Learning to serve, serving to learn
Be active in the world, and understand it in a whole new way. With Calvin’s Service-Learning Center, you can learn together through community-based service-learning and social justice activities in Grand Rapids and in other communities.
Related pages
Service-Learning Center
Explore the mission and values behind Calvin’s commitment to service, as well as a full list of service opportunities.
Quick facts
-
1,800+
students participated in service-learning projects in 2015–16
-
~12
spring break service-learning trips each year
-
54,000
total amount of service-learning hours logged by Calvin students in a year
-
195+
total active agency partners
Ways to serve
Opportunities to be the hands and feet of Christ are endless. From weekly community service to once-in-a-lifetime trips, there are all sorts of ways to get involved.
Our stories
-
Calvin University Addresses Environmental Concerns with New Book on Plaster Creek Watershed
In a new book, Gail Gunst Heffner, emeritus, and David Warners, professor of biology, illuminate the problems of Plaster Creek and similar waterways across the U.S. and urge readers to consider their roles in environmental stewardship. May 8,2024 -
How a spring break trip altered a Calvin sophomore’s perspective on justice
Sophomore Gisel Espinoza's service-learning trip to Louisiana over spring break equipped her with skills to “act justly” as an agent of renewal. March 24,2022 -
Nature is medicine: Calvin works to connect community with nature
Calvin University has joined the Campus Nature Rx Network, a group of 24 U.S. and Canadian Institutions that work together to help college students with their mental health through equitable engagement with nature. November 4,2021 -
Service-Learning Adapts with Local Volunteering
When Rebekah Van Zoest learned that Calvin’s traditional spring break would be canceled due to COVID, she helped organize a plan to connect Calvin student volunteers with local organizations that serve the community. June 9,2021 -
Calvin receives national recognition for community engagement
Calvin University is one of 359 campuses across the country to receive the Carnegie Foundation's Classification for Community Engagement in 2020. February 11,2020 -
Engaging interfaith dialogue at Calvin and Harvard Divinity School
This November, after two years of coordinating interfaith dialogue at Calvin College, senior Manato Jansen continued the conversation at Harvard Divinity school's prestigious Diversity and Explorations program. December 5,2018 -
StreetFest empowers students to serve city
With the theme "Seek Justice // Listen, Learn, Love," StreetFest 2018 will see all first-year and transfer students take to the streets of Grand Rapids to serve and learn from their community. August 31,2018 -
Calvin earns Tree Campus USA distinction
For the sixth consecutive year, Calvin College is honored with Tree Campus USA® recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to effective urban forest management. March 5,2018 -
Calvin College celebrates 25th anniversary of StreetFest
First-year and transfer students served alongside more than 60 community organizations in the city of Grand Rapids during Calvin's 25th annual StreetFest program. September 6,2017 -
Calvin College Joins NAC&U Consortium
Calvin College recently joined The New American Colleges and Universities (NAC&U), a consortium of institutions that values liberal arts education, professional studies and civic engagement. July 10,2017
See what we do
Learn to lead
If you discover that service-learning is a passion, you may want to consider inspiring others to get involved.