Region 3

Regional Service-Learning Network

Serving Alpine, Colusa, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo & Yuba Counties

Service-Learning is a teaching method that enhances academic learning and civic responsibility by integrating the core curriculum with service to the community

Vision

The vision for the Regional Service-Learning Network is that 50% of all school districts in the region will offer their students at least one Service-Learning opportunity at each grade span.

Mission

Promote students academic excellence and ethic of service through the teaching strategy of Service-Learning. The Regional Service-Learning Network provides support, training, and technical assistance to build capacity for school-based Service-Learning among schools, colleges, businesses, and community-based organizations throughout the region.

Region 3 Service-Learning Network Regional Leads

Deborah Bruns
Yolo COE

530-668-3781 / Bina Lefkovitz/ Adrian Ruiz
Youth Development Network (YDN)

916-213-9679

916- 308-7082 / John Durand
S-L Coordinator
Galt School District

916- 683-1703 / Karen Green
Placer Co. Peer Court

916-663-4556

Region 3 Service-Learning Training and Technical Assistance Providers

In addition to the Regional Leads listed above, experienced Service-Learning professionals are available for workshop presentations and consultation on program design and implementation

Christine McMorrow
Sierra Watershed Education Partnership (SWEP)

530-305-1803 / Sasha Neumann
Service Learning Consultant

530- 308-5431 / Michael Stark
Service Learning Consultant

916-435-1698

Service Learning Resources

CalServe Initiative
California Department of Education
www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/sl / Youth Service California
www.yscal.org
California STEM Service Learning Initiative
(Science, Technology, Engineering & Math)
www.calstem.org / Office of the Governor: California Volunteers
www.californiavolunteers.org
National Service Learning Clearinghouse
www.servicelearning.org

The Regional Service Learning Network is funded by the California Department of Education CalServe Initiative

Seven Elements of High Quality Service-Learning

Core Curriculum/Integrated Learning

Promotes the learning of the academic content standards.

Student Voice

Engages the leadership and participation of youth in identifying community needs and issues and implementing solutions.

High Quality Service

The service is age-appropriate, well-organized and responds to an actual community need.

Civic Responsibility

Promotes students’ responsibility to care for others and to contribute to the community.

Collaboration

The service learning project includes students, parents, community-based organization staff, administrators and teachers who all contribute to the planning and benefit from the project.

Reflection

Incorporates structured time for student reflection on academic, social and personal impact of service-learning experiences.

Evaluation

All partners involved in evaluation which seeks to measure progress toward the learning and service goals of the project.

Examples of Service-Learning Projects in Region 3

The California Department of Education CalServe Initiative provides direct funding assistance to school-community service-learning partnerships. Districts in Region 3 that have received partnership grants include: Black Oak Mine, Elk Grove Unified, Galt High School District, Rocklin Unified, Twin Rivers, Tahoe-Truckee and Wheatland Elementary.

STEM Service Learning Initiative: Region 3 is piloting a program to support service learning in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math). Project Teams are partnerships among secondary teachers and students, higher education faculty and students, community non-profits or government agencies and industry. Teams design and implement solutions to meet community needs in areas including energy, health and environment. http://www.calstem.org/

McFarland Living History Ranch: Students from Galt and Elk Grove have been involved in restoring the thirty-five acre site to create a working farm of the late 1800’s. Student docents lead visiting classes on a tour that includes participation in chores, folk dancing, and storytelling.

Marsh Madness: Wetlands Education: In partnership with the California Waterfowl Association, high school students in Woodland and Elk Grove are trained in wetland education and learn to lead standards-based activities for elementary students. The program culminates in a field trip to a local nature preserve led by the high school students.

Salmon in the Classroom: Sponsored by California Fly Fishers Unlimited and the Department of Fish & Game, students are raising salmon and steelhead trout in classrooms throughout the region and releasing them in area rivers. As a result of their increased understanding of the needs of aquatic life, students have undertaken creek cleanups and storm drain stenciling projects.

The Regional Service Learning Network is funded by the California Department of Education CalServe Initiative