Service Fridays are part of our school-wide focus on community and culture.  As such, the learning we emphasize concentrates on building individual character and social skills as well as stewardship to the broader Bend community.  It is our hope that the process of identifying and addressing authentic community needs coupled with reflection and demonstration of learning will instill in students a drive to be active citizens, and give students a deeper understanding of and appreciation for their local community.

Our third suite of service-learning electives begins Friday, January 8th.  Every REALMS student participates in a continuous 8-week service-learning opportunity for one of the following  Service Partners.

Humane Society of Central Oregon (2nd year)

Equine Outreach (1st year)

Central Oregon Environmental Center (3rd year)

Commute Options (2nd  year)

Habitat for Humanity (1st year)

Whispering Winds (1st year)

Clare Bridge of Bend (3rd year)

Filling Bowls/Family Kitchen (1st year)

Why Serve? Documentary Project

At REALMS, we define service as responding to authentic community needs through direct and indirect actions.

Direct service is service in which student actions directly affect and involve beneficiaries.

Examples:  Working with elders &  Tutoring children

Indirect service is service that benefits the community or environment as a whole.

Examples:  Watershed restoration & Clothing collection & donation

We also know that service is hard.  Sometimes it is grunt work and sometimes it is hard to see how our work is impacting the people we are trying to serve.  It can be physically demanding, and service can also be emotionally and mentally taxing.  That’s why we’re all in it together, embarking on an expedition in the local community where we learn and grow through serving others.