Service Learning Through Woodhull’s LEAD Program

Woodhull Intermediate School sixth graders recently participated in a powerful service-learning experience through the Learners Who LEAD program. The initiative gave students the chance to apply their classroom learning to real world issues while exploring their interests in helping people, animals, or the environment.

“Working in teams, they created action plans and carried out service projects that allowed them to practice leadership, communication and problem solving,” Principal Stephanie Campbell said. “The experience inspired students to become more engaged citizens and make meaningful contributions to their community.”

Woodhull faculty member Nicole Leggio serves as the teacher for the school’s Learners Who LEAD program.

Service sites visited:

• Helping Hand Rescue Mission

• Sunrise Assisted Living

• Sunken Meadow State Park

• Town of Huntington's Savings Court Park

• Petco

• Paumanack Village

• Huntington Senior Center

• Huntington Library

“These field trips were so much more than just an outing,” Ms. Campbell said. “Our students came back with a greater sense of empathy, increased confidence, and a stronger commitment to civic responsibility. It was incredibly rewarding to watch them engage with the community and develop as leaders, which was the true purpose of the program. I’m grateful to Ms. Leggio for bringing my vision for the program to life at Woodhull, and to our community partners for their generosity in hosting and supporting our students during these meaningful service experiences.”

Student Projects:

People-Focused Projects

• Organizing donations for individuals and families experiencing financial or food insecurity

• Making crafts with seniors

• Providing musical performances to seniors

• Designing and planting flowerpots for residents in senior housing

• Painting the gazebo at a Town of Huntington park

Animal-Focused Projects

• Collecting donations for the Guide Dog Foundation

• Creating dog blankets, ID tags, and decorative bandanas

Environment-Focused Projects

• Beach clean-up and painting lifeguard stands at Sunken Meadow State Park

• Planting a native garden at a Town of Huntington park

• Building butterfly houses, bug hotels, and seed bombs

Learners Who LEAD Collaborates on Community Field Trips

The Learners Who LEAD program collaborated with teachers Ashley Williams and Nicole Smith, who received funding through a SEPTA grant to support community-based learning experiences for Ms. Williams’ class.

The purpose of the field trips is to provide students with meaningful opportunities to practice essential life skills in real-world settings. For example, as part of a Learners Who LEAD lesson focused on helping the animal community, students visited Petco to shop for items that were later donated to the Guide Dog Foundation.

Student Reflections

“Following the service trips, our students took part in a community circle to reflect and share their experiences with peers,” Ms. Campbell said. Many expressed feeling proud and grateful for the opportunity to help others. Several students shared that it was exciting to apply what they’ve learned in the LEAD program to real-world situations and to see the positive impact they could make in their community. We look forward to seeing our fourth and fifth grade students begin their own service projects later this month as the Learners Who LEAD program continues to grow and empower future leaders at Woodhull.”

With student reaction running so positive, the Learners Who Lead program appears to have taken root at Woodhull.

“It’s powerful and inspiring to see our students step up, take initiative, and realize the impact they can have outside of school,” Ms. Leggio said. “They were respectful, hardworking, and truly committed. These are experiences that will stick with them forever,”