Serve to Learn/Animal Shelter
The Rougher Alternative Academy's Character Club has added a new component to our Serve-to-Learn Project. This year we have scheduled one afternoon per month to volunteer at the local animal shelter where the students walk the dogs, brush them, and play with them. The students have experienced the unconditional acceptance commonly displayed by dogs. They have experienced feelings of sadness that the dogs do not have permanent homes. They have also learned that the consequences of being irresponsible with pets go beyond the abandonment of an animal but also impact our entire community financially as well as the health and safety of the community. Our purpose is to contribute to our city and to the lives of others without the expectation of receiving anything in return. The students are asked to complete a reaction paper detailing their experiences and how these experiences have impacted their lives. We believe this type of service helps promote the development of relationships, empathy and moral action. The goal is for students to develop a sense of belonging and responsibility in our world as well as a desire to make a difference in the lives of individuals and in our community.