While many high school students will be relaxing or working, a large number of La Salle College High School students will be spending their time in service to others.This summer, 110 rising juniors will participate in one of three service immersion trips the week of May 27 to June 1, June 3- 8 and June 10- 15, 2012. This represents approximately 40% of their class. This is in addition to the 140 plus rising seniors who will volunteer in Bolivia, Saint Lucia, Montana, New Orleans, West Virginia, and Arizona.
What makes this impressive is that La Salle does not have a mandatory service requirement.
The Philadelphia Urban Immersion is a unique opportunity for students to live in community and work at various social service organizations in the city. Students will encounter the poor in soup kitchens, schools, churches, or on the streets. Students will have the opportunity to participate in homeless outreach, work at Project H.O.M.E. (West Philly), St. John's Hospice (Center City), Sarnelli House (Kensington), St. Lucy School for the Hearing & Visually Impaired, Holy Innocents Parish (Juniata), Habitat for Humanity (various locations), Bethesda Project (various locations) as well as other agencies. The week is educational, social, spiritual, and of course, impactful.
During each trip, approximately 40 students and 5 faculty chaperones will sleep on the floor at the Saint Peter Claver Center at 12th and Lombard in Center City Philadelphia. Highlights include:
- Each participant will volunteer 4 days at a social service agency and spend one night on street outreach. On Outreach, students will share food, drink, clothes, and friendship with those on the streets.
- Participants will tour the National Liberty Museum (2nd and Chestnut), which educates visitors about the importance good citizenship. In addition, John Delaney, Deputy District Attorney of Philadelphia will speak to the group about the Juvenile Justice System and the steps the city is taking to keep adolescents out of the system.
- Participants will plan and participate in morning and evening reflection sessions. They will be encouraged to apply their experiences to their life.
- Participants will take SEPTA or walk to all service sites and activities.
Click here to view the Group 1 Blog and Photos
