Service Learning Center Open House

The Bethany College Service Learning Center will be hosting an Open House on Monday, September 20th at 6:00PM in Morlan Hall 13. Be sure to stop by to learning about pre-existing service learning opportunities, how to become involved with service learning, and how to incorporate it into your classroom. The service learning fellows as well as the service learning advisors will be attending in order to answer any questions. Light refreshments will be served. Many service learning opportunities are available we just need you! Please join us!

The Service Learning Center has Commenced!

Starting off the Fall '10 Semester, the Service Learning Center has been hard at work. After a successful presentation at the Faculty Development Workshop, the Center has been uploading opportunities for the faculty and students to check out. So far, the Fine Arts Department has hopped on board by expressing interest with service learning performances. The Service Learning Fellows are currently working on establishing an open office that includes office hours for the Bethany community to take advantage of. Also, an open house is set to be planned in order to invite the campus to the Center and find out how they can become involved with service learning opportunities. Topics at the open house will include: involvement, opportunities, how to access Moodle and our website, and also how to be involved with service learning independently.

Building Community Connections

Over the past couple weeks, the Service Learning Center has focused on establishing relationships with local non-profit organizations. Service learning is a two-way street, and without the cooperation and interest of these organizations, it would be impossible for the Center to provide students with such beneficial opportunities. The excitement and interest of these organizations is infectious-- meetings with the YWCA, Brooke County Senior Center, United Way, and Campus Ministries have been building blocks as the Center reaches out to the community. Executive directors and board members of these organizations have been extremely helpful in providing the Center with their partnership, their constructive, creative ideas, and their interest in bettering the community and providing students with unique opportunities to practice the skills they learn in a classroom every day.

These organizations do truly amazing things for the community, and the Service Learning Center is thrilled to be working so closely with them. We encourage you to check out their websites to learn more about all they do and how you can get involved with them.

http://ywcawheeling.org/ --YWCA

http://brookecountyseniorcenter.org/ --Brooke County Senior Center

http://weirtonunitedway.org/ -- Weirton United Way http://www.bethanywv.edu/students/ministry/ --Campus Ministries

ServiceWorks!

The Service Learning Center is currently developing a competition for local schools called ServiceWorks! This is a competition designed to recognize students who have demonstrated outstanding dedication and service to their community. Eligibility for ServiceWorks! is extended towards high school juniors and seniors, local community college students, and current Bethany College students. The entry deadline for students is January 1, 2011 and the competition date is Friday, March 4, 2011 in Commencement Hall at Bethany College. First place high school winner will receive a Bethany College scholarship amounting to $500 and first place high school group will receive a $250 scholarship each. Cash prizes with a matching donation to a non-profit organization will be awarded to first place winners of in the individual and group category for Bethany College students. Second place winners and honorable mentions will walk away with either a plaque or certificate of recognition. In order to participate projects must be self-initiated and not part of a previously established on-going or community service activity. Service activities must have been initiated within the past 12 months and are current or on-going. Project submission must complete all criteria mentioned in the application in order to be eligible. The Service Learning Center will be distributing applications to local school guidance offices. Our hopes are that this will be a day for students to take pride in their work while gaining recognition from others. Keep looking for updates on the agenda plan for the day!

Country Market Date Changed

Opening Date of Country Market Changed to Saturday, July 31!

You can now enjoy Bethany's Open Air Country Markets on the last Saturday of every month through October. Don't miss out on the freshest local foods and unique items from bargain and antique sellers! Hope to see you there!

If you have any questions, email us! countrymarket@bethanywv.edu.

Bethany Open Air Country Market

Starting on August 7, residents of Bethany and surrounding areas will be able to purchase locally-grown foods and locally-made goods right in their hometown.

As part of the "Buy Fresh, Buy Local" effort to increase the availability of fresh, affordable foods, the market is the first of its kind in the area. In addition to promoting healthy eating, markets of this type boost local economies and increase tourism.

Residents in this part of the state have to drive before they have access to a market of this type. The market aims to bring the community together and allow residents to display and sell their high-quality produce and crafts while accessing a healthier way of living.

In addition to local farmers, small produce growers, and food vendors, vendors selling unique, handmade crafts, fresh cut flowers and plants, as well as recycled products, estate sale items, and antiques are highly encouraged to attend. All crops and crafts must be grown or made within a 25 mile radius of Bethany.

The mission of the market committee is to make it as diverse of an event as possible. It is different because vendors aren't limited to just selling baked goods or produce. The committee is looking for everything that makes this area of the state unique.

The market will be held during the first Saturday of every month from August - October from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Ross Street in Bethany. For the inaugural year, vendor fees are only $5.00 per weekend. Anyone interested in selling or displaying goods in the market should contact the Bethany College Open Air Market Committee by calling (304) 829-7150 or by emailing countrymarket@bethanywv.edu .

In addition to working on the country market, the Center is still working on establishing a comprehensive plan to allow faculty to integrate service learning into their classroom curriculum. Our new presentation presents a 6-step plan offering faculty considerations about how to get service learning opportunities started. Check it out at http://prezi.com/gdqkgcu6psks/

Service Learning Orientation

The Bethany College Service Learning Center has a new idea. In order to create an easy transition into service learning, we are compiling a short orientation in order to aid classrooms in their understanding of the difference between service and service learning. This will allow both faculty and students to gain a better idea of what forms to fill out and what procedures to follow so the the center can document campus efforts. So far, we have created a Prezi presentation to show the classrooms and have created packets to handout to students and faculty. Each packet contains forms such as: evaluation forms, surveys, course considerations, records and time sheets of service learning hours, and agency request forms in order to bring in local organizations. Check out our orientation Prezi at http://prezi.com/be9igbxblytx/ .