Academic learning that does not have an authentic context can be sterile and forgettable.  Service learning provides an authentic context where students can develop higher order thinking skills around essential standards as students wrestle with real problems.  These experiences anchor learning in unforgettable experiences--and it is these experiences that will help students remember skills and knowledge long after the work of the project is over.  These are the experiences that are character building and future shaping for our students--and these are the experiences that have the best potential to transform our world in positive ways.

Service Learning includes these three critical elements:
•    Academic integrity - the project is an integral part of the curriculum
•    Students Ownership - students are involved in project selection, planning, and implementation; and
•    Apprentice Citizenship - students practice real problems with real community partners in collaboration with their classroom teacher.