Service Learning Program Applications & Forms
“I truly believe these service-learning experiences have made me a more effective teacher and have provided students a voice and a chance to show how much of a difference they can make as a citizen, even at a young age.”
-Barry J. Guillot, NBCT | 8th Grade Earth Science, Harry Hurst Middle School
Eligibility
Teachers who would like to participate in the Service Learning Program must apply for an award using the button below.
The criteria to apply is as follows:
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- Grades K-12 from schools in Louisiana and Mississippi are eligible.
- Any subject area is eligible for participation in the Service Learning Program.
- Projects are part of a school course or classroom learning; grant awards do not fund extracurricular activities such as school clubs (or the community service projects of a club).
- Applications for the 2025-2026 school year will be accepted electronically via the STEM Library Lab website between February 3, 2025 – May 2, 2025.
- Applications must be submitted before or on April 4, 2025, if you wish to receive feedback or the opportunity to make revisions.
- A full list of policies and requirements for the Service Learning Program are available here. Got questions? Contact the Director of Programming, Jestin Moorehead, at jestin[at]stemlibrarylab.org or 504.410.5022.
Rain Barrel Project with GREEN LIGHT NEW ORLEANS
The Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation is pleased to support Green Light New Orleans’ Rain Barrel Service Learning Program. Green Light repurposes rain barrels to combat erosion and street flooding, and they invite your students to help with this process. Green Light will provide rain barrels, lesson plans, and paint materials to your school. This project is available to schools within the levee system of Orleans, St Bernard, and most of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. Applications will be accepted between September 10, 2024 – April 22, 2025.
We offer a lesson plan to accompany the project!
Applications & Project Packets - 2025-2026
Homegrown Service Learning Projects
Homegrown projects are designed by you! You select the community issue you want to address, choose a service partner to work with, and create the lesson plans. If you’re looking for guidance, you can sign up for a service learning workshop and/or schedule a meeting with the Director of Programming; the director can be reached at jestin@stemlibrarylab.org or 504.410.5022. Additionally, our Resources page has project ideas and more. To apply, click the button below.
Homegrown Service Learning Application
*NOTE: If you are applying for the LSU Coastal Roots program, use the Ready-to-Go application below.
Ready-to-Go Service Learning Projects
Ready-to-Go projects are pre-packaged service learning projects developed by STEM Library Lab for schools in the Greater New Orleans area. The service component has been paired with relevant classroom curriculum and is aligned with Louisiana standards. Curriculum may be provided as lesson plans for the project, delivered by educators from the service organization, or a combination of both. Greater New Orleans partners for the 2024-2025 school year include CRCL, LSU Coastal Roots, The Green Project, Ozanam Inn, Woodlands Conservancy, LUMCON and more. To sign up for these projects, explore the options below.
- Click here to access all Ready-to-Go project packets.
- Click here to access the Ready-to-Go Instruction Guide.
LSU COASTAL ROOTS
The overall goal of the LSU Coastal Roots Native Seedling Nursery Program is to assist students in developing an attitude of stewardship toward our natural resources and to explore strategies for sustaining our coastal ecosystems within a constructive active learning opportunity. The following program objectives support this goal:
1. Conduct an on-going school-based nursery program growing native Louisiana plants.
2. Involve students in a hands-on habitat restoration planting where students plant their crop of school-grown seedlings.
3. Inform teachers and students about critical environmental issues such as ecological stewardship, coastal land loss, habitat restoration and conservation, while learning basic science and horticultural concepts and skills.
Prior to submitting this application, please contact Dr. Pam Blanchard at 337.739.8506 or PamB@lsu.edu to ensure that you fully understand the program and are willing to fully participate in the program. For more information about the Coastal Roots Program, visit www.lsu.edu/coastalroots/.
COALITION TO RESTORE COASTAL LOUISIANA
This pre-packaged Service Learning Field Trip to CRCL’s Restoration Headquarters in Violet, LA is aligned with Louisiana science and social studies standards for grades 8-12. Students will learn about the Louisiana coastal land loss crisis while aiding in restoration efforts by bagging oyster shells into mesh bags in preparation for reef construction.
WOODLANDS CONSERVANCY
This pre-packaged Service Learning Field Trip to Woodlands Conservancy in Belle Chasse, LA is aligned with Louisiana science standards for grades 8-12. Students will learn the part that forested wetlands play in storm mitigation and will be planting native trees in a designated restoration area.
M.E.S.S. Lab
The Environmental Education and Paint Recycling programs at The Green Project have united to create the M.E.S.S. Lab, combining Math, Engplish, Social Studies and Science (M.E.S.S.) in a place-based learning lab. The M.E.S.S. Lab houses a paint recycling operation where students experience the paint recycling process from start to finish. This service project is Louisiana standards-aligned for 4th-5th grade science.
COMMON GROUND RELIEF
This pre-packaged Service Learning Field Trip to Common Ground Relief’s headquarters in New Orleans, LA is aligned with Louisiana science and social studies standards for grades 8-12. Students will learn about the Louisiana coastal land loss crisis while aiding in restoration efforts such as: removing invasive species, maintaining previously planted trees and grasses, weeding and potting trees, planting seeds, mulching pots or compost, and/or picking up trash or recycling.
LOOP NOLA
7th-12th grade students will learn about issues facing Louisiana water systems such as invasive species and pollution, followed by a field trip to LOOP NOLA to engage in invasive species and pollution removal activities. Students are able to do these activities both on land and/or via canoe, however, canoeing is not required. (For canoeing, students do not need to be able to swim.)
UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS
STEM Library Lab is sponsoring a Ready-to-Go service learning project with Lantern Light in New Orleans, LA. This project combines academic learning with hands-on service. After studying homelessness in the classroom and visiting Lantern Light, students will organize a donation drive to support the local homeless community. The project curriculum is aligned with Louisiana math standards for grades 6-7; includes financial literacy curriculum for grades 6-12; and is aligned with Louisiana social studies standards for grades K-3 & 8.
GARDENING WITH MSAGM (Mississippi Only)
STEM Library Lab is sponsoring a Ready-to-Go service learning project with the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum in Jackson, Mississippi. High school students (9th-12th grade) will learn about soil science and food insecurity while growing plants. They will take a field trip to the MSAG Museum and learn about agriculture and gardening. Students will use their new knowledge and skills to build a garden, cultivate and donate produce to a local food bank.
Get In the Scrap! with The National World War II Museum
The Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation is a proud sponsor of The National World War II Museum’s Get in the Scrap! Service Learning Program. Inspired by the scrapping efforts of youth during World War II, Get in the Scrap! is a national service learning project about recycling and energy conservation. Most projects can be done without students leaving a school campus. To sign up, visit getinthescrap.org.
Applications & Project Packets - 2024-2025
Ready-to-Go Service Learning Projects
Ready-to-Go projects offer pre-packaged service learning experiences designed by STEM Library Lab in partnership with local organizations. The following four projects have been discontinued and will not be available during the 2025-2026 school year:
• LUMCON
• Understanding Homelessness with Ozanam Inn
• Plan-It Marsh (Mississippi)
• Glassroots
If you’re looking for homegrown applications, visit the 2025-2026 Applications & Project Packets section.
- Click here to access all Ready-to-Go project packets.
- Click here to access the Ready-to-Go Instruction Guide.
LSU COASTAL ROOTS
The overall goal of the LSU Coastal Roots Native Seedling Nursery Program is to assist students in developing an attitude of stewardship toward our natural resources and to explore strategies for sustaining our coastal ecosystems within a constructive active learning opportunity. The following program objectives support this goal:
1. Conduct an on-going school-based nursery program growing native Louisiana plants.
2. Involve students in a hands-on habitat restoration planting where students plant their crop of school-grown seedlings.
3. Inform teachers and students about critical environmental issues such as ecological stewardship, coastal land loss, habitat restoration and conservation, while learning basic science and horticultural concepts and skills.
Prior to submitting this application, please contact Dr. Pam Blanchard at 337.739.8506 or PamB@lsu.edu to ensure that you fully understand the program and are willing to fully participate in the program. For more information about the Coastal Roots Program, visit www.lsu.edu/coastalroots/.
COALITION TO RESTORE COASTAL LOUISIANA
This pre-packaged Service Learning Field Trip to CRCL’s Restoration Headquarters in Violet, LA is aligned with Louisiana science and social studies standards for grades 8-12. Students will learn about the Louisiana coastal land loss crisis while aiding in restoration efforts by bagging oyster shells into mesh bags in preparation for reef construction.
WOODLANDS CONSERVANCY
This pre-packaged Service Learning Field Trip to Woodlands Conservancy in Belle Chasse, LA is aligned with Louisiana science standards for grades 8-12. Students will learn the part that forested wetlands play in storm mitigation and will be planting native trees in a designated restoration area.
M.E.S.S. Lab
The Environmental Education and Paint Recycling programs at The Green Project have united to create the M.E.S.S. Lab, combining Math, Engplish, Social Studies and Science (M.E.S.S.) in a place-based learning lab. The M.E.S.S. Lab houses a paint recycling operation where students experience the paint recycling process from start to finish. This service project is Louisiana standards-aligned for 4th-5th grade science.
COMMON GROUND RELIEF
This pre-packaged Service Learning Field Trip to Common Ground Relief’s headquarters in New Orleans, LA is aligned with Louisiana science and social studies standards for grades 8-12. Students will learn about the Louisiana coastal land loss crisis while aiding in restoration efforts such as: removing invasive species, maintaining previously planted trees and grasses, weeding and potting trees, planting seeds, mulching pots or compost, and/or picking up trash or recycling.
LOOP NOLA
7th-12th grade students will learn about issues facing Louisiana water systems such as invasive species and pollution, followed by a field trip to LOOP NOLA to engage in invasive species and pollution removal activities. Students are able to do these activities both on land and/or via canoe, however, canoeing is not required. (For canoeing, students do not need to be able to swim.)
LUMCON
This pre-packaged Service Learning Field Trip to LUMCON Headquarters in Cocodrie, LA is aligned with Louisiana science standards for grades 3-6 and 7-12. Students will learn about the importance of estuary monitoring and add to the data sets used by scientists in Louisiana and beyond.
UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS
Students will receive instruction about homelessness and household budgeting before a trip to Ozanam Inn, or a visit from a formerly unhoused guest speaker, before selecting one of the following service actions: donation drive or multipurpose cleaning product creation. The project curriculum is aligned with Louisiana student content standards in math for grades 6-7 and includes financial literacy curriculum for grades 6-12.
GLASSROOTS
The program curriculum is aligned with Louisiana standards in science for 11th-12th grades. Students will learn about Louisiana’s coastal land loss crisis and glass recycling before touring the Glass Half Full Recycling Center and aiding in Southeast Louisiana restoration projects by producing sandbags.
PLAN-IT MARSH (Mississippi Only)
This pre-packaged project is aligned with Mississippi science standards for middle and high school (6th-12th grade). Students will study Mississippi’s coastal land loss crisis before visiting Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center (MSU CREC), where they will propagate native plants and learn about phenology and growing. Students will then aid in restoring the Mississippi coast with their plants. Plan-it Marsh is a program offered by the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center (MSU CREC).
Forms for Award Recipients
Changes to Service Learning Project Scope
Any changes made to a Service Learning Award (i.e. – budget, service partner, or curriculum) must be approved BEFORE the changes are made. Use the form below to request approval of changes.
Final Report
Homegrown Service Learning Award recipients must complete an expenditure report that summarizes the service learning project and accounts for funds awarded and spent. The 2024-2025 Expenditure, Evaluation and Reflection Report is due by May 2, 2025.
Ready-to-Go Service Learning Award recipients must complete a final report that summarizes the service learning project and accounts for funds awarded and spent. The reports should be submitted within a month of completing a Ready-to-Go project but must be submitted by May 2, 2025.
- Homegrown Projects: Expenditure, Evaluation and Reflection Report Form
- Coastal Roots: Expenditure, Evaluation and Reflection Report Form
- Ready-to-Go Service Learning Final Report Form
- LUMCON 3-6 Service Learning Final Report Form
- LUMCON 7-12 Service Learning Final Report Form
Mid-Project Report
Some award recipients have been selected to complete a mid-project report summarizing their project’s progress. For the selected recipients, the report is due before or on Friday, December 13, 2024, unless otherwise stated in the award agreement.
Incentive Forms
As a thank you for participating in the Service Learning Program, the Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation is offering free admission to participating Louisiana students and chaperones to the National World War II Museum and the Kenner Planetarium. Free admission to Infinity Science Center is being offered to participating Mississippi students and chaperones. Please read the instructions carefully before completing the form.
Kenner Planetarium and Space Science Complex Form (Louisiana ONLY)
National WWII Museum Reservation Form (Louisiana ONLY)
NEW! Infinity Science Center Reservation Form (Mississippi ONLY)
Timeline
Application Support
If you’re excited to apply but need support writing the application deciding on a quality project, we’re here to help. Start by attending an upcoming workshop, or reviewing the resources below.
- Service Partners Guide and Ideas
- Service Partners in Mississippi
- Application Rubric
- Sample Applications
- Application Resources
Workshops
Service Learning Workshops are offered regularly during Winter and Spring. The workshops are for teachers, counselors, and administrators interested in applying for service learning awards to implement service-learning programs in their schools. Workshops are virtual and conducted via Zoom and registration is required to receive the Zoom meeting link.
If you would like to schedule a service learning PD session for your faculty and staff, please contact Jestin at jestin[at]stemlibrarylab.org or 504-410-5022.
