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NEW ONLINE COURSE:
Making the Connection: SaYES to Intergenerational Service-Learning
Find tools and resources to forge new intergenerational service-learning partnerships. SaYES-Seniors and Youth Engaged in Service-an initiative of Learn and Serve America and Senior Corps, was created to help connect Senior Corps' RSVP volunteers, particularly age 55+ Baby Boomers, to support K-12 service-learning activities.
Three modules lead learners through: the process of creating partnerships around service-learning, strategies for schools to engage older adult volunteers in service-learning, and strategies for volunteer organizations to recruit and retain age 55+ adult volunteers. Additional resources, downloadable forms, templates, and marketing tools enable course users to move quickly from learning into practice.
Take advantage of this FREE online course by visiting the Online Learning Center at my.nationalservice.gov today!
Key course content and tools are also available for download. (PDF)
You can also view these videos for more information on SaYES.
SaYES is an initiative of Learn and Serve America and Senior Corps. This course is sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service and was created cooperatively by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, a training and technical assistance provider for the SaYES Initiative, and ETR Associates. The course is maintained and supported by the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse, with additional resources and support provided by The Resource Center, http://www.nationalserviceresources.org/.
About the Project
SaYES is a joint initiative of Learn and Serve America and Senior Corps, programs of the Corporation for National and Community Service, and was created to connect Senior Corps' RSVP volunteers in supporting K-12 service activities and service-learning programs.
Volunteers age 55+ are valuable resources for service-learning programs. They can help facilitate student reflection, coordinate the logistics of service projects, assist with program administrative duties, establish and maintain community/school relations, and assist teachers with integration of service-learning into the curriculum and other school programs.
Goals
The goals of SaYES are to:
- Provide support to local service-learning and youth service programs by increasing the number of volunteers age 55+ serving in schools and community-based organizations to assist with carrying out quality service-learning and youth service activities.
- Strengthen the existing support network for service-learning and youth service by establishing a system for the on-going recruitment and placement of senior volunteers to assist these activities.
- Identify and establish partnerships with networks and organizations to publicize service and service-learning volunteer opportunities for seniors willing to serve.
- Compile and disseminate best practices for recruiting and preparing senior volunteers to assist in carrying out service-learning and youth service activities.
Phase One
During the first phase, the State Education Agency K-12 Service-Learning Network (SEANet) worked on increasing the numbers of volunteers age 55+ in service-learning and youth activities (Goal 1), establishing a volunteer recruitment system (Goal 2), and initiating partnerships to match senior volunteers with local service-learning and youth service programs (Goal 3).
Phase Two
During the second, and current phase, the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL) is working to compile and disseminate best practices for recruiting and preparing volunteers age 55+ to assist in carrying out service-learning and youth service activities (Goal 4). NWREL will accomplish this in two ways by:
- Developing print and online training materials, including templates and online recruitment materials.
- Building local capacity for new and successful service-learning/older adult volunteer program collaborations through outreach and remote technical assistance provided by phone, e-mail, and a series of Web-based seminars.
The State Education Agency K-12 Service-Learning Network (SEANet) is a partner with NWREL in Phase Two.
During Phase Two, the work of Phase One will also be expanded to target those projects that can provide relief to and rebuilding of areas affected by hurricanes and other disasters.
Resources
Collaborating with Schools: A Guide for Community-Based Organizations, by Karen Dischler and Bonnie Schmidt (2005). Wisconsin Intergenerational Network. (PDF)
Intergenerational Service-Learning: Useful Resources (NSLC Bibliography)
SaYES Outcomes and Accomplishments (SaYES)
Senior Corps/Learn and Serve America Co-location sites by Zip Code, Learn and Serve America (PDF)
Effective Practices
- Boosting first-grade mathematics curriculum with a partnership between an RSVP and service-learning program
- Brokering collaborations to include seniors in service-learning
- Building a community-wide service ethic through intergenerational service-learning
- Finding and keeping baby boomer volunteers through school partnerships
- Connecting baby boomer volunteers with K-12 service-learning schools
- Utilizing baby boomer volunteers as advisors to service-learning projects
Corporation for National and Community Service
Bradford H. Lewis
Jan Newsome
Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory
Nicky Martin
Jean Spraker
Kirk deFord
ETR Associates, National Service-Learning Clearinghouse
Liberty Smith
State Education Agency K-12 Service-Learning Network
Anita Barrett
