UNITED STATES
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Upon arrivalYour 24-hour Tour Director will meet you at the airport and remain with your group until your final airport departure. You’ll also have a private coach and driver while touring for the next six days.
City in briefSeattle, a port city of rolling hills, boasts beautiful surroundings. It features several parks and gardens as well as numerous institutions of arts and culture, such as live theaters and a downtown art museum. Pioneer Square was once the heart of the city and is now an important historic attraction.
Room and boardYour base for the next six nights will be in the Seattle area, in dorm-style accommodations* where breakfast will be provided. *Hotel accommodations can be substituted upon request.
Welcome and orientation sessionThis afternoon, your group will have an orientation session with your Tour Leader, who will cover the health and safety aspects of your program as well as explain plans for the week ahead.
Group dinnerEnjoy dinner together this evening.
Daily reflection and group discussion"We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience." - John Dewey On every evening of the program, we’ll set time aside to update your Reflection Journal and share thoughts and impressions that have come up during the day.
Start the morning with a brief orientation, where your group will discuss the day's service activity, the importance and relevance of the project, and how you can apply what you learn today to your daily life back at home. Note: Service activities can be developed based on group needs and requests.
Housing and HistoryMany cities have issues regarding affordable housing and homelessness, and natural disasters have only made the issue worse. These issues persist in different neighborhoods throughout Seattle. Working on housing and homelessness is not only a great way to help the city rebuild, but also an important way to learn about its history. Projects may include: • Home rebuilding and construction • Vacant lot clearing • Assisting local homeless shelters
LunchLunch will be provided at the project site.
Bill Speidel’s Underground TourBill Speidel's Underground Tour is Seattle's most unusual attraction, a humorous stroll through intriguing subterranean storefronts and sidewalks entombed when the city rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1889. The 75-minute guided walking tour begins beneath Doc Maynard's Public House, then spills into historic Pioneer Square, Seattle's birthplace, before plunging underground for an exclusive, time-capsule view of the buried city.
Group Dinner and ReflectionThis evening, enjoy a group dinner followed by some time to reflect on the day's activities and discuss what you’ve learned from your service.
Ghost TourAfter dinner, prepare to get scared on a ghost tour of Seattle!
Begin the day with a brief orientation to discuss the day's service activity, the importance and relevance of the project, and how you can apply what you learn today to your life at home.
Neighborhood RevitalizationA city is made of many vibrant and unique neighborhoods, each with its own history, culture, highlights, and challenges. Neighborhood revitalization emphasizes the residents’ quality of life, specifically in low-income areas. This approach is a great way to support Seattle while learning more about what makes the place special—its people and neighborhoods. Projects may include: • Neighborhood and park beautification projects (murals, plantings, etc.) • Park clean-ups and planting • Blighted property and lot clean-ups • Community center support • Neighborhood canvassing and surveying • Storm drain clearing
LunchLunch will be provided at the project site.
Walking Tour and Pioneer SquareEnjoy a walking tour of Seattle and explore Pioneer Square. This was the birthplace of modern Seattle and its first downtown area. Most of the Square’s buildings were constructed shortly after the Great Fire of 1889.
Group DinnerEnjoy dinner together.
Evening Reflection and Group DiscussionYour group will be joined by a local educational speaker to discuss the importance of your service work and how it’s benefiting the area. Afterward, there will be time for discussion and reflection.
Start the morning with a brief orientation, where you’ll discuss the day's service activity, the importance and relevance of the project, and how you can apply what you learn today to your daily life back home.
Environmental SustainabilityEnvironmental sustainability is one of the greatest challenges facing the country today. From rising sea levels to sinking wetlands and bayous to natural disasters, the future is dependent upon responding and adapting to climate change. Environmental sustainability projects not only have an immense impact on the community but also provide great educational opportunities for the volunteers. Projects may include: • Working in public green spaces and urban gardens/farms • Ecosystem restoration • Conservation and disaster management projects • Planting trees and rain gardens in flood-prone areas
LunchLunch will be provided at the project site.
Harbor CruiseEnjoy a harbor cruise around Seattle.
Group Dinner and Evening ReflectionEnjoy dinner as a group followed by some reflection and discussion time.
The Space NeedleTake the 41-second ride up 520 feet and stick close to the windows. As you head up the Space Needle, Seattle reveals its green and blue glory beneath you. Once on the deck, you can take in a 360-degree view of the Emerald City.
Begin the day with a brief orientation session to discuss the day's service activity, the importance and relevance of the project, and how you can apply what you learn back home.
Education Service ActivityEducation is the key component to the sustainability, long-term growth, and prosperity of a city. From elementary school to high school, a community can only go as far as the quality of its education system. Unfortunately, work is needed at many schools across the country. Education-related volunteer projects not only provide short- and long term benefits to the communities served, but they also highlight the challenges and benefits of the education system. Projects may include: • School and playground beautification • Classroom and library organization • Painting classrooms • Technology support
LunchLunch will be provided at the project site.
Local ExcursionOptions for this afternoon’s activity may include the Seattle Zoo or a tour of Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum.
Group Dinner and Evening ReflectionEnjoy dinner together followed by some time to reflect on the day’s activities and discuss what you’ve learned from your service project.
Start the morning with a brief orientation session to discuss the day's service activity, the importance and relevance of the project, and how you can apply what you’ve learned upon returning home.
Arts & Culture Service ActivityThe arts have a tremendous ability to change individuals and groups in positive ways—investment in this area can improve the local economy and increase residents’ quality of life. Volunteer art projects can help cultivate community by communicating the area’s history and bridging the gap between different cultures. Projects may include: • Mural painting • Museum or community art center support • Cemetery clean-up • Working at a local art or music festival
LunchLunch will be provided at the project site.
Seattle Great WheelEnjoy uninterrupted views of Seattle and Elliot Bay while taking a spin on the Seattle Great Wheel. It was the tallest Ferris wheel on the West Coast when it opened on June 29, 2012.
Pike Place MarketVisit Pike Place Market, the oldest continually operating farmers’ market in the United States. Today, more than 100 farmers, 150 craftspeople, nearly 300 commercial business people, and 50 performers contribute to the Market experience. You will enjoy dinner here tonight.
Final Reflection and Discussion SessionThis evening, you’ll make the final entries in your Reflection Journal and share some of the most significant observations and perspectives that have taken shape throughout your Service-Learning week in Seattle. We’ll also discuss how these experiences may be most relevant for us all as we return home.
Your rewarding and enjoyable Service-Learning in Seattle program comes to an end as your Tour Director accompanies your group to the airport on your final day.
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