higher Ed board was abuzz with discussions regarding the availability of current research that demonstrates possible benefits or effects of service-learning based upon gender.  Another popular topic was mandating service-learning as a graduation requirement, as many universities are now considering implementing this.  Prompting discussion across all boards was President Obama's National Service Bill, which was officially signed into law on April 21, 2009.  The bill, which goes into effect on October 1, entitled the creation of 175,000 service positions over the next eight years.

Add your project or ideas to the discussion. If you're not already a member of one of our email discussion lists please visit www.servicelearning.org/what_is_service-learning/lists_news/.

And, if you're already a member of one of the lists and want to look back at past discussions simple visit lists.etr.org where you can search on a particular topic, or browse through the archives.

Email Discussion Lists

Service-learning email discussion lists are electronic discussion forums that allow you to tap into a network of administrators, practitioners, researchers and students. Subscribing to email discussion lists is easy, convenient and free. See all the email discussion lists available to you here: www.servicelearning.org/what_is_service-learning/lists_news/index.php#ls

Commands
Almost everything that you might need to do on the server is most easily and effectively performed via Lyris's Web interface at lyris.etr.org

In case you do not have Web access or prefer to send commands and change settings via email, here are some key commands; in all cases, the commands should be sent to: <lyris@lists.etr.org> (not the address of the email discussion list). Note that commands may be placed in either the subject line or in the body of the message and are case sensitive. Multiple commands can be put in one message on separate lines. Here are just a few of the most useful ones:

SUBSCRIBING:
subscribe he-sl (or k12-sl or cbo-sl or tribal-sl) Firstname Lastname
ex: subscribe he-sl Jane Doe

UNSUBSCRIBING:
unsubscribe ysb-sl

TEMPORARILY SUSPENDING MAIL FROM THE LIST:
set he-sl nomail

RESUMING MAIL FROM THE LIST:
(command depends on your preferred mode) set he-sl mail set he-sl digest set he-sl index

If you have ANY problems related to the email discussion list please do not post them to the list. The email discussion list administrator is at your disposal for this very purpose and can be reached here:

Larry Hardison (larryh@etr.org) or 866-245-SERV (7378), x195.

In honor of the upcoming 3rd Northwest Indian College Summit on Indigenous Service-Learning: "Identity, Service, Place: Exploring Our Innate Ties," we have compiled a short list of some NSLC library resources relating to service-learning with Tribes & U.S. Territories. To find even more simply do a search of our library catalog using the keyword "tribal" www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/

Disasters: Flood & Ice
This collection of the memories and insights from the year 2007 by teenagers of Miami, Oklahoma, recalls stories of the "big flood and ice storms of 2007" through photographs, poems, drawings, and personal anecdotes.
www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=8495

A Culture of Giving: Service-Learning in Native American Communities
This video, hosted by Buffy Sainte-Marie, features stories about innovative service-learning projects in New Mexico and Northern Michigan. It includes comments from students, teachers, and administrators on their experience with service learning.
www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=4821

Embracing an Indigenous Understanding of Service-Learning
NWIC Second Summit on Indigenous Service-Learning Keynote Address by John Guffey. Service-learning, a timeless indigenous approach to teaching and learning, takes its lead from two primary values: interdependence and self-awareness. In recent years service-learning has found its way into mainstream education in America, where it has come face-to-face with enduring principles of the west: individualism and competition. Service-learning is a way of linking human experience with understanding, compassion, harmony and relationship-building. If used for other purposes, this approach loses its meaning and effectiveness. The indigenous roots of service-learning must be recognized and nurtured, and the gap between "school" and "community" must be bridged if we are to fully utilize and preserve this form of education for our own and future generations.
www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=7938

Honoring the Breath of Life: The Native American Journal of Service Learning
From the 2007 National Indian Youth Leadership Project, this anthology includes personal essays, descriptions of service-learning projects, poetry, and articles detailing youth and service-learning in Native American communities.
www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=6944

Indigenous Educational Models for Contemporary Practice: In Our Mother's Voice
In July 1997 a group of native educational leaders from the United States (including Alaska and Hawai'i), Canada, Australia, and New Zealand gathered to define a potential solution to this question. This book passes on the individual educational philosophies of the participants and captures the essence of each in a dynamic, transformational, and holistic model--"Go to the Source"--which forwards a collective vision for a native language- and culture-based educational philosophy that native educational leaders and teachers, policymakers, and curriculum developers can use to ground their work.
www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=5520

Native American Studies in Higher Education: Models for Collaboration Between Universities and Indigenous Nations
In this collection, Champagne and Stauss examine the decades-long struggle in higher education to build Native Studies from the ground up and to develop key working models for indigenous studies in American university settings. The individual contributors provide histories of the last four decades of these programs, describing and analyzing their evolution, administrative and financial relationships, philosophies, course development, and in general their successes and failures.
www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=5427

Did you know that NSLC offers copies of many of our most popular service-learning marketing resources for free or low cost to both grantees and non-grantees? You can order free copies of the Bring Learning to Life items or of the NSLC promotional postcard for SLICE: Service-Learning Ideas and Curricular Examples to help you spread the good news about service-learning. The order process is easy. Just fill out the form online and let us do the rest!
www.servicelearning.org/pubs/index.php

Suggest a Calendar Event
A great way to advertise your service-learning related event is to add it to the NSLC calendar.
www.servicelearning.org/nslc/suggestion/

3rd Summit on Indigenous Service-Learning: "Identity, Service, Place: Exploring Our Innate Ties"
May 6 – 8, 2009
www.servicelearning.org/events_jobs/slconf_events/index.php?action=detailed&event=985

AmeriCorps Week
May 9 – 16, 2009
www.servicelearning.org/events_jobs/slconf_events/index.php?action=detailed&event=961

From Nice to Necessary 2009 DC Conference on Service and Leadership
May 13 – 15, 2009
www.servicelearning.org/events_jobs/slconf_events/index.php?action=detailed&event=872

IUPUI  Research Academy
May 14 – 16, 2009
www.servicelearning.org/events_jobs/slconf_events/index.php?action=detailed&event=995

Civic Engagement Administrator Conference
May 27 – 28, 2009
www.servicelearning.org/events_jobs/slconf_events/index.php?action=detailed&event=950

Have you ever been convinced that your program isn't the first to try a particular idea? Do you wonder if others would be interested in your project discoveries? Whether you're just starting out, or have been engaged in service-learning for years, let the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse make the connection for you. We collect materials created by service-learning programs and add them to our library for others to access. If you have produced surveys, forms, curricula, project plans, or any type of materials that could be shared with others involved in service-learning, send them our way! Check out this list of recent grantee submissions.

Whether or not you're a Learn and Serve America Grantee, let others know about the successful approaches used in your service-learning program. Submit today at:
www.servicelearning.org/library/promote/index.php.

Remember that Learn and Serve America grantees must send the Clearinghouse all program evaluations and other material developed through their funded activities.
www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/grantee_submitted_mats.php.

CBO

Website Privacy Policy
Camp Fire USA
This Privacy Policy covers Camp Fire USA's treatment of personally identifiable information that Camp Fire USA collects when you are on the Camp Fire USA Official Alumni Web page or any other portion of this Web site, and when you use Camp Fire USA services. It also covers our policy related to Camp Fire USA's use of official social networking sites. It can be used as an example for other organizations who collect personal information through their websites.
www.servicelearning.org/etrcncs-link/?popup_id=2174


HE

The Gift of Knowledge
Queensborough Community College Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning
In Spring 2008, two students in the LS-225 class (Spanish Composition for Spanish Native Speakers with Prof. Borrachero, Foreign Languages Department) produced this documentary film about the service learning component of their course. QCC students in this class taught adult illiterate immigrants to learn and write in Spanish and the reflections of both teachers and students are captured in the video.
www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=8530

Green Goodies: A Partnership with Lincoln Elementary School After-School Program
Campus Kitchens Project, Gettysburg College
These lesson plans are from The Campus Kitchen at Gettysburg College who partnered with Lincoln Elementary School to implement the Green Goodies program as part of the LEAP (Lincoln Elementary After-school Programs) program.
www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=8562


K-12

Service-Learning to Promote Education and Transition Goals
National Service Inclusion Project
This presentation reviews the definitions and components of the Individual Education Plan (IEP) and discusses transition services requirements and purpose. It goes on to explain the federal requirement for reporting transition activities, and describe how agencies and schools might go about promoting service learning as a transition assessment activity.
www.servicelearning.org/library/lib_cat/index.php?library_id=8565

We want to show the world what service-learning can look like!

Do you have a terrific story of a student who was slipping through the cracks until they were reached by service-learning? Or do you have an inspiring project that makes others wonder what THEY could be doing to better the community? Send us your service-learning success stories and let us tell them to America!
www.servicelearning.org/nslc/success_story_form/

Send us your high quality photos of your service-learning programs or projects to highlight on our sector pages, as well as on the rest of the site, what service-learning in action can look like! Simply attach them in an email to nslc-webmaster@servicelearning.org

We appreciate the contributions you make to the enhancement of the National Service Learning Clearinghouse, America's Resource for Service-Learning Information.

Student Volunteers Dish the Dirt at Environmental Event (Learn and Serve America Grantee)
BREATHE LA O24u Environmental Education Program and O24u Online provided day-long activities and games at Museum of Natural History Sustainable Sunday on February 22, 2009. Families and children of all ages enjoyed fun learning activities led by BREATHE LA service learning volunteers and staff from the popular BREATHE LA O24u Online and O24u Environmental Education Program including an eco-system Terrarium and handmade Smog Catcher! In addition to all the smiling children and families who enjoyed our BREATHE LA O24u activities, we send a special thanks to our great team of volunteers…
www.servicelearning.org/nslc/success_stories/cbo.php#12

View other success stories.

NSLC is all about sharing, so please feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and colleagues and invite them to subscribe by sending a blank email to join_nslc-newsletter@lists.etr.org.

You're also welcome to incorporate excerpts from the newsletter into your own newsletter (just be sure to cite Learn and Serve America's National Service-Learning Clearinghouse NSLC Newsletter and send us a copy).