Growing Green Hands

Learning Through Character Education and Service

As the world grows more dependent upon technologies, and as each rising generation comes on the scene facing lives that are guided more and more by non-living systems, it becomes more challenging for people to relate to one another, let alone relate to the natural world. Fortunately, Character Education and Service Learning, as they are often referred to, meet the need for basic person-to-person relating and reconnecting, and promote societal values that serve to maintain happy healthful living. Programs that have character development and service learning are often deliberate in their efforts to support the development of virtues such as: honesty, kindness, integrity, respect, leadership, responsibility, loyalty, citizenship, benevolence, generosity, and courage. Such virtues are the threads that make up the fabric of sustainable healthy living.

Data from various programs that offer basic Character Development and Service Learning report that participants (students/youth), are reported to demonstrate increases in many pro-social behaviors (e.g. caring, respect, altruism, and ability to choose between right and wrong) (Berkowitz & Bier, 2005). Reviewing 33 successful character education programs, researchers found that using service-learning concepts supported the students in multiple ways and helped students meet goals related to academic/learning development, life/career development, personal/social development, and multicultural/global citizenship (Scott & Jackson, 2005). Findings from another national study involving 24 diverse schools, recommended that schools should shift from focusing on moral character to both moral and performance character (Lickona & Davidson, 2005). Lickona and Davidson’s (2005) report identified “contributing community member and democratic citizen” as one of the strengths of character and described service-learning as an effective strategy to engage students in service to achieve this goal. Included in their summary of findings, service-learning improves school climate, increases respect between teachers and students, decreases tardiness and discipline referrals, increases academic achievement, and improves interpersonal development, and supports relating to diverse groups (2005).

Given the above research findings, it is appropriate to establish programming that will incorporate character development and service learning, which is exactly what Growing Green Hands, Inc. is all about. The Growing Green Hands team wants to strengthen families and communities with programming and education that will also include “environmental” service learning. Environmental service-learning helps people connect what they learn with how they live. In reports from a study on environmental service-learning with youth, Madigan (2000) identified the five most common components of high-quality environmental service-learning or active education programs: 1) encourages youth leadership and decision-making; 2) integrates and values the community voice; 3) fosters civic stewardship; 4) provides opportunity for cross-cultural connections; and 5) plans for the long-term sustainability of the program. Growing Green Hands intentionally incorporates all of these components and not only involves youth, but older adults and all of the community. Building strong and lasting intergenerational ties while supporting the individual, community, environment, and ultimately the planet for future generations, that’s what will create sustainability! Growing Green Hands is committed to creating positive outcomes for the youth, families, and community of Brisbane and surrounding communities. We want to engage all of the community as partners, but specifically serve youth (8-17yr) and older adults (50yr & older) with strengths-based personal skill-building, community service-learning projects, and environmental stewardship using professional standards and principles of best practices. If you know of any potential community projects in Brisbane, South San Francisco, or Daly City that we can support, please contact us to schedule a time to learn more about how our program works and share your project needs. Visit our google group at http://groups.google.com/group/growing-green-hands-public?hl=en – check out our web site www.growinggreenhands.org – or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

References

Berkowitz, M. W., & Bier, M. C. (2005). What works in character education: Research-based character education. Washington, DC: Character Education Partnership.

Lickona, T., & Davidson, M. L. (2003). School as a Caring Community Profile-II (SCCP II). Cortland, NY. Center for the 4th and 5th Rs.

Madigan, P. (2000). The Environmental Service-Learning Research Project. Washington, DC: Corporation for National Service.

Scott, K. A., & Jackson, A. P. (2005). Using service learning to achieve middle school comprehensive guidance program goals. Professional School Counseling, 9(2), 156-159.