Summer 2020 Newsletter
Program Highlights
New At-Home Service-Learning Project Guide!
Check out the Service in Schools online resource page, featuring remote resources for carrying out service-learning at home. Access Service in Schools’ new project guide on Animal Welfare. Learn about how you can help support shelters and animals without homes in your area. Also access other project guides about how to reduce food waste and help fight hunger in your community.
 
Enjoying our project guides? Keep an eye out for our next guide about elder care, and reply to this email and let us know what topic you would like to see us cover next.
Virtual Field Trips
Take a field trip without leaving home! From animals to aerospace, NYC’s water supply to national parks, honeybees to hip-hop, presidential campaign ads to the Pacific garbage patch, explore the streets of New York and beyond. Check out the selection for your students’ grade band.
Youth Service Spotlight
Girl Scouts of Greater New York
Over the last few months, students in New York City have stepped up to help their communities! From organizing food drives, to writing letters to those living in isolation, to offering free tutoring for children of essential workers, youth have been figuring out inventive ways to support those around them. Our standard School Spotlight feature is taking a break this summer, but if you want to continue hearing inspiring stories of youth service, check out the Girl Scouts of Greater New York. They are sharing stories of Girl Scouts doing great things for their communities, such as Ambassador Girl Scout Lavoneia, who launched a virtual music program for Pre-K students as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award. You can find more stories like these on their news page and follow them on their social media channels. If you want to make change in your community like Lavoneia, check out girlscoutsnyc.org/virtual.
Virtual Opportunities and Resources for Youth

Points of Light Youth Summit

Points of Light inspires, equips and mobilizes individuals and organizations to take action to impact the world. Youth between the ages of 13-18 are invited to their 2020 Youth Summit. The Youth Summit is an opportunity for youth to learn, discuss, and develop ideas to address issues facing our world, while equipping them with tools and resources to design projects and plans of action that will positively impact their communities. In addition, the 2020 Youth Summit is a great opportunity for youth and family volunteers to connect with peers and other leaders in the civic engagement and volunteer space. Some of this year’s topics will include the world’s current social climate, the upcoming school year, and mental health and wellness. This year’s summit will be held virtually on August 19, 2020 at 4:00pm EDT. Register today to be a part of this can’t-miss event!
Glamour Gals

Glamour Gals works to inspire and organize teen volunteers to provide ongoing companionship and complimentary beauty makeovers to women living in senior homes. However, in an effort to combat COVID-19, senior homes across the country are limiting visitations, leaving residents increasingly isolated. GlamourGals is facilitating a safe and helpful way for volunteers to continue to connect with seniors. Join their #MyDearFriend campaign by writing a kind note to a nursing home recipient and addressing the letter to “My Dear Friend.” Then, take a photo and post it on social media with the hashtags #MyDearFriend and #GGMovement, and be sure to tag @glamourgals! Fill out this Google Form to upload all of your letters for submission.
The Door

The Door empowers young people to reach their potential by providing comprehensive youth development services in a diverse and caring environment. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Door’s physical spaces are mostly closed, but they are providing virtual youth services. For a daily schedule of virtual arts, recreation, and support groups, follow Door_NYC on Instagram.
 Educational Resources for Students, Educators, and Families
NYC Emergency Management (NYCEM)

NYC Emergency Management (NYCEM) helps New Yorkers before, during, and after emergencies through preparedness, education, and response. NYCEM and the Department of Education have created a fun-filled, interactive guide for elementary school students, as well as a guide for middle school students called Choose Your Own Path to Preparedness. NYCEM also teamed up with Marvel to create a comic book featuring NYC's emergency preparedness superhero, Ready Girl, and has creative activities, lessons, and guides for teachers and parents to help prepare young people for emergencies.
Contact the Service in Schools Team
Does your school have a great service project to share? If so, the Service in Schools team wants to know!

Invite the Service in Schools team to visit your service project. We want to see your students and school community in action. Email the Service in Schools team at ServiceinSchools@schools.nyc.gov with two weeks’ notice, and we’ll schedule a visit to your school to learn about your project and see the impact you’re making on the community. 
Follow @ServicenSchools on Twitter and @ServiceinSchools on Instagram to receive program updates, upcoming service opportunities, resources, and more. We encourage students who use social media and are interested in service opportunities to follow us.
Mission: Service in Schools strives to expand the number of NYC students engaged in transformative community service and service-learning experiences that enable them to use their voice, skills, and critical thinking to strengthen communities.