Urban Stewards is a service-learning program, which provides students with an opportunity to identify and help address environmental issues in their own communities. The emphasis of this program is on youth empowerment, incorporating student voice in the classroom and helping teachers successfully use the service-learning method. The program inspires students to help their environment and community. Students make connections between the academic knowledge and skills they learn in the classroom and the real world around them. Classrooms are eligible to receive money through our mini-grant process to carry out projects which students identify and design.

Urban Stewards Goals

Develop students' awareness of local environmental issues and impacts, including their
impact on the issues and the issues' impact on them.

• Develop students’ understanding that issues in the community are multi-faceted and have
• multiple stakeholders.
• Expand students' definition of the environment to include elements of their urban settings.
• Develop students' skills in assessing, identifying and investigating local environmental issues.
• Cultivate students' awareness of their ability to initiate positive changes in their communities.
• Empower students to make a difference in local environmental issues.
• Assist teachers with facilitating environmental service-learning in their classrooms.

Elements of Service Learning

Community: Coordinate a service experience in collaboration with the school and community and
help address a neighborhood need.

Empowerment: Give students a sense of accomplishment and caring for their community by allowing
increased student voice in decision-making processes.

Academics: Integrate service experiences into the academic curriculum and provide students with
opportunities to use their newly acquired skills and knowledge in real life situations in their communities.

Reflection: Provide a structured time for students to think, talk and write about what they did and
saw during the service activity.