Discusses the benefits of parent participation and various ways to welcome and allow parents to participate in the Montessori experience without formal training sessions and formal lessons that generally intimidate adults and imply the superiority of the teacher. Topics discussed include parent volunteers, parent observation, collaborative…

College students (n=72) who participated in a community service laboratory showed significant increase in belief that people can make a difference, that they should be involved in community service and particularly in leadership and political influence, and in their commitment to perform volunteer service the following semester. Students became…

Examined high school students' (n=91) attitudes toward mandatory community service requirement and identified reasons that underlie students' attitudes toward service. Females were more positive toward community service requirement proposal and generally rated supporters and opposers of mandatory service program more favorably than did males.…

The Points of Light Foundation suggests numerous family volunteering activities during the December holiday season. Categorized according to opening heart and home, music and entertainment, holiday meals and treats, arts and crafts, transportation/delivery, and the environment, the activities could also be adapted for school or school-family use.…

Conducted qualitative interviews with 30 African-American women to examine meanings of leisure within context of lifelong work histories. Respondents participated in unpaid agricultural work in childhood, paid work in domestic and service occupations as adults, and volunteer work as retirees. Women continued their history of self-reliance,…

Discusses service-learning programs initiated by colleges which demonstrate benefits of practical work experience for students, services received by the community, and improved public relations for the college. Notes that a campus-based volunteer coordination effort is the missing link between students eager to serve and the agencies and…

Basic principles of designing a reunion gift program include beginning small, researching class prospects, gathering volunteers, determining the financial goal, communicating needs and intentions, organizing volunteers, advertising well, and making the donation at the reunion a major event. More ambitious plans can be tied into the program later.…

An institutional advancement administrator draws on experience running an office with limited resources to offer suggestions to others, including putting basics in place first, then fine-tuning them, and developing a do-everything publication, a plan for special events and fund-raising, an annual giving structure, and a strong core of volunteers.…

Assessed interpersonal values of college student volunteers (n=45) involved in community service activities. Found that students' interpersonal values differed relative to whether they were involved through religious, social Greek, or service organizations. Social Greek group was significantly higher on Recognition; service group was significantly…

Describes outreach service in rehabilitation hospital through which volunteers with previous amputations visited patients with recent amputations, acting as role models and offering emotional support and information. Notes that patients who were visited had strong positive responses to the program, and identified critical components of the…

Matched pairs of tutors and adult students in a volunteer tutoring program were surveyed. Successful students consistently rated tutors first as friends, second helpers, and third teachers. They made the greatest overall progress and were most committed to the program. (SK)

Explores a sampling of student learning outcomes of community service activities with graduate and undergraduate students (N=108). Discusses and critiques the educative power of community service. Provides suggestions for conceptualizing and constructing service experiences. (Author/MKA)

The Nature Conservancy's Berkshire Program involves community volunteers in monitoring migration routes of amphibians that rely on vernal pools for breeding success. Vernal-pool workshops provide basic knowledge of amphibian lifecycles and detailed monitoring instructions. Nighttime field trips for adults and children and monitoring experiences…

A faculty member describes his experience and personal reflections as part of a volunteer project in India and Burma. Draws implications for faculty development through volunteerism and service learning at the local and international levels. Suggests ways in which institutions of higher education can encourage and structure faculty volunteering…

Defines service learning. Identifies four components needed to organize a quality service learning experience: preparation; student involvement in meaningful integrated service learning experiences; student reflection; and evaluation and self-study of service learning projects. Lists ten organizations with expertise in service learning and…