YMCA Youth Earth Service Corps

Variety is the spice of life--and it is not so bad in the classroom either.

14 year old Samantha has proven that different can be better when it comes down to learning. Through participation in the teen program, YMCA Earth Service Corps (YESC,) she has become enthusiastic about learning—not just outside the traditional classroom now, but inside it as well. The seven YESC members of the YMCA of Greater Boston's Black Achievers Branch work with each other and their leader to learn more about how they can make a difference in the environment. Samantha feels that this program has had a huge impact on her life and the lives of other members because it enables them to directly see the fruits of their labor. By developing and carrying out their own ideas for environmental projects, the students have a greater appreciation for the environment and also have an increased hunger to learn more. Samantha stresses that because of past projects she is more interested in her science classes and looks forward to environmental topics in the classroom. Samantha says that what she has learned from YESC is "more valuable than a grade." She has learned lessons that she can carry with her the rest of her life.

YMCA Earth Service Corps
Regional Director, Patty Hession
316 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 927-8144
www.yesc.org/newengland

• YMCA Earth Service Corps (YESC) was founded in 1989 as a local program at the Metrocenter YMCA in Seattle
• YESC became a national program in 1992 with a four year grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation
• As of July 1998, 84 YMCA branches in 17 states host the YMCA Earth Service Corps program in close to 170 clubs.
• YESC is funded by government agencies, corporations, other service clubs, individual sponsors, foundations, and in-kind support
• Members of Boston’s central branch of YESC meet twice a month for an hour and a half

Patty Hession
Regional Director
316 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 927-8144
hession@ymcaboston.org

Adam J. Goodman, Ph.D.
University of Colorado
The LEAD Institute
400 Norlin Library, Campus Box 363
Boulder, CO 80309
(303) 492-8342
adam.goodman@colorodo.edu

Over 80% of teachers surveyed felt that service-learning was likely to increase academic achievement and provide increased exposure to social justice issues. ("National Evaluation of Learn and Serve America." Center for Human Resources, Brandeis University (July 1999))

A national study of Learn and Serve America (an organization that supports service learning programs in schools and the community) programs suggests that effective service-learning programs improve academic grades, increase attendance in school, and develop personal and social responsibility. (Learn and Serve. 1201 New York Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20525 (202) 606-5000 www.learnandserve.org)

The Learn and Serve programs produced positive, statistically significant impacts on two measures- school engagement and math grades. They also produced marginally significant impacts for science grades and core grade point average. ("National Evaluation of Learn and Serve America." Center for Human Resources, Brandeis University (July 1999))

Most schools with service-learning cited strengthening relationships among students, the school, and the community as key reasons for practices service-learning. (Skinner Westat, Rebecca. "Service-Learning and Community Service in K-12 Public Schools." National Center for Education Statistics: Statistics in Brief (September 1999))

12 percent of schools with service-learning said that improving student achievement in core academic courses was one of their most important reasons for encouraging student involvement in service-learning. (Skinner Westat, Rebecca. "Service-Learning and Community Service in K-12 Public Schools." National Center for Education Statistics: Statistics in Brief (September 1999))

Over nine out of ten youth surveyed indicated that they felt YMCA Earth Service Corps had a positive impact on their values, and over eight of ten indicated that YMCA Earth Service Corps had positively impacted their social competencies and their identity. (YMCA Earth Service Corps. 909 Fourth Avenue Seattle, Washington 98104 (800) 733-YESC www.yesc.org)

Measures of the Learn and Serve program found a 10% increase in math grades, a 6.5% increase in science, and a 4% increase in core GPA. The change in math grades, for example, represents a increase from a solid C to a C+. ("National Evaluation of Learn and Serve America." Center for Human Resources, Brandeis University (July 1999))

87% of the participants in the Learn and Serve programs believed that they learned a skill that will be useful in the future, and 75% said that they learned more than in a typical class. ("National Evaluation of Learn and Serve America." Center for Human Resources, Brandeis University (July 1999))

53 percent of schools said that they encouraged student involvement in service-learning to help students become more active members of the community. (Skinner Westat, Rebecca. "Service-Learning and Community Service in K-12 Public Schools." National Center for Education Statistics: Statistics in Brief (September 1999))

Over 90% of teachers surveyed saw service-learning as a means of improving student attitudes towards school, increasing career awareness, improving student self esteem, and increasing student social development and involvement in community affairs. ("National Evaluation of Learn and Serve America." Center for Human Resources , Brandeis University (July 1999))

Lee Uy, Grace. "IU Civic Literacy Project’s Founder Honored, Program Relates Academic Work." The Courier-Journal (October 7, 1999) p.2B

Daley, Beth; Judica Vigue, Doreen; Zernike, Kate. "Legislator Aims to Make Community Service Part of Curriculums." The Boston Globe (October 13, 1999) p.B2

Alliance for Service-Learning in Education Reform. "Standards of Quality for School-Based and Community-Based Service-Learning. "National Service-Learning Clearinghouse (March 1995)

("National Evaluation of Learn and Serve America." Center for Human Resources, Brandeis University (July 1999))

(Skinner Westat, Rebecca. "Service-Learning and Community Service in K-12 Public Schools." National Center for Education Statistics: Statistics in Brief (September 1999))

(Learn and Serve. 1201 New York Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20525 (202) 606-5000 www.learnandserve.org)

(YMCA Earth Service Corps. 909 Fourth Avenue Seattle, Washington 98104 (800) 733-YESC www.yesc.org)

Compiled by Ebonee Athanaze