Let’s Talk
A monthly column for parents and educators.
Teens Help Others and Themselves With Community Service
Summary: Volunteering helps teens connect to community, do better in school, and be less likely to participate in risky behavior; Vancouver, Washington's Educational Service District (ESD) 112 has created student manuals that can jump-start service projects.
Whether it’s restoring stream banks, collecting cans for the local food bank, or reading to seniors, teenagers today are volunteering in unprecedented numbers. According to a recent study conducted by the Corporation for National and Community Service in collaboration with the U.S. Census Bureau and Independent Sector, 15.5 million youths contributed more than a billion hours of community service during 2004. That’s almost twice the rate of adult volunteers in America.
There are a number of reasons why that statistic is heartening. Aside from the obvious benefits to the community, volunteering pays big dividends for the volunteers themselves. The Corporation’s study found that young people engaged in service opportunities feel more connected to their community, are less likely to participate in risky behavior, and do better in school than their peers who don’t volunteer.
“Contributing to the community and meeting a real need can boost a young person’s self-esteem,” says Nicky Martin, a project director with the Volunteer Leadership Center at the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. Martin also points out that when schools tie their curriculum to real-world “service learning” opportunities, they often are able to engage youngsters who don’t do well in more traditional classes. Studies have shown that academic performance and attendance both improve when students are involved in high-quality service learning programs.
Currently, Maryland is the only state that requires service learning. However, a number of states—including Oregon—actively encourage the practice. Under new graduation requirements in Washington—effective in 2008—students must do a culminating project and many school districts are likely to link those projects to some form of service.
Educational Service District (ESD) 112 in Vancouver, Washington, has created a series of student manuals that can jump-start service projects in fields like the environment, social justice, advocacy, and diversity. The manuals, funded by Learn and Serve America, will be available after June 1, 2006, at esd112.org/slnw/. “We want to encourage students and school districts to incorporate service because of its impact on learning and on the individual,” says Larry Fletch, program director of Service-Learning Northwest at ESD112.
Students don’t need to wait until they’re in high school to pitch in and help their community. Many civic organizations, local government bureaus, and faith-based groups provide opportunities, even for elementary students. Martin reminds parents to look closely at the level and type of adult supervision provided in these projects—especially if the volunteer is young. Also, you might consider volunteering as a family. According to the U.S.A. Freedom Corps, “When a family volunteers to work together at a nonprofit organization, the experience can bring them closer together, teach young children the value of giving their time and effort, and give the entire family a shared experience as a wonderful family memory.” (Additional resources for volunteering are available at www.usafreedomcorps.gov.)
This column by Rhonda Barton is provided as a public service by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, a nonprofit institution working with schools and communities in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.
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