Maryland Student Service Alliance

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Maryland: The Big Green Service Machine

Maryland's 11th Annual Service-Learning Conference

Morning Workshops

A Different Kind of Workshop

How can youth effectively have their voices heard in their communities? The Mentoring Youth Leadership Connection will engage their audience on the development and implementation of successful workshops or presentations for both youth and adult audiences. They will demonstrate ways to keep audiences actively involved, while providing factual information on youth issues. MYLC will present strategies and techniques for reaching both youth and adults. Join us to learn the keys to successful workshop planning! Targeted to High School Students, Middle and High School Educators, and Advisors with all levels of service-learning experience.

Dance and Serve

Do you like to dance or "rock steady?" Come to this workshop to learn how to teach your talent to young children in your community. The Magruder High School Liberty Belle Pom Squad will share their plans for working with children in after-school programs. You will have a chance to perform, make a craft project, and take plans and ideas home to start your own project! Targeted to Middle and High School Students with beginner to intermediate service-learning experience.

Empty Bowls

The only thing missing is the soup! Are you looking for a project that brings awareness of hunger and poverty to those who can make a difference? Join the Queen Anne's County High School Youth Rise as they share their successful "Empty Bowls Dinner" project with you. There is something for everybody. Publicity, kitchen crews, decorators, and - most of all - bowl makers! We supply the clay. You bring the interest and your hands! Targeted to Middle and High School Students, Middle and High School Educators, and Advisors with intermediate to advanced service-learning experience.

Establishing Community Partnerships

As a community leader do you often wonder what more you could do for your community? As a student or teacher do you often need help when trying to help your community? This workshop will help all of us learn how to develop community partnerships as we help each other improve our communities. Targeted to Middle and High School Students, Middle and High School Educators, and Community Organizations with beginner to intermediate service-learning experience.

History Day as a Service-Learning Project

Are you looking for a comprehensive service-learning project that has 100% buy in? Consider having your own local History Day competition! History Day provides students with the opportunity to "make a difference" in their community. Students research their topic and select their own presentation medium. This is a high interest, fun way to involve lots of students in "preserving the past for the future." Targeted to Middle and High School Students and Educators with intermediate service-learning experience.

Service-Learning 101: What You May Not Know

To know what service-learning is all about is to understand there are no limits to the possibilities of getting involved in your community. There are those hearing for the first time that service-learning is a must for graduation in our state. Come find out why and how Maryland is leading the country in "teaching young people" to get involved and make a difference. Targeted to Middle and High School Students, Middle and High School Educators, and Community Organizations with all levels of service-learning experience.

Service-Learning as a Strategy for Student Achievement in Reading, Writing, and Math

Are you looking for an exciting way to prepare your students for the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program? This workshop is for you! Learn how student service-learning and Maryland's Seven Best Practices directly correlate to the state curricular standards. Then go back to your school and share a great new strategy to increase student achievement! Targeted to (ADULTS ONLY) Middle and Elementary School Educators with all levels of service-learning experience.

Smart Growth as a Source of SSL

The Smart Growth program provides a wealth of opportunities for service-learning that address both Social Studies and Environmental Science outcomes by involving students in environmental and governmental policy issues. In this session you will learn about issues-based instruction and Smart Growth basics, participate in activities from the new Teachers' Resource Guide, and hear about model SSL projects that have evolved from SG issues. Targeted to (ADULTS ONLY) High School Educators, Environmental Science and Government Teachers with all levels of service-learning experience.

The Spirit Project

Come experience the excitement of "The Spirit Project!" Join students and staff from the Gateway School (the Carroll County Alternative School and a National Service-Learning Leader School) and let your creative juices flow. You'll make a wire pin similar to those created by Gateway students during a service-learning project that forged a strong community partnership with the Carroll County Arts Council. Come share the spirit! Targeted to Middle and High School Students, Middle and High School Educators, and Community Organizations with beginner to intermediate service-learning experience.

The Wetland

John Hanson Middle School was able to carry out Charles County's pilot student service program in Science through a grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust. Attend this workshop to find out how you can implement a wetland project like this on your school grounds, how to integrate it in the curriculum, resources available in the community, and lesson ideas. See sample student work and many pictures. Targeted to (ADULTS ONLY) Middle and High School Educators, Community Organizations, and Advisors with intermediate to advanced service-learning experience.

True Colors

Have you ever wondered exactly how you fit into an organization? Are you fun loving or the person who always takes notes? Are you the thinker or the one who puts it into action? Interested in finding out more? Join South River High School students to discover your hidden personality and learn how to embrace a diverse range of personality types. Targeted to Middle and High School Students, Middle and High School Educators, and Community Organizations with all levels of service-learning experience.

Yellow Perch Hatch, Raise, and Release Project

The Yellow Perch Hatch, Raise, and Release Project is a hands-on, service-learning project for students of all ages. Learn how to get funding for a fun and intensive restoration project. Teachers and students will aid in the set-up of the tank and learn how to care for the yellow perch in their classrooms. Participants will be provided with resource materials. Targeted to Middle and High School Students and Educators with intermediate service-learning experience.

Youth Planting the Seeds of Service

This interactive workshop will equip both students and adults with knowledge of Maryland's Seven Best Practices of Service-Learning. Participants will plant flowers and paint pots while learning the importance of using the Seven Best Practices in any service-learning project. The process of the service project will demonstrate the actual application of each practice in the course of completing the project. We will also provide a model of a student-led, student-run service-learning advisory board. Targeted to Middle and High School Students and Educators with beginner service-learning experience.

Afternoon Workshops

A Different Kind of Workshop

Create a Bay Mural

Help save the Bay - paint a mural! In this fun service-learning project, you will use your creative talents to design and paint part of a large mural spotlighting solid waste issues in the Bay. The completed mural becomes an educational tool the "teachers" through its images. Targeted to Middle and High School Students and Educators with intermediate service-learning experience.

Effective Strategies for Creating Change: It's No Jedi Mind Trick

Learn the ways of the force and what it can teach you about creating positive changes in your community! In this training, you will discover ancient Jedi wisdom to harness your creative energy, study Yoda's strategies for creating meaningful service-learning projects, and hear Jedi knights speak about their experiences in leadership. Targeted to High School Students with beginner service-learning experience.

Feeling the Blues - A Project for Bluebird Habitat Restoration

Are you feeling blue? Blue for bluebirds, that is. Come to this energetic and exciting workshop to learn how to facilitate a bluebird habitat restoration service project. Learn how this project targets all of Maryland's Seven Best Practices and learn strategies for linking other environmental projects to the MSDE's Core Learning Outcomes. Finally, gain meaningful resources to execute this and other exciting projects. Targeted to Middle and High School Students, Middle and High School Educators, and Community Organizations with all levels of service-learning experience.

Go for the $Green$: Chesapeake Bay Trust Grant Writing for Service-Learning Projects

Join us to learn about bay friendly project ideas and CBT funding for service-learning projects at your school. Discover how Gaithersburg Middle School sixth graders wrote and received a CBT grant for a native plant garden and walk thought the CBT grant application. Targeted to (ADULTS ONLY) Middle and High School Educators and Community Organizations with all levels of service-learning experience.

Help Increase the Peace Program

HIPP is a 15-hour violence prevention program that combines serious, focused reflection with energetic, fun activities, creating a balance that engages people. Workshop participants have an opportunity to participate in an abbreviated version of HIPP, in order to get a flavor for some of the activities and principles of the program. Targeted to Middle and High School Students with beginner service-learning experience.

Let's Link: A Look at Service-Learning and Career Connections Partnerships

Explore the natural link and benefits of collaborating and developing partnerships between service-learning and career connection initiatives. Participants will engage in discussion, preview a PowerPoint presentation, and develop next step strategies for your educational system. Targeted to (ADULTS ONLY) High School Educators, Community Organizations, Administrators, and Guidance Counselors with intermediate service-learning experience. Movin' On Up: Climbing the

Participation Ladder to Improve Student Service Learning

This interactive workshop encourages adult and student participants to consider ways of enhancing the educational and personal value of service-learning projects. We will analyze participants' past projects, the Participation Ladder, and the stages of project planning, implementation, and evaluation for additional opportunities where students' participation in service-learning can be expanded. Targeted to Middle and High School Students, Middle and High School Educators, and Community Organizations with intermediate to advanced service-learning experience.

Preserving A Local Heritage

Perryville Middle School's 8th grade service-learning project preserves the past for the future by engaging students, both elementary and intermediate, through the enjoyment of the writing and presentation of a children's book about local history. Join us and find out how you can replicate this exciting project. Targeted to Middle and High School Students and Educators with beginner to intermediate service-learning experience.

Projects that Reflect the Times and Needs of Our Community

This interactive workshop focuses on community needs and timely global issues. Participants will discuss and develop service-learning projects to address such crises as the events of September 11th and other national disasters, rising crime rates, political unrest, hunger, and homelessness. Participants will propose strategies to teach students how to become active citizens of a "nation-at-risk" without leaving their communities. This is an outstanding opportunity for teachers to raise the level of consciousness of our nations most valuable asset - it's youth. Targeted to High School Students, Middle and High School Educators, Community Organizations, and Advisors with intermediate service-learning experience.

Service-Learning Advisory Boards - Schools and Communities Working Together

This workshop examines the steps and procedures involved in developing and maintaining a functioning - and flourishing - service-learning advisory board. Teachers, students, administrators, and representatives from government agencies and community organizations form a nucleus for a collaborative partnership that promotes quality service-learning programs in Prince George's County. Join us and find out how to start your own advisory board! Targeted to High School Students, Middle and High School Educators, and Community Organizations with intermediate to advanced service-learning experience.

The Spirit Project

Youth Planting the Seeds of Service

Maryland Student Service Alliance
Maryland State Department of Education
200 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201