Day of Service 2012 | Students and Faculty Volunteer Throughout NYC

Friends participated in an exciting Day of Service on Tuesday, April 24. Students and faculty partnered with organizations with a local mission, as well as organizations with a global focus.  Borrowing the motto, Head + Heart = Hustle, from Echoing Green, a nonprofit focused on connecting young entrepreneurs’ passions with social purpose, Friends’ Day of Service provided opportunities to learn more about the issues at hand. This motto reflects the school’s service learning philosophy of combining our intellect and compassion for meaningful service. Throughout the day, students made connections with those in the field, and received hands-on experience in being change-makers.
 
The Lower School had a community service day in which students, faculty, and staff explored the history, culture, and challenges of Haiti through experiential activities that included art, music, dance, literature and Haitian cuisine. Through these interactive educational opportunities, students were immersed in all the beauty and wonder of Haiti; creating a context or sense of place from which their hearts will be motivated to act. Throughout the day, students developed an understanding of what life is like in Haiti and learned of nonprofit organizations, like Partners in Health, Solar Ovens International, and the Art Creation Foundation for Children—all of which are actively working to improve and enhance the quality of life for Haitians. Specific service projects that day gave the students an opportunity to contribute to these philanthropic efforts.

The Middle School’s service day had a focus on sustainability, which encompasses the concept of stewardship and the responsible management of resource use. Different grades looked at this concept through an environmental, economic, or social lens. 5th Graders planted an herb garden, dug up weeds, and created and hung signs asking visitors to curb their dogs.

6th Graders joined Bob Wilber, a Quaker historian, in Prospect Park. Together, they explored Quaker Hill and helped preserve this historic, green space. 7th Graders worked with Youth Service Opportunities Project (YSOP) and several homeless shelters, food kitchens and pantries in the five boroughs. 8th Graders partnered with MillionTrees NYC and the Long Island City Community Boathouse to support programs that help city kids connect with their natural environment.

The Upper School also had an exciting line-up of service experiences. Each grade level had a different focus for their learning and doing.

9th Graders traveled to Angel Family Farm in Goshen, New York. This farm is part of a Community Supported Agricultural (CSA) initiative that Friends Seminary will be engaged with in the coming academic year. On the bus ride to Goshen, students and teachers had an opportunity to view the documentary, Food, Inc., with a discussion about the food industry to follow. 10th Graders partnered with Scenic Hudson, the environmental organization that works to protect this waterway and its surrounding habitats. The restoration project at Madame Brett Park in Beacon, New York serves as an extension to the 10th grade Experiential Ed course with its focus on the Hudson River. Click here to see photos of the 10th graders at work.  11th Graders began their day by exploring the issue of education in NYC by viewing the documentary, Waiting for Superman. Following break-out discussions, students and faculty heard from The GO Project, an educational enrichment program that Friends Seminary supports through their public purpose efforts. Advisory groups spent the second-half of the day visiting various early-childhood centers, charter schools and other educational initiatives throughout the city. 12th Graders were on-campus participating in a Global Summit with Worldwide Concern, a humanitarian relief organization. Their workshop was facilitated by relief workers from the Horn of Africa, who guided them through the design of humanitarian efforts in the countries of Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia.