Earth Service Corps, a program of the YMCA, is a service-learning program for teens ready to make a difference in their communities in the after-school setting. Grounded on the building blocks of leadership development, environmental education and action, and cross-cultural awareness, this program works in diverse communities. It allows teens to use their talents, develop new skills and learn more about themselves and their surroundings. Importantly, young people in Earth Service Corps are recognized as valuable resources who work hand-in-hand with others to address important issues. An external evaluation has found effectiveness in its ability to increase the commitment of future volunteerism. Today, Earth Service Corps is operating in 111 YMCAs in 30 states and is a fast growing national program. In its ten year history, the program has served 20,000 young people in over 1,000,000 hours of after-school service.

Earth Service Corps focuses on grades 6-12.

Since students have a strong natural interest in the outdoors, performing voluntary service and community action projects in their area, the Earth Service Corps is an effective way to create broader environmental knowledge, leadership and a commitment to volunteerism.

• Improves science learning;
• Expands the classroom beyond the walls of the school;
• Gives youth hands-on real world experiences that reinforce the lessons learned during the school day;
• Enhances curriculum through community-based activities;
• Excites students with experiential and self-directed learning;
• Strengthens the connection between schools and the local community through an established YMCA network that offers leadership development, outdoor activities and trips;
• Provides new resources and training in service-learning and environmental education.

The curriculum and activities for the Earth Service Corps are contained in a flexible and adaptable National Handbook. The Four Program Components of the YMCA Earth Service Corps and the National Handbook are: Leadership Development, Environmental Education, Action Projects, and Cross-Cultural Awareness. The environmental education component includes a list of hands-on learning activities ranging from establishing a school garden to growing composting worms to weather monitoring. It also contains a list of community resources and a model for creating a symposia on a subject related to environmental education.

Teachers have described the Earth Service Corps as an "enjoyable way" to build stronger, healthier communities, a "fun and unique way" to teach environmental education. They also see it as a creative way for youth-led service projects that produce visible outcomes like urban gardens converted from vacant lots.

The first step in creating an Earth Service Corps club at your school or in your after-school program is to contact the National Resource Center for training. The day-long training session includes a copy of the program curriculum and other materials to help start and maintain your program. Once you've attended the training, you will become a part of a national network of sites and a certified Earth Service Corps Club After School program. Contact the National Resource Center at 909 Fourth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104 or by calling (800) 733-YESC or go to http://www.yesc.org.