NATIONAL LEARN & SERVE CHALLENGE TOOLKIT  

Welcome to the 2009-2010 National Learn & Serve Challenge. Use this online toolkit to learn how you can respond to the national call to action to create ongoing opportunities for young people to learn and serve year-round.

Step 1. Accept the Challenge. Let us know you are ready to engage young people in service-learning in your classroom, youth group, club, school, campus, faith-based or community organization. You can enroll as an individual classroom, youth group, club, school/campus, school district, organization, or community-wide initiative. 

• Challenge Initiative Fact Sheet 
• View the Challenge Overview to understand how the Challenge works
•  Challenge Initiative Timeline
• View the video message from National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel
• Sign-up to accept the Challenge

Step 2.  Gear up for service-learning success. Access free online resources, lesson plans, planning tools and virtual professional development opportunities. Join our Facebook community to learn from and connect to others.

• Introduction to Service-Learning
• Teaching Tools and Planning Resources
• Build Your Service-Learning Partnership
• Program Models 
• Learning Opportunities: Calendar & Archives 

Step 3. Share your service-learning action plan. Tell us how young people will learn and serve in your school or community.

• Beginning November 1, 2009, click here to submit your service-learning lesson plan. Lesson plans will be shared and cash prizes will be awarded to the most innovative submissions in three categories: Elementary age youth, Middle School age youth, and High School age youth.

Step 4. Build awareness of your Challenge initiative in January. Build local awareness and support for your local Learn & Serve Challenge by telling your story to fellow community members, local media, civic leaders and public officials.

• Host a service-learning Open House
• Host a media event
• Present to your local school board and/or city council
• Secure a proclamation of support from your school district superintendent or mayor
• Promote your Challenge initiative as part of a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service event
• Invite policymakers to visit your site

Step 5. Film your issue and your solution. As mid-point check-in, participants are encouraged to create a short video, photo essay or PowerPoint presentation to tell others about the community problem or issue and the solution being implemented to address that issue.

Step 6. Showcase your service-learning accomplishments. In April and May, join Challenge participants nationwide to tell your service-learning story in your local community by hosting a Service-Learning Solution Summit at your school, campus, or organization.

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The Learn & Serve Challenge is a signature event of the National Service-Learning Partnership in collaboration with the Corporation for National and Community Service. It is made possible with support from State Farm® Companies Foundation.

The Challenge is supported by nearly 100 local, state, and national organizations committed to engaging in service-learning in our nation’s schools, college campuses, and communities. Lead Organizing Partners include:
American Association of Community Colleges, American Association of State Colleges and Universities, America's Promise Alliance, Campus Compact, DECA, Learn and Serve America’s National Service-Learning Clearinghouse, National Alliance for Faith and Justice, National Community Education Association, National Education Association, National Youth Leadership Council, National Parent Teacher Association, SEANet - the State Education Agency K-12 Service-Learning Network, Usher’s New Look Foundation, Youth Service America
 
Find the 2009 National Learn & Serve Challenge on Facebook: http://bit.ly/3PWXhk

For more information, visit www.learnandservechallenge.org or call (202) 884-8982.