Steps & Tips in Planning a Service Project
Step 1 – Find a need in the community
As a group, decide on a need in the community that could lead to a service project that excites the youth. Here are some examples:
Need in the community… Project could be…
Stop World Hunger Donate Time at a Food Bank
Humane Treatment of All Animals Pet Walk with San Diego Humane Society
Create a Greener Tomorrow Plant a Tree
Increase World Literacy Tutor at a Local School
Care and Companionship for All Spend Time at a Nursing Home
Step 2 – Service Project
A service project is a chance for your group to give back to your community, spread awareness about your service project, and have fun. You have two great options to serve:
Option 1: Plan your own service project:
This is an opportunity to tie your service project to a broader experience. You can do this by connecting your project to the skills and knowledge learned. Try learning about the community impact of their service project, about a community leader, or other skills and academics used to complete the project.
For simple tools to reflect and link learning to the service project sign up for Excel Youth Zone’s Service-Learning Resource Toolkit to receive reflection ideas, click here to sign up for this free toolkit. Reflection should be done throughout your service and will enhance the service and excite youth about how your service relates to your service project.
Step 4 – Fundraise
If your project requires funding, there are many opportunities listed in the Service-Learning Toolkit, such as possible donors, and other ideas.
Step 5 – Create a Banner
Your group will create a banner prior to Servapalooza and it will be displayed during the Palooza Parade and throughout the event. This banner is to present the need in the community and your service project(s) to those attending Servapalooza and around Balboa Park.
How to Make a Banner:
Register your group on the Pre-Registration page to sign up and receive information about the Palooza Parade.
As a group, decide on a need in the community that could lead to a service project that excites the youth. Here are some examples:
Need in the community… Project could be…
Stop World Hunger Donate Time at a Food Bank
Humane Treatment of All Animals Pet Walk with San Diego Humane Society
Create a Greener Tomorrow Plant a Tree
Increase World Literacy Tutor at a Local School
Care and Companionship for All Spend Time at a Nursing Home
Step 2 – Service Project
A service project is a chance for your group to give back to your community, spread awareness about your service project, and have fun. You have two great options to serve:
Option 1: Plan your own service project:
- If your group already has a project plan then link your project to your wish. An already planned project is a perfect Servapalooza project.
- If you need to plan your project, visit one of our hosts, Excel Youth Zone for more information on how to plan your own project. The trainings, workshops and on-line resources through their free Service-Learning Resources Toolkit make it easy to empower youth to plan the service project.
- You can volunteer for any of the projects listed on our partner Volunteer San Diego’s project calendar or check out volunteer centers close to you, such as: Volunteer Center of Orange County or L.A. Works. Volunteer San Diego also has a comprehensive directory of agencies listing their volunteer and service-learning opportunities: Guide to Youth Volunteer Opportunities. Use this guide to find community organizations to volunteer with.
This is an opportunity to tie your service project to a broader experience. You can do this by connecting your project to the skills and knowledge learned. Try learning about the community impact of their service project, about a community leader, or other skills and academics used to complete the project.
For simple tools to reflect and link learning to the service project sign up for Excel Youth Zone’s Service-Learning Resource Toolkit to receive reflection ideas, click here to sign up for this free toolkit. Reflection should be done throughout your service and will enhance the service and excite youth about how your service relates to your service project.
Step 4 – Fundraise
If your project requires funding, there are many opportunities listed in the Service-Learning Toolkit, such as possible donors, and other ideas.
Step 5 – Create a Banner
Your group will create a banner prior to Servapalooza and it will be displayed during the Palooza Parade and throughout the event. This banner is to present the need in the community and your service project(s) to those attending Servapalooza and around Balboa Park.
How to Make a Banner:
- Create a no larger than 48” by 36” banner out of any material
- The banner should have your group name and service project(s).
- Decorate your banner as creatively as you like.
- Can bring other signs for various youth to hold during the Palooza Parade such as Follow me to Servapalooza, and Join me in Volunteering
Register your group on the Pre-Registration page to sign up and receive information about the Palooza Parade.
