Community Service has always been an integral part of the SMA experience. For the past 28 summers, SMA has
Barn Owl at Shavers Creek Enviornmental Center
The SMA Service Program…
The SMA Service Learning Program provides campers the opportunity to show commitment to yourself, to others and to your ability to shape the future. You are guaranteed to get your hands dirty. You may be involved in building new cages for Golden Eagles at the Shavers Creek Environmental Centre or work on watershed rehabilitation with the Clearwater Conservancy. Sometimes we work with a disabled older couple in painting and fixing up their home. The work can be challenging but the rewards are great as we learn to work as a team & give back to the community.
Meaningful Service Leaning Projects:
We choose SMA Service Learning Projects carefully to ensure quality & that we only go where help is wanted. It is a helping hand, not a handout.
Our projects will be designed to work alongside of local volunteers and deserving families. You will become part of our community while helping others, and knowing more about yourself.
What is the SMA Summer Project?
Each spring we at Stone Mountain Adventures will work to create a meaningful project that will impact the communities that surround Stone Mountain Adventures. The actual project will differ each summer, however at it’s core the Flagship Project will have the following similarities:
- An ongoing summer long project that every session will work on
- Perhaps a construction project where we can see our progress
- Sometimes, creative fund raising can be part of our project/
- The project will take us out of camp into our community.
Who are some of the the local organizations we work with?
How did we develop this program?
To help develop this program we called on the help of SMA founders Pam & Biff Houldin. They have extensive
Fence Painting at a Theraputic Riding Program for People with Dissabilities
service learning experience having also started Global Works in 1989, offering international service based for high school students. Now they are both involved in serving the community locally and abroad. “It is a dream of course to have Stone Mountain Adventures help develop the passion for local community service. Campers get as much out of helping others as the recipients. Service learning is a life long journey.”
Who can participate in the SMA Service Leaning Program?
The program is open to all campers at SMA. Priority will be given to Super Campers who will have the opportunity to take a leadership role on projects. When Service Learning if offered during the week, it will be one of the 7 activities for campers to choose from that activity time. Some campers who are excited about this opportunity will sign up every time it’s offered while others will only do Service Projects on Saturday afternoons. Our goal is to provide SMA campers with more opportunities to create positive change in the community & in themselves.
How many Service Hours can I earn each Session?
Campers will have the opportunity to sign up for up to 2 service learning activities each week in addition to the Saturday afternoon Service Activities.
Mixing Cement for a Hbitat for Humanity Project
- Session 1 (SMA1) – 27 Hours
- Session 2 (SMA2) – 18 Hours
- Session 3 (SMA3) – 18 Hours
- Session 4 (SMA4) – 36 Hours
- Session 5 (SMA5) – 45 Hours
- Session 7 (SMA7) – 63 Hours
Community Service needs to ethically responsible. SMA will evaluate all of its projects to ensure our hard work is going to deserving causes.