Youth Community Service

Youth Community Service Developing After-School Service-Learning Curriculum

Site Moderator — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 18:07:30 -0700

Supported by a grant from the Lucile Packard Foundations for Children's Health, Youth Community Service is developing a service-learning after-school curriculum based on our East Palo Alto After-School Program for middle school students (grades 6-8). As a leader in after-school programming in EPA since 1990, YCS has integrated into the after-school experience both academic and service activities. EPA after-school students learn about important issues facing their community and then engage in service to their community. A goal of our EPA after-school program is to foster the development of youth civic leaders.The structure of the curriculum was developed through the integration of (a) YCS best practices in EPA after-school programming, (b) the Guiding Principles for Quality After-School Program Serving Preteens developed by the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health, and (c) the K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice developed by the National Youth Leadership Council and RMC Research Corporation.The curriculum is designed for after-school clubs that meet one to three times per week throughout the academic year and is organized by 10 monthly thematic units (see below). Each unit contains:• eight learning activities (many of which have academic components that are linked to the California Academic Content Standards)• two community service projects• one unit reflection activityMany unit activities also have suggestions for parent participation either through family-focused activities or parent participation in the service projects.Curriculum Monthly Themes:September: Service to Others/Celebrating CommunityOctober: Healthy LivingNovember: Acceptance of All PeopleDecember: Hunger & HomelessnessJanuary: Non-ViolenceFebruary: The ArtsMarch: Civic EngagementApril: Respect for Life & EnvironmentMay: Science & TechnologyJune: Celebrating CommunityFor a ‘sneak preview' of the content for one of the units - Acceptance of All People - click on the links below:Activity 1: Map Your Journey Activity 2: Step in Step Out: Discovering Similarities Activity 3: Respecting Others Activity 4: Dissolving Stereotypes Activity 5: Stages of Prejudice Activity 6: Identity Circles Activity 7: Cultural Competency Activity 8: Accepting and Respecting Elders Service Project 1: Senior Biographies Service Project 2: Host a Cultural Fair Unit Reflection: Appreciate the DifferencesFor more information about the YCS After-School Curriculum Project, email either Julia Williams at julia@youthcommunityservice.org, or Judy Dauberman at judy@youthcommunityservice.org

YCS Moves to New Location in Palo Alto

Site Moderator — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:57:08 -0700

As of Wednesday, June 16, YCS Palo Alto office moved from Mitchell ParkCommunity Center to our new Palo Alto location on the Greendell campus at:4120 Middlefield Rd. Room P-8Palo Alto, CA 94303Any mail sent to the old address is being forwarded to the new address.Phone and internet access are being connected, but there may be delays. Ifyou are trying to reach someone regarding Summer of Service (SOS) orFreshmen Leadership Corps, here are some interim contacts you can use:SOS Director: Dupe Thomas (dupe@youthcommunityservice.org) (650-440-0271)SOS Asst. Director: Alicia Gregory (alicia@youthcommunityservice.org)YCS Executive Director: Leif Erickson (leif@youthcommunityservice.org)YCS Youth Programs Director: Julia Williams(julia@youthcommunityservice.org) (650-330-7429)The Summer of Service and SOS Freshmen Leadership Corps program from June 21through Aug. 6 will be based at Ventura Community Center multipurpose roomat 3990 Ventura Ct. in Palo Alto.

Local Heroes Award 2010 - Youth Community Service

Reach Teach — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:41:00 -0700

On March 7, 2010, six individuals were honored by the Media Center in Palo Alto for their exemplary service to their communities. Every year the Media Center honors community members who "... devote their lives bravely and selflessly--but silently--outside the limelight..." to their communities.YCS Executive Director, Leif Erickson, was honored as a hero for his work at Youth Community Service in bridging the two communities of Palo Alto and East Alto through engaging youth in community service and service learning.The other honored Heroes were Curtis Haggins of Midpeninsula High School, Carol Saal of the Jewish Community Center, McKay Daines, a recent graduate of Gunn High School, Bob Hoover of Free at Last, and Gary Riekes of The Riekes Center in Menlo parkFor more information on the Media Center's Heroes Awards, go to: http://midpenmedia.org/watch/videosontheweb/local_heroes.html

Youth Community Service Wins San Francisco 49er Unity Award

Site Moderator — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:04:00 -0800

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 23, 2009

YCS presents a documentary on service learning and the San Francisquito Watershed

Reach Teach — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:59:00 -0700

Youth Community Service Presents:Two CreeksA 30-minute documentary on service learning and the San Francisquito WatershedProduced by Lace Productions Click here to see a larger screen version. For questions about Two Creeks, or to report difficulties in viewing Two Creeks, please contact Judy Dauberman at judy@youthcommunityservice.org