Introduction

On Friday, October 28, youth teams will be going out into the Yakima Community to have a great time participating in a variety of service learning projects. 

The youth teams will be participating in service learning projects, an approach that teaches and integrates service to the community with a hands-on approach. Students address community needs while learning civic responsibility and developing meaningful leadership and workplace skills. Service learning can encourage youth to become active participants in their own communities. Plus, it’s a great way for teams to interact and build networks with other Washington youth.

Youth and Team Adult Advisors are advised to wear comfortable clothing and outdoor, closed-toe shoes for all project sites. Wear clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty, as you could be working outside and/or with materials that will stain your clothes!

Youth teams will sign up for service projects on-site as part of registration. Please come prepared with your first and second choice as projects will fill up quickly.  The sign-up will take place on a first come, first serve basis.  Thank you.

List of Service Learning Project Sites

Barge-Lincoln Elementary

This site has a little bit of everything. You’ll love participating at this site; there will be painting, planting, and maybe even recess with the elementary students. This is your opportunity to show off your artistic or landscaping skills. Whatever you choose to do at the site, it promises to be a fun and rewarding experience!

Northwest Harvest Food Bank

Is your team organized and motivated? If so, this may be the spot for your team! Get a sneak peak at what it takes to run a food bank, and see how much you are helping local families receive nutritious food. Monthly deliveries are made to the Northwest Harvest Food Bank warehouse with products from all over Washington. Teams that choose this site will help serve the local and regional customers by cataloging all the products the food bank has received.

Sunrise Outreach Center
The Sunrise Outreach Center is a Christian humanitarian non-profit organization committed to applying best- practice solutions for hunger, homelessness and apathy through community mobilization, neighborhood involvement and networked information exchange. The Center serves roughly 1200 weekly food allotments per month and the Clothing Bank is one of the largest in town. At this service site, students will have the opportunity to learn and help organize the Pantry and Clothing Bank that provide services and donations to many people at no cost.

Yakima Parks and Recreation Department

Come be a part of the revitalizing a park project! Not only will you be touring a beautiful Yakima park, you will have the opportunity to improve the park for all the young children that play there each day.

Yakima Police Athletic League (YPAL)

Youth teams will have the opportunity to learn about the YPAL organization, which provides a workable alternative to gangs and drugs and helps young people become better citizens and students through positive, worthwhile activities. Youth involved with YPAL learn to trust and respect police through participation in programs that teach valuable life skills such as leadership, teamwork and responsibility. Teams that choose this location as a service site will understand YPAL services better, help them get organized and freshen their look.

Yakima YWCA

The YWCA is about empowering women and girls. Building self-sufficient women, eliminating family violence, embracing diversity and maximizing partnerships. The YMCA is a busy and giving agency that provide many services to the community. The Yakima YMCA has recently gone through some remodeling and youth teams participating at this site will help with projects that give this location an enhanced look and feel! 

 

Please contact Ivon Urquilla at ivon.urquilla@dshs.wa.gov

if your organization would like to be a service learning project site.