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In cities and counties across the state, Hands On Georgia
affiliates helped hundreds of students from middle school to high school make
very good use of their summer vacation by offering service learning camps. The
camps allowed the affiliates to instill a true sense of the need for community
service to a younger audience.
At Hands On Atlanta middle school students spend a week learning about several
impact areas, including arts and enrichment, youth development, animal services,
the environment, hunger and homelessness and issues concerning senior citizens.
The camp's intent is to deepen the students' understanding of social issues;
allow them to participate in hands-on community service projects; further
develop personal and leadership skills and explore ways to continue their own
interests in civic engagement.
There are four sessions, two in June and two in July. For more information on
the Summer Service Camp, log on to
HandsOnAtlanta.org
and click on 2007 Summer Service Camp. Spaces are still available for the July
dates.
In Thomas County, more than 50 high school students participated in a week long
service learning camp, Hands On Thomas County's (HOTC) "Project IMPACT." During
the week of June 25 - 29, the goal of the camp was to instill a life-long love
of volunteerism in the young people who attend. In addition, Project IMPACT
helped promote learning through active participation in service, providing a
time for reflection and discussions about the service so the students can gain
awareness of the current needs in their community and how they can make a
difference.
 In
Dalton, the focus was a little different, but the net effect was the same. Using
a grant received from the Georgia Council for the Arts, the Hands On Georgia
Affiliate in Northwest Georgia hosted a series of workshops called "Arts from
the Heart." During the month of June, as many as 40 local high school students
and area artists conducted workshops for 100 underserved elementary school
children. Workshop topics included writing a positive rap song; making
"community helper" puppets;
team building exercises with a former UGA cheerleader; painting tiles for a
mosaic that honored what the children love about the community); tie-dyeing
shirts, and ballet for building bodies. All of the activities, both fine and
performing arts were centered on the theme of volunteerism and building the
community.
Hands On Macon hosted its fifth annual service learning session for two weeks in
June. Twenty-four middle school students in Macon and Bibb County received
instruction on Service Learning Impacting Citizenship. The camp was developed as
a result of a Learn and Serve America grant the affiliate received two years
ago. Learn and Serve America is a program of the Corporation for National and
Community Service. The program provides direct and indirect support to K-12
schools, community groups and higher education institutions to facilitate
service-learning projects. As many as 30 high school students from Monroe County
also participated in a similar program.
In partnership with 21st Century Leaders (21CL), a program of the Georgia
Business Forum, Hands On Ogeechee will coordinate a Servant-Leadership Institute
at Georgia Southern University July 8-13. Approximately 80 students from across
the state will come together in Statesboro to learn more about managing service
activities while gaining invaluable leadership experiences. The purpose of 21st
Century Leaders is to expand the number, diversity and skills of Georgia's
future leaders. Since 1991, more than 3000 students have participated in 21st
Century Leader Summer Leadership Institutes on a many college campuses. For more
information visit
21stcenturyleaders.org.
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