Service Learning
With State Farm's support, ¡YouthWorks!, the Santa Fe Public Schools (SFPS), and the City of Santa Fe have joined together to engage our City's youth through a service learning project aimed at addressing the community need for river restoration, water conservation, and fire safety.
The SFPS Environmental Service Learning Program – The River Project focuses on the Santa Fe River, which is a tributary of the Rio Grande in northern New Mexico. It forms the central third of the Rio Grande/Santa Fe Watershed, which includes the Tesuque Creek watershed to the north and the Galisteo watershed to the south. ¡YouthWorks! was awarded funds through the State Farm Youth Advisory Board service learning grant. The two-year award further educates and connects youth to the community and restoration needs of the Santa Fe River Project.
¡ADELANTE! Program for Homeless Students, SFPS After School Programs, and ¡YouthWorks! are also implementing a service learning project based on the conservation of the Santa Fe River that is linked to the after-school programs at Gonzales, Salazar, and Ramirez-Thomas Elementary Schools.Through New Mexico Public Education Department funding, all three organizations have pledged to use their resources, staff, and abilities to reach children and youth in an innovative way that supports these students’ academic and social skills needs, while developing their civic awareness through this community service learning project. This service learning initiative provides enriching after school activities to 230 Learn and Serve America student participants who are homeless, economically disadvantaged, and/or high-risk.