Service Learning through Learn and Serve America

Service learning is a wonderful combination of learning while you serve. You can do it all by yourself, of course, or join an organized group dedicated to a specific cause. The number of local and national groups is growing, thanks in part to Barack and Michelle Obama's attention to service learning.

On April 21, 2009, President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, expanding our national service programs. The bill expands national service programs such as AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America. All are programs in which volunteers serve our country, and in many cases learn at the same time.

In Learn and Serve America, for example, volunteers might grow a community garden, and in the process learn about plant biology, soil conservation, insects, nutrition, and weather.

From the Learn and Serve America website: Students not only learn about democracy and citizenship, they become actively contributing citizens and community members through the service they perform.

While many service learning programs are designed for school-age children, service learning is clearly a lifelong learning philosophy.

Learn and Serve America has a second website dedicated to helping people find service learning opportunities. It's called the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse. Take a look around the site, find a service learning project in your own community, or start one!, and get busy serving and learning.