Performing environmental stewardship at an historic ranch

Performing environmental stewardship at an historic ranch

During the summer of 2002, teens from all over the country traveled to the 87,000 acre Chico Basin Ranch in Colorado Springs, Colorado, serving as ranch hands to accomplish much-needed manual labor for the working cattle ranch, which is owned by the State of Colorado for education, recreation, and conservation. The teens learned about the environment, gained service-learning credits, and developed lasting friendships as a result of their community service. Read more.

Linking a wildlife protection and management course to state conservation efforts

Linking a wildlife protection and management course to state conservation efforts

Conservation efforts in the state of Texas are increasingly being emphasized. For students enrolled in service-learning courses at Blinn College, serving at deer data collection check stations teaches them the value of conservation, teamwork, and professionalism, and is a boon to Texas Parks and Wildlife personnel. Dr. Loraine Philips, of Texas A&M University submitted this effective practice in December 2005. Read more.

Preserving and enhancing trails with a local community-based organization

Preserving and enhancing trails with a local community-based organization

Multiple-use trails are a viable solution to the problem of increased demand for recreational access to a limited amount of public land in Northern California. In Santa Cruz, California, volunteers with Trailworkers.com help support their county's trail system and build a sense of community among groups who use the trails. Trailworkers.com encourages volunteers to sign up beforehand on their website, and information about monthly workdays is posted in advance. Read more.

Using California State Parks as a service-learning resource

Using California State Parks as a service-learning resource

California State Parks offers educators a unique opportunity to establish service-learning projects. For example, the Dunes Restoration Project, a partnership between the California State Park Service and all sixth grade students at Carpenteria Middle School, helps the State Park Service restore the local dunes at Carpinteria Beach. Educational consultant Michael Stark submitted this effective practice in August, 2003, as part of a project for CalServe. Read more.

Restoring valley oak riparian forests with a service-learning project

Restoring valley oak riparian forests with a service-learning project

Through a partnership with the Cosumnes River Preserve, students in the Galt Joint Union Elementary School District are helping to restore valley oak riparian forests. The Cosumnes River Project is a broad based effort to restore and safeguard the integrity of the Cosumnes River and its surrounding landscape. The Nature Conservancy and its partners established the Cosumnes River Preserve in 1987. Educational consultant Michael Stark submitted this effective practice in August, 2003 as part of a project for CalServe. Read more.

Coordinating senior volunteers to offer a watershed learning event for elementary students

Coordinating senior volunteers to offer a watershed learning event for elementary students

For Earth Day 2001, RSVP of the Capital Region of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, partnered with several governmental and non-profit agencies to hold a "Water Snapshot" at a nature center to correspond with other environmental activities across the state. Learning stations were set up to illustrate the link between watersheds and the activities within them to water quality. There were seven stations where a total of 80 students learned about macroinvertebrates, water flow, stream bank erosion, habitat assessment, various water testing techniques, and created a field sketchbook. Carol Orman, RSVP of the Capital Region, submitted this effective practice in April 2002. Read more.

Teaching stream restoration to alternative middle school students

Teaching stream restoration to alternative middle school students

Students at an alternative middle school program in northwest Washington helped restore a natural creek environment while gaining skills in a variety of disciplines including physical, biological, and social sciences, math and economics, and event planning. Studies occurred both in and outside of traditional classroom settings. This paper, written by AmeriCorps*USA member Emily Notch, was a Jury's Choice Award winner at the 2001 Northwest National Service Symposium hosted by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. Read more.