Building Environmental Understanding and Stewardship: A Team Approach

Adventure Central environmental education center and the University of Dayton's Fitz Center for Leadership in Community and departments of Biology and Geology are partnering through GEO/BIO 479L Environmental Instrumentation Lab, an upper level service-learning course in environmental biology and geology. UD students will complete a watershed assessment in collaboration with urban youth at Adventure Central. UD science majors will become mentors to a group of young residents who primarily come from inner city neighborhoods and actually live in the watershed. The younger students, meanwhile, will have a unique opportunity to meet, plan and work alongside scientists, visit campus, discuss college and careers, and extend their learning to others through a service project they help design. The Learn and Serve America, Great Cities Great Service grant led by Otterbein College, Ohio Campus Compact, and University of Cincinnati is a state-wide consortium to mobilize college students and urban youth volunteers in civic service through their model initiative, youthLEAD (Learn, Engage, Act & Decide). Twelve campuses are currently incorporating youthLEAD into one or more service-learning courses on their campuses. Participants serve side-by-side with urban youth as capacity builders, solving community problems, serving those living in poverty, and strengthening urban wellness.