“Education, work and fun is the perfect blend to entice students to get involved,” according to July Ellis, Community Service Coordinator for SAS, Northshore School District’s Secondary Academy for Success.

During their annual spring work party, 90 students and teachers made a social and environmental impact in the community. Hacking away at invasive blackberry vines; pulling weeds in the farm rows and participating in a variety of tasks, service-learning projects make the connection of community service to classroom learning.

Weeding in the garden.

According to information recently released by National Volunteer Week of America after their recent May events, students who participate in service learning make the following impact:

    * 96 percent of teachers report children learn more through service learning than instruction alone
    * 46 percent report improved grades
    * 36 percent report decrease in absenteeism.

Volunteers are one of the most important aspects at 21 Acres. Along with the annual spring and fall SAS service learning days, many other schools and student groups from the very young to college lever are active at 21 Acre. Recent activities included participants from Woodinville Montessori Junior High, Cascadia Community College and University of WA-Bothell environmental program students and various Scout troops. More than 17,000 volunteer hours have been logged at 21 Acres since 2006.

Engaging individuals in service and inspiring a movement for change is a priority for 21 Acres, making a true community with everyone working together discovering the power to make a difference. 21 Acres is a non-profit organization with the mission to cultivate, demonstrate and advance systems that support sustainable agriculture.

View volunteers and supporting organizations and a list of current volunteer needs.