Initiatives
NYLC’s initiatives are rooted in service-learning as an instructional method that engages young people as leaders, the community as classroom, and local and global needs as subject matter. The initiatives described below use the latest technology to involve young people, teachers, schools, and community partners in solving real-world problems. NYLC strives to engage service-learning practitioners across the globe in promoting best practices.
Generator School Network
This community of schools is committed to best practices in service-learning — and to the vision that high-quality service-learning should be a part of the school experience for every student. Grounded in research-based practices for service-learning, the Generator Schools Network fosters engaged learning characterized by academic rigor, civic engagement, character development, and a culture of collaboration with the service-learning movement and larger education community.
NYLC Youth Advisory Council
The Youth Advisory Council is a team of servant-leaders, ages 14-21, recognized for their dedication to promoting youth leadership, service-learning, youth-adult partnerships, and diversity. YAC advises NYLC on its programming and brings a valuable youth perspective to the organization’s work.
National Youth Leadership Training
High school students from across the United States gather each year for The National Youth Leadership Training, a life-changing week of adventure, self-discovery, friendship, cultural exchange, leadership-building, and service. The experience culminates in teams of young people and their adult sponsors planning service-learning projects to implement back home.
Project Ignition
Project Ignition provides opportunities for high school students, teachers, and community-program leaders to implement new, creative service-learning projects promoting teen driver safety.
WalkAbout Service-Learning Program
NYLC’s signature service-learning program, WalkAbout, integrates service-learning into summer school and year-round school programs to help young people address pressing needs in their communities.
Y-RISE: Service-Learning and HIV/AIDS Prevention
Y-RISE mobilizes young people in the fight against HIV/AIDS, combining research, training, peer education, and the arts to bridge the gap between knowledge and behavior.
Research and Leadership
NYLC brings evidence-based research to bear on high-quality service-learning practice and public policy efforts designed to strengthen service-learning and its powerful effects on academic achievement, civic engagement, and community development.
Awards
NYLC awards shine a spotlight on exemplary leaders from across the service-learning movement, youth and adults. Most awards are presented annually at The National Service-Learning Conference.
Emerging Leaders Initiative
Through the Emerging Leaders Initiative, local, state, tribal, regional, and national organizations and public-sector agencies host emerging service-learning leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to making a difference in the lives of young people, schools, and communities.
Growing to Greatness: The State of Service-Learning
Growing to Greatness is the first ongoing national study of the state of K-12 service-learning. It documents the unfolding story of service-learning in the United States and provides information to improve practice, inform public policy, and illustrate the many ways young people contribute to society.
K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice
In 2008, the service-learning field released evidence-based standards and accompanying indicators that K-12 practitioners can use to ensure high-quality service-learning practice.
Professional Development
Helping service-learning practitioners strengthen their understanding and implementation of service-learning has been a hallmark of NYLC’s efforts for the past 25 years. We offer a broad range of professional development activities for everyone involved in service-learning, whether a newcomer to the idea or a seasoned professional, a young person embarking on a project, classroom teacher, or staff at a community agency working with young people.
Certificate of Excellent Practice
Be part of the first service-learning certification initiative, designed to promote a consistent level of high-quality practice. Through this online study program, advanced practitioners can earn a Certificate of Excellent Practice in K-12 Service-Learning and two graduate credits.
National Service-Learning Conference
The National Service Learning-Conference is the largest gathering of youth and practitioners from the service-learning movement, convening approximately 3,000 young people and adult service-learning practitioners from across the country and around the globe. Three days of workshops, plenary presentations, featured forums, affinity meetings, exhibits, service projects, and more offer attendees opportunities to refresh and renew their service-learning practice or be introduced to the essentials.
National Urban Service-Learning Institute
An annual two-day event, the National Urban Service-Learning Institute explores the challenges and promises of service-learning in urban contexts. Practitioners and young people learn from experts and each other about the latest research, promising programs, and best practices for reaching young people in urban areas.
Service-Learning World Forum
Convened annually before The National Service-Learning Conference, the Service-Learning World Forum brings service-learning practitioners from around the world together to share information and compare effective strategies cross-culturally.