I wanted to share a recent piece I wrote for the National Coalition of Small Schools.
Service Learning in a Small School
by Dan Condon
I recently was leading an inquiry group on the topic of Service-Learning with South Valley Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico and the International School of the Americas in San Antonio, Texas. It was invigorating to connect with other small schools in the struggle to achieve high quality service learning programs. It occurred to me that in order for service learning to be effective is must appear as more than a hit or miss activity, rather, it must be woven into the very fabric of a small learning community.
Service-learning is recognized by Eagle Rock as an effective, experiential means of preparing young people to make a difference in the world. From the school’s inception, service has figured strongly in its values, expectations and commitments. “Service to others,” “Environmental stewardship,” and “Participating as an engaged global citizen,” are expressed in 8 + 5 = 10 (The equation represents our eight themes, five expectations, and 10 commitments. One of the eight themes is service to others, and one of the 10 commitments is “Serve the Eagle Rock and other communities.”) and highly valued at Eagle Rock. Students are expected to “Serve Eagle Rock and other communities” as an ongoing part of their learning experience and knowledge acquisition at the school. The service-learning instructor and fellow coordinate service-learning experiences and partnerships, providing many direct and indirect community service opportunities for students through a variety of short and long-term activities.
These include the following: Service Specials, a hands on service-learning course that meets four times a week each trimester and engages students in on- and off-campus community service as well as regular opportunities to think, discuss and write reflectively about their service experiences and viewpoints; Chores, a community-wide work program whereby students and staff participate in campus maintenance including recycling, landscaping, forestry, resupply and general housekeeping; EagleServe, which consists of two to three days of community service each trimester provided at Eagle Rock and to the wider community; Service-Learning Advisory Council, where students have a voice in planning, action and decision-making around service-learning at ERS; Independent Service Projects, whereby students develop a proposal to integrate a service-learning opportunity into their coursework or personal time; Classroom Service-Learning Projects, which are coordinated through different instructors and courses. Service-learning appears in courses like Soccer and Service; For the Birds; Service, Spanish and Culture in Guatemala; Four-Corners of Service and Culture; Wilderness; Math and Cooking; Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; Sacred Benches; and Sustainable Resources.
Located in Estes Park, Colorado, Eagle Rock School & Professional Development Center was designated as a Service-Learning Leader School in 1999 by Learn and Serve America. Eagle Rock School & Professional Development Center also serves an advisor to the Learn and Serve America National Service-Learning Clearinghouse Program for Tribes/US Territories. Visit www.eaglerockschool.org to learn more.
Dan Condon is Associate Director of the Professional Development Center at Eagle Rock School.
