Please check with your instructor to make sure your chosen project meets class requirements.
Your instructor may have additional or similar requirements in place. If you have
any questions, please contact stewart.sinning@edmonds.edu.
We update the opportunities on this page regularly. Check back soon! You can also go to the Edmonds College events calendar and check the Service-Learning checkbox for our current schedule. Check out our
service learning projects below (scroll down for virtual, self-guided, and off-campus
volunteer opportunities and projects).
Why Volunteer? Giving back to the community, a sense of accomplishment, and overall pride in your
work helping others. Volunteering can provide a gateway to many professional benefits
as well. Such as networking and peer-collaboration. Being with a group of like-minded
individuals leads to many great opportunities. It is also a great way to step out
of your comfort zone while providing directly into your community.
Students who reach 25 service hours within a given academic year will be eligible
for a service learning award certificate to add to their portfolio. As well as a letter
of recommendation that can be used for job applications.
In-Person Opportunities
Winter Alternative Breaks
The Winter Alternative Break is closed for registration. Please check back in Spring
for another Alternative Break.
Native Gift Making
Where: Brier Hall, Triton Student Center, Room 141
When: December 4, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
No registration required. Just show up and sign in!
Join elders from the Snohomish Tribe in making multiple different types of small gifts. We will be carving small paddles for necklaces, wood-burning feathers, beadwork, and
possibly more! Learn about the Canoe Journey they accomplish each year and the purpose
and deep-meaning behind the gift giving process within the tribe. If we’re lucky,
Mike Evans (didalhalqid) will also provide songs and stories of the Snohomish Tribe.
Snacks will be provided.
Learning Objectives
Understanding the importance of cultural practices and language to the preservation
of cultural heritage and identity.
Learning about indigenous communities, tribes, and bands in and around the Salish
Sea.
Developing a respect for indigenous sovereignty and culture.
Volunteer at the Food Pantry
Volunteer at the Edmonds College Food Pantry. Our food pantry is a critical service
that provided food to our student and staff who are facing food insecurity. Are you
looking for a service project, extra-credit, make new friends, or just want to serve
your community, then look no further.
The Campus Community Farm is looking for volunteers to help us keep our student-run
urban farm growing strong! The Campus Farm is a vital part of the Edmonds College
community, producing food for the Campus Food Pantry, providing research space for
classes, and relies on volunteers like you to help us keep growing! Volunteers will
help our Student Farmers with projects like weeding, harvesting, seeding, transplanting,
and other farm maintenance. If you’re interested in volunteering with the Campus Farm,
please sign up using the registration link. All skill levels welcome; gloves and tools
will be provided; dress to work in the dirt and bring your reusable water bottle.
The farm's location can be found on the campus map. It is number 3 on the map.
*Please be advised there are honeybee hives located on the Campus Farm. If needed,
please take any necessary precautions before coming to the Campus Farm*
Earn service-learning hours online by participating in science projects through Zooniverse.
Help researchers around the world with tasks you can complete on your computer. Some
projects include monitoring wildlife cameras, climate patterns, deciphering botany
samples, or identifying marine invertebrates!
To get started, visit www.zooniverse.org and create an account. You may choose from any project, and you can track the classifications
you’ve completed from your profile page. In order to receive service-learning credit,
you must complete our Zooniverse Project Reflection form, which includes uploading a screenshot of your profile page and completed classification
number. Approximately fifty classifications equals one hour of service-learning credit.
Example Projects
Snow Spotter: Help hydrologists from the University of Washington analyze forest-snow interception
patterns by examining timelapse photos. Currently out of data but keep checking for
updated data!
Mapping Change: Help us use over a century's worth of specimens to map the distribution of animals,
plants, and fungi. Your data will let us know where species have been and predict
where they may end up in the future!
Penguin Watch: Count penguins, chicks, and eggs in far away lands to help us understand their lives
and environment. Currently out of data but keep checking for updated data!
Cedar Creek: Eyes on the Wild: This is a finished project where real people helped researchers untangle the complex
and surprising interactions among North American fauna. Click to see results!
Killer Whale Count: Identify and count killer whales to determine if their predation is causing Steller
sea lion declines!
Whale Chat: Identification and classification of humpback whale vocalizations.
SquirrelMapper: Assist in identifying squirrels of different fur color as well as their predators.
With your help analyzing these photos scientists can better understand how mammals
adapt to rapidly changing environments.
The Edmonds College Food Pantry is looking for volunteers to help create recipe cards
to put together in a cookbook! The purpose of this project is to create simple, nutritional
recipes for us to share with our visitors to provide them with healthy options while
using the food they take home each week from our pantry.
There are three different types of recipes you can create:
A meal using multiple food pantry items that we could display as a “Featured Meal
of the Week.”
A substitute/alternative for another item typically found in a recipe (e.g., using
applesauce as a substitute for oil or butter while baking)
A unique way to cook and incorporate the bulk items we buy (pasta, rice, beans, lentils,
etc.)
VolunteerMatchIdealist are two great websites for finding virtual service-learning opportunities. Once you’re
in contact with a sponsoring organization, please email Stewart Sinning at stewart.sinning@edmonds.edu to receive service-learning credit for your work.
Edmonds College has several community partners who we share in mutual support of each
other. This page lists off-campus opportunities to support our partners while earning
Service Learning hours. (See our Service Learning page for more details on the benefits
of participating in SL during your academic career) Your free time is precious, but
setting aside some time for volunteer opportunities can provide many benefits that
make the experience more than worth the effort it takes. Spending time helping others
can contribute to a sense of accomplishment or sense of purpose which adds to your
overall positive mental state.
Note: these opportunities are self driven and self transported. No group van transportation
provided. Bus information listed for your convenience.
Additionally, if you have an off-campus event/organization you think might qualify
to post/participate in, please email stewart.sinning@edmonds.edu
They currently have many volunteer opportunities year round, with the highest need
being Monday and Tuesday. If you are comfortable operating a large vehicle there are
opportunities to drive/deliver food multiple days a week. If you have a physical limitation
there are many lite tasks such as sorting and portioning available. ADA friendly.
Most volunteers will be "shoppers", putting together orders for f a.m.ilies. Enriching
the lives of others never felt so good.
It takes over 150 volunteers and almost 3000 volunteer hours each month to keep the
Edmonds Food Bank running.
Learning objectives: Increase your communication and English reading skills, further
develop your organizational and social skills. Learn how to replenish stocks, implement
food hygiene standards, maintaining clean storage spaces. Experience how to address
food insecurity.
Benefits: Improve your physical and mental health, expand your social network and
your professional connections.
Volunteer as you are able, times are flexible. Even one hour helps.
Located just 3 miles (4.82 km) from c a.m.pus at 828 Caspers St, Edmonds, WA 98020
Community Transit bus 196 drops right in front.
info@edmondsfoodbank.org for more information. Background checks and applications will be needed when you
first start. Sign in/out sheets for both the college and food bank are needed each
time you go. One for their grant, one for your Service Learning credit.
(Normally, the Edmonds Food Bank will be closed if the Edmonds School District is
closed due to inclement weather. In all other cases, such as when the school district
is delayed or on holiday, the Edmonds Food Bank will be open during normal hours.
Check website or call 425-778-5833 for more details )
Farmer Frog is a long time community partner of Edmonds College and creator of our campus farm
hoop-house. They continue to support the college by assisting in providing fresh produce
and goods for our Food Pantry.
They are in the process of moving locations but there is plenty to still do at their
current location.
They hold work parties at Paradise Farm to clean up the site and prepare for growing
crops. Scheduled work parties are on their work party calendar.
Learning objectives: Physical tasks on a working farm in Snohomish County. History
of the land while assisting in food distribution or food planting/harvesting/maintaining.
Benefits: Physical movement, mostly outdoors. Feel the wind. Helps with your mental
state and fellowship. Networking.
Located 19 miles (30.5 km) from c a.m.pus at 23210 Paradise Lake Rd., Woodinville
WA 98077 carpooling is a great idea.
Connect with Your Local Senior Neighbors by lending a hand here and there, or just
being there to offer your company!
At Northwest Neighbors Network (NNN), our Volunteers serves seniors in Southern Snohomish and North King County with ¨good
neighborly¨ tasks like offering rides, running errands, helping at home, taking out
the garbage, shopping, helping with technology support, with gardening, social visits
and more.
We offer an easy, flexible, self sign up process to make volunteering easy, at your
pace and fun! Select services (1 at a time, when you want to) that appeal to you and
connect with a neighbor in need.
Benefits: Social isolation is a major issue that many older adults face. The feeling
of loneliness and few interactions with others can negatively impact a person’s health.
Getting out into the community and volunteering promotes socialization for both yourself
and others you are helping.
Our office is always open for suggestions and feedback. If there are any opportunities
you would like to see or any organizations you could see providing a beneficial learning
experience to students please let us know below.
Volunteer at the Food Pantry
Zooniverse Research Projects