Program:
SHARE
(Students Helping Are Responsible and Empathetic)
School:
Greenway Learn and Serve
Participating School:
Canyon Creek School (K-8)
3139 Duck Creek Road, Billings, MT 59101
Phone: 406/656-4471, fax: 406/652-8675
Contact: Roy Warner
Observed Outcomes:
- Students are becoming more aware of their environmental surroundings and what goes into maintaining them
- Students experience a sense of accomplishment
Keys to Success:
- Designate a coordinator for the service learning program
- Strive for commitment and dedication from school staff
- Don't be afraid to try something new
Program Description:
Yellowstone River, located only a mile from Canyon Creek School, seemed to be the obvious choice for the focus of the school's first-ever service learning program. As Roy Warner, principal of Canyon Creek put it, "We thought to ourselves, 'Why not make better use of the river?'"
The program is being implemented in three phases. These are:
- Phase I: Teachers from Canyon Creek created a cross-curricular thematic notebook as a companion for existing
curriculum. The notebook was used to educate students further about Yellowstone River.
- Phase II: In partnership with the Yellowstone River Parks Association, Canyon Creek students are trained to assist in the creation and maintenance of trails along the river.
- Phase III: Older students (grades 4-8), who were trained first by the Yellowstone River Parks Association, assist with the education and training of the younger students.
Participating Schools:
Powder River County Junior/Senior High School,
Broadus Elementary School
500 North Trautman Avenue, Broadus, MT 59317
Phone: 406/436-2658, fax: 406/436-2660
Contact: Patty Williams
Observed Outcomes:
- Students go above and beyond the call of service learning and begin to take initiative in their own time to assist others
- Students are engaged and committed to service
Keys to Success:
- To implement a service learning program, begin by looking at what is already being done in your school that may be related to service and take it a step further; build on it
- Conduct a community "needs assessment" to identify possible service learning opportunities
- Remember that no project is too big or too small
Program Description:
Students attending school in Broadus, Montana, have many opportunities to become involved in service learning. Through individual classes, or through schoolwide activities, students work through the four components of service learning: preparation, action, reflection, and celebration.
Among the many service learning projects that have been available to students in the district are the following:
- Elementary students facilitated a food drive for the local food bank
- High school students constructed a large bird feeder to enhance the bird studies of local fourth-graders
- Third-grade students traveled to a local preschool to read to the younger children
- High school English students analyzed and researched the local museum. From these studies they were able to produce a guide called the Walking Tour of Powder River Historical Museum, which will be used by museum employees and volunteers
- High school students interviewed local war veterans and their wives for a booklet that will be presented to the local museum as a way to help preserve area history
- Art students volunteered their time to paint holiday scenes on local store windows
