myCSUSM
Service Learning Opportunities
Service Learning Students: Check out this list of current opportunities maintained by our Faculty Director, and the sites listed below in the drop down menu. Want to view top sites by topic? Check out this spreadsheet. For a complete list and to search by city, log into our Service Learning Database.
The "Students: Start Here!" tab below is where you will find helpful hints for your search.
For questions or additional assistance, please email the Department of Service Learning at servicelearning@csusm.edu.
- Students! Start Here
As you prepare to investigate and select a Service Learning opportunity, consider:
- Your personal goals and any applicable course requirements?
- Do you prefer a virtual, in-person, or hybrid service experience?
- If you are doing any service hours in-person you should review CSUSM's COVID-19 guidelines.
- What community issue(s) do you care about?
- Are there individual or group availability/scheduling limitations?
When researching and speaking with community organizations:
- Reach out to the site first before making completing placement paperwork in the Service Learning Database.
- Visit their website to learn more about the agency mission and services.
- Review the Steps to Making a Service Learning Placement process here.
- Ask about potential volunteer opportunities, including suggesting ideas or projects related to your course goals or personal interests/skills.
- What requirements, orientation, and training is expected of students?
- What is the application process?
- Is there a specific schedule you will need to follow?
- Who would be your primary site supervisor/point of contact?
- Be clear about your class requirements, individual goals, and availability.
Spring 2023 Service Learning Opportunities
- Debbi Palmer’s Playmates – Early Childhood Education
Come join us at our Home Preschool with our amazing learning in science, nature, cooking, gardening, yoga, dance, writing, literacy, art, and so much more!!!
Contact: Debbi Palmer’s Playmates
- Solutions for Change - Youth & Social Media
Solutions for Change transforms lives and communities by permanently solving family homelessness. Our approach is unique, providing a complete and sustainable solution driven by accountability.
Contact: Solutions for Change Contact
- Boys and Girls Club of San Marcos - Youth
The Youth Development Professional will provide student mentorship for grades first through fifth. The Youth Development Professional will be mentoring with our students one on one to build relationships with them. These relationships ensure that the students have emotional support in our program. Youth Development Professional will also plans and implements programs to be run for our students including a sports program and an art therapy program. Every day Youth Development Professional works with 20-25 students for targeted deficits like social skills, emotional wellness, conflict resolution, and skill building.
- Boys and Girls Club of San Dieguito - Youth
Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito is an organization dedicated to providing POSITIVE activities to develop the education, health, self-esteem and character of youth. We have seven clubhouses in Carmel Valley, Encinitas, Del Mar, and Solana Beach and seven specialty programs relating to athletics, health, STEM, the arts, and more! From athletics to education and arts, Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito offer a wide variety of programs to meet the needs of the community and instill a sense of belonging, usefulness, influence and competence in our youth.
- Tutor and Mentor With Afterschool Program
Note: Look to "Program Sites" on the right to access all of the different opportunities with Boys and Girls Club of San Dieguito's different sites!
- Tutor and Mentor With Afterschool Program
- Adult Transition Program - Adults with Disabilities
CSUSM students will be able to volunteer in SMUSD Adult Transition Program. Adult Transition Program (ATP) is a program designed for young adults with disabilities aged 18-22 years of age. The ATP program provides training and instruction to facilitate the transition from public school into appropriate adult programs and supported work placements. CSUSM students will be able to participate in mutually beneficial training in vocational tasks relating to real-world opportunities. CSUSM students have an opportunity to work with 5 different classrooms ranging in ability levels from mild, moderate, and severe individuals with disabilities.
Contact Paige Moreau: paige.moreau@smusd.org
- Pro Kids, The First Tee, San Diego - Youth
Pro Kids, First Tee – San Diego believes in developing opportunities that are just as fun as they are meaningful, where kids feel excited to grow, safe to fail, and better equipped for whatever comes their way next. Through our Golf & Life Skills and Academy programs our members experience unique opportunities, consistent support and character building to give them the tools for a successful future.
Contact: Pro Kids, The First Tee
- Interfaith Community Services - Families Experiencing Hardship and People Experiencing
Homelessness
Interfaith was founded in 1979 by a handful of diverse faith communities who mobilized to meet the increasing need for assistance in our community. Today, hundreds of congregations have joined their ranks to make up Interfaith's incredible membership network. Through this membership, Interfaith is built on an incredible grassroots network of support in every corner of the North San Diego County Community. Interfaith Community Services is the largest social services agency in North San Diego County.
- Assistant, Donor Stewardship, and Food Pantry (all in Escondido)
Note: click on "Opportunities" tab to check out all the opportunities available!
Contact: Interfaith Community Services
- Assistant, Donor Stewardship, and Food Pantry (all in Escondido)
- North County Outreach Initiatives, Everyone a Reader - Youth, English Language Learners
Our mission is to develop healthy leaders and community, one leader, one family at a time. We offer support and advocacy for children and families at Maryland Elementary School, Vista, CA to flourish in life: academic, socialemotional learning, food insecurity, and other areas as needed.
- Helping Parents with English Language Development, In-School and After School Tutoring/Mentoring
(formerly Everyone A Reader), Newcomer/English Language Learner Mentor, and Spanish
Language Coaching
Note: click on "Opportunities" tab to check out all the opportunities available!
Contact: North County Outreach Initiatives, Everyone a Reader
- Helping Parents with English Language Development, In-School and After School Tutoring/Mentoring
(formerly Everyone A Reader), Newcomer/English Language Learner Mentor, and Spanish
Language Coaching
- CSUSM, Project Rebound - Youth, Formerly Incarcerated People
The mission of Project Rebound is to support and empower formerly incarcerated and system impacted students in higher education. We strive to provide a safe and inclusive space along with guidance and mentorship. By holding our students to a high standard of academics and proactive community engagement, they will achieve success and create systemic change for those who follow.
Contact: Project Rebound
- CovEducation - Youth
Looking for a way to give back to the community? Passionate about educational equity? Join CovEd in providing mentorship to K-12 youth! CovEducation is an educational non-profit that provides free tutoring and mentorship to K-12 students from low-income communities or underrepresented backgrounds. We are a warm, volunteer-based community of over 6,000 volunteers from 450+ institutions, and have served 5,700+ mentees since March 2020. We are currently seeking undergraduate/postgraduate/grad students to volunteer virtually as mentors for K-12 students, particularly those with limited access to educational resources. Mentors serve not only as a source of academic support, but as role models for the student they work with. This will provide an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to students who have trouble accessing learning materials and mentorship.
Contact: CovEducation
- Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation Discovery Center - Youth, Environment
For Service Learning students, description and tasks include trail maintenance and clean-up, garden maintenance, administrative assistance, clerical assistance, craft preparation, school program preparation, exhibit support, data input, critter care, cleaning of animal habitats, inventorying goods, event preparation and support, fair and festival attendance, outreach support, marketing, photography, building support amongst others.
Contact Information (scroll to bottom): Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation Discovery Center
- American Language and Cultural Institute - English Language Learners, College Students
Conversation Partners arrange weekly meetings with an international student for sharing of culture and language through casual conversations.
- Conversation Partner
Note: click on "Opportunities" tab to check out all the opportunities available!
- Conversation Partner
- Build a Miracle - Youth
Remote Opportunity: The Instructional Video Project will allow a student to produce a video of him/herself teaching a skill or lesson geared to any age from 5-18 years. The Instructional Videos should not exceed 30 minutes in length. Some examples are: Read or tell a story and talk about it; Do a science project and explain the steps and potential outcomes; Demonstrate some dance moves and explain how to execute them; Present a math problem and teach the steps necessary to solve it; Read a poem and talk about it's meaning. These are only examples. There is no limit to the subject matter that can be taught. The goal is to engage the audience and teach them a skill. The videos will be used in various classes/tutorials in the Build a Miracle Community Center.
Contact: Build a Miracle
- Escondido Creek Conservancy - Youth, Environment
The Escondido Creek Conservancy (TECC) is a 25 year old land conservancy focused on the Escondido Creek watershed. Our mission is to preserve and restore the watershed. We currently manage 1500 acres and are in contract to preserve an additional 1000 acres. We have an active education program serving over 800 school children per year.
- Field Trip Assistant & Environmental and Outdoor Educator Support
- Environmental and Outdoor Education Support
Contact: Escondido Creek Conservancy
- Farm House Enterprises - Youth, Environment
Work alongside a facilitator of 'good things' in an outdoor farm environment located conveniently in the city of San Marcos. Help organize the flow of the projects, assist to empower rather than enable a young student to engage in the hands-on project, and plant seeds in their hearts and minds, believe in them when they don't yet believe in themselves, and encourage 'failure' leading to success!
Contact: Farm House Enterprises
- MANA de North County San Diego - Youth, Social Media
MANA de North County San Diego is a local chapter of a national nonprofit organization known as MANA: A National Latina Organization.
- Social Media Assistants, Mentor
Note: click on "Opportunities" tab to check out all the opportunities available!
Contact: MANA de North County San Diego
- Social Media Assistants, Mentor
- Mindful CSUSM Office of Inclusive Excellence - College Students
The overall purpose of Mindful CSUSM is to provide support to all members of the campus community through contemplative practices, pedagogy and research that foster deep learning, reduced stress, increased capacity for compassionate listening and increased well-being. Our work is based on the premise, best stated by Nelson Mandela that: “If they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love”. Hence, our activities are focused on creating a more just and compassionate community. We are getting ready to launch a Center on mindfulness practices on our campus this semester. We are looking for students to help us prepare for the launch especially focusing on ways to engage students.
- My Sister's Keeper Success Institute, Inc - Youth
Program aides with MSKSI will assist the primary teacher/mentor with a number of duties. MSKSI staff responsibilities include group instruction and supervision, clarifying instructions, checking for learning, engaging students in discussion, and helping students with projects.
Contact: My Sister's Keeper Success Institute
- Surfrider Foundation - Youth, Environment
Volunteer at monthly community beach cleanups at beaches all over the county. We provide service learning opportunities for students who'd like to participate in our public cleanups, assist our volunteer site captains with setup/breakdown and hosting the events, and also with tallying up volunteer beach cleanup data and entering it into our online database.
Contact: Surfrider Foundation
- UURISE (Unitarian Universalist Refugee and Immigrant Services and Education, Inc.)
- Immigrants/Refugees, Families
Remote Opportunity: Students will have the opportunity to work with materials created by one of UURISE's partner organizations, Leap to Success, and collaborate with one another to translate a workbook that is used during a self-empowerment course for women who have been the victims of domestic violence, homelessness, and other major life challenges.
Apart from placing with UURISE through the CSUSM Internship database, students who are interested in earning service-learning hours with our site through this project are required to complete UURISE's Volunteer/Intern Application (if they have yet to do so) and send over a copy of their most recent resume (if available). Once the application is received and reviewed, students will be contacted to set up a virtual interview.
Contact: UURISE