Service Learning and Action Projects

The Future of Fundraising
Ceres: Investors and Environmentalists for Sustainable Prosperity

EcoPhones pays for used cell phone and ink cartridges regardless of whether they work. Students can donate the money they make from a cell phone or ink cartridge drive to an organization of their choice.

International Rescue Committee 

This website is a good place to learn about local refugee and IDP issues and to research and contact resettlement organizations in your community.

Environmental Ethics: Examining Your Connection to the Environment and Your Community
The Video Project

This 62-minute documentary profiles a diverse group of courageous Goldman Environmental Prize winners who have made it their duty to protect their local environments. Download the accompanying study guide at the Environmental Ethics website.

Visions of Utopia: Experiments in Sustainable Culture
Geoph Kozeny  

This 94-minute documentary looks at different ways that people are incorporating their communities into their lives and work. In the film, community members tell their stories in their own words.

Do Something!

This organization seeks to inspire, support and celebrate a generation of doers: people who see the need to do something, believe in their ability to get it done, and then take action.

The Complete Guide to Service Learning
Cathryn Berger Kaye 

This 240-page book provides activities, ideas, and resources to encourage service learning in K-12 and higher education. Chapters cover a variety of common service-learning themes including animals, the environment, hunger and homelessness, community safety, literacy, and social justice.

The Kid's Guide to Social Action
Barbara A. Lewis 
 
This 211-page book guides young people in how they can make a difference in their world, including step-by-step directions for writing letters, doing interviews, raising funds, and getting media coverage.

The Lemming Dilemma: Living with Purpose, Leading with Vision
David Hutchens

This 86-page story is about a lemming's quest for meaning, aspiration, and value. Waking up to her own purpose and vision, Emmy the Lemming begins to defy the age-old urge to follow others off the cliff. Through her surprising choices, she inspires the other lemmings to pursue their deepest aims and visions, both individually and collectively.

Brower Youth Awards
New Leaders Initiative

Brower Youth Awards is an award honoring bold young environmental leaders. Get inspired to complete action projects in your neighborhood by watching videos about youth environmental activists. You can also submit your environmental work to be considered for the award.  

Pay it Forward
Mimi Leder

This 123-minute film is about a young boy who attempts to make the world a better place. The film is based on Catherine Ryan Hyde's book that inspired the Pay It Forward Movement. 

O Ambassadors

The O Ambassadors program connects young people in North America with people around the world to create lasting change by working toward the UN Millennium Development Goals. Participants address problems such as hunger, poverty and limited access to education.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

The EPA's community service projects allow students to apply the lessons learned in the classroom to real-life situations and experiences. This website provides ideas for community service projects and a listing of events in your local area.

Learning to Give
The LEAGUE

The LEAGUE works in schools to combine state standards-based lesson plans with community service events that teach students the value of giving and recognizes them for their efforts.This website provides over 1,200 lesson plans, many created specifically for LEAGUE events.