Service-Learning through Conservation

Are your students interested in conservation? Do they want to make a difference in their communities and surrounding environment? Would they like to get funding for a service-learning project they create themselves surrounding something they care about?

BSB has an opportunity this fall for youth-led, conservation-based, service-learning projects in partnership with National Geographic’s Slingshot challenge. We will host this opportunity for HS students to join a cohort of conservation leaders and work in groups or individually to research, plan, and enact their service-learning projects. BSB is offering funding for student project supplies and career exploration experiences. We will also provide assistance and coaching to youth leadership, adult supervisors, and facilitate career connections.

Apply for Fall 2025!

General Information

Minimum of 3 all-group meetings spread throughout the duration of the cohort
- Tentatively 2 meetings during the fall semester, 1 during the spring semester
We also encourage scheduling individual meetings throughout the project
Schedule aligned with Slingshot Challenge, which is due in February 2026
Supplies and project support will be funded up to $400, additional funding will be available to enact student solutions
We will help facilitate a conservation career experience for each group
Near pear learning and HS student leadership is required

Context

What is service-learning?

An approach to teaching and learning where students use academic and civic knowledge and skills to address genuine community needs. It’s a process not just a project! Youth voice, youth leadership, youth-adult partnerships are all key.

Why service-learning?

Service-learning is brain-based learning; the brain works best when there is active engagement in the learning, choice of activity or project, feedback and reflection, variety and novelty, complexity and challenge, and connection to others. SL gives students the opportunity to engage their brain in these ways while also building critical thinking, social, and other important skills.

National Geographic Slingshot Challenge:

Each student or group of students will be participating in the National Geographic Slingshot Challenge throughout their project(s). The aim of this challenge is to encourage students aged 13-18 to design and document their ideas for tackling environmental issues and creating a sustainable future.

Slingshot Challenge Outline

Page numbers coordinate with the attached National Geographic Participant Toolkit

1. Guage student interest-- what passions, problems, challenges do the students in the club have surrounding the environment, climate change, and/or sustainability? Students will be working in groups of 1-6 for the Slingshot challenge-- so deciding groups and registering the groups would also be helpful here!

Which category or categories do the proposed challenge(s) fall into? There are also examples in the guide if students need help choosing an issue (pg. 5).
- CLEAN THE AIR
- RESTORE THE OCEAN
- PROTECT NATURE
- REDUCE WASTE
- ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE

2. Research and brainstorm with the students on ideas of how to address their challenge-- the attached participant guide includes a worksheet to assist with this (pg. 8).

3. Research more about the challenge, solution, and its impact on their communities-- there are worksheets for this step in the guide (pg. 10 and 11).

4. Plan and record the one-minute video which will be used to tell the story of the student's ideas and solutions for their community-- a focus sheet is provided in the guide to assist students in planning their video (pg. 14) as well as a storyboard template (pg. 18).

5. Submit the video and support students in pursuing their interest and action.

6. BSB support to pursue solution locally.