| While
designing the service learning project, your group should
plan ways to celebrate the service and recognize the
volunteers and any others who helped along the way,
including community members, elected officials, parents,
donors, and the beneficiaries themselves. It’s
a great idea to invite the beneficiaries to the celebration,
so they can also have a sense of closure and an opportunity
to thank the volunteers for their service. Although
celebration should be fun and exciting, it can also
reinforce the other stages of the project by drawing
attention to community needs, highlighting learning
objectives, and showcasing reflection exercises.
Reporting
the service learning project is another way to celebrate
the accomplishment. Whether the group submits a report
to the state 4-H office, writes an article for the local
paper, or creates a display for the county fair, the
young people will be recognized and celebrated by the
community for their contributions.
Celebration,
recognition, and reporting should not be the end of
your service experience. Use this time together to start
planning the next project. Where can you go from here?
The answer: anywhere you want! |
For
National 4-H Week, Sevier County 4-H’ers were “Hooked
on Helping Hunger.” With a slogan of “One
Can, Can Make a Difference,” all 4-H’ers were
encouraged to donate one can of tuna or $.50 for the Sevier
County Food Ministry. The Honor Club and All Stars visited
the Food Ministry and produced a short video promoting
the project, which was shown in classrooms and over Channel
One at the schools. The Service Chairmen from 101 4-H
clubs brought their clubs’ donations to the countywide
officers workshop for “The Great Tuna Weigh-in.”
The officers celebrated the project that night with the
director of the Food Ministry. At each school, the club
that collected the most donations for the project celebrated
with a pizza party and reflection activities. The countywide
project was reported through two articles in the local
newspaper and on the 4-H Seeds of Service and Sevier County
Extension Web sites.
