Reach Your Peak Curriculum

Each lesson outlined below includes references to the Reach Your Peak/National Youth Service Day Tool Kit that complements this guide. In the Tool Kit, you will find planning guides, sample projects, additional resources and materials about Reach Your Peak (RYP) and National Youth Service Day (NYSD). If you would like to be kept informed of new information from Reach Your Peak, sign up for our mailing list. (Note: This is also available in Spanish. Contact us for more details.)

What is the D.R.E.A.M. Curriculum and Why?

About Reach Your Peak and our Sponsors

An Introduction to Service Learning

Student Workpages

DREAM YOUR LIFE!

Lesson 1:  DREAM: What does REACH YOUR PEAK mean to you?

This is the beginning process.  Think about what those three words together mean to you in anyway that comes to mind and write an essay of no more than 250 words defining it.  This is the basis for the Essay contest of which the winners will receive grants for service projects from RYP.

Lesson 2:  DREAM: Introduction to Identifying Your Goals and Service

Explore goal-setting and service and the key roles young people can play in the creation and implementation of individual and community goals.  Review Reach Your Peak and NYSD and their primary goals to set the foundation for the planning process. Identify what Reach Your Peak means to each student.

MAKE IT HAPPEN!

Lesson 3:  RESEARCH: Researching Your Goal

Map your community’s needs and assets and promote community awareness.  Learn everything there is to learn about your goal and how to accomplish it.

Lesson 4:  EVALUATE: What you need to Achieve your Goals

Set Goals and make strategic plans using the "See It, Believe It, Build It, Do Something" model.

Lesson 5:  ACTION: Through Mobilizing your Community

Reach out to community volunteers and call upon the skills of others.

Lesson 6:  ACTION: Through Building Community Partnerships

Include people from various walks of life in your project

Lesson 7:  ACTION: Through Fundraising

Research and secure funds and resources for your  project.

Lesson 8:  ACTION: Through Media and Publicity

Alert the public via letters, press releases, public service announcements and advertising.

REACH YOUR PEAK!

Lesson 9:  ACTION: Final Preparations for your RYP Project and Global Youth Service

Make thorough plans to ensure that everyone is ready and put your plan into action, and discuss status on Personal Goals

Lesson 10: MOTIVATION: Through Reflection and Celebration

Learn how to motivate and recognize everyone who helped reach the goal through reflection, and celebration.

Appendix

Sample "Thank You" Letter

Curriculum Connections

Additional Service-Learning Resources

Resources on Incorporating "Youth Voice"

Acknowledgements

Contact Information

Download complete curriculum in Adobe Acrobat format

Complete Curriculum File (189kb)