Illustrates the student-directed service learning process at work in Youth Educational Services (Y.E.S.), begun 14 years ago, and focuses on the uniqueness of student-directed and student-initiated programs. (ERB)

Presents three papers addressing the topic of using youth volunteers in public libraries: "Teen Corps Reaches Out with Pride" (Yvonne K. Coleman); "Whose Teen Advisory Board is this, Anyway?" (Leila J. Sprince); and "It All Started in the Summer..." (Liz Baldwin). (AEF)

This speech promotes student involvement in community service activities. The notions of traditional American volunteerism and community spirit support the idea of students devoting their afterschool talents and energy to helpful endeavors such as tutoring, visiting nursing homes, planting trees, cleaning up ocean shores and river banks, clearing…

A study explored the effects of participation in two kinds of volunteer activities--community service and child care--on adolescents' attitudes toward social and personal responsibility skill development and knowledge acquisition. It was part of an evaluation of the New York State 4-H Youth Volunteers Program. Written questionnaires, interviews…

Two national in-home interview surveys conducted by the Gallup Organization and information from a national workshop conference attended by 70 teen volunteers from 28 states and 200 teachers and adult leaders indicate that about three-fifths of youth aged 12 to 17 volunteer an average of just over 3 hours a week. The most frequent volunteer…

Research supports the value of youth service, but indicates concerns about the diminishing interest of young people in giving of themselves. New justifications for community service include the following: (1) documentation of the educational value of service; (2) greater understanding of environmental and human needs; and (3) greater understanding…

This report characterizes the current state of community service in the United States, discusses actions the Commission on National and Community Service has taken, and sketches some alternatives for the future. An executive summary presents the main themes of the report. Chapter 1 describes the promise of national and community service for the…