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Show said Shepard. Rob Clayton, head of The Winter Sports School, also believes in the impact volunteering has on students. "It's absolutely valuable," he said. The private high school for winter sport athletes requires its students to complete 12 hours of community service each year in order to graduate. Kids donate their time at the NAC, Friends of Animals, Habitat for Humanity, the Egyptian Theater, and Adopt-aNative Elder. Although the students generally volunteer on their own, this year Clayton hopes to incorporate community service into the annual senior expedition. The students will travel to the Navajo Reservation to build a wheelchair ramp. Clayton says most students go beyond the 48 hours, with one student reaching 140 hours of volunteer work. "We give an award, at senior graduation, to the student who does the most," he said. He adds that.the community service requirement is a good experience for the student athletes. "It's exposure to things outside their normal worlds." Former Winter School parent Deb Lanning agrees. Both her sons, Alex and TJ. attended the school and volunteered their time to local organizations such as the NAC. "I want them to be well-rounded and not just athletes," she said. Lanning is pleased with the schools efforts to teach their students the benefits of volunteering and recommends it to others as well. "It should be part of growing ' up," she said. PCHS sophomore J.T. Mclntyre has made volunteering a part of his upbringing. He is a Boy Scout and completes volunteer work through the organization. Mclntyre has collected food for donation and removed barbed-wire fence from the wetlands area behind the Canyon Creek Apartments. Mclntyre says he enjoys volunteering with his fellow Scouts. "I like helping other people and its fun to do with friends," he said. Treasure Mountain Middle School's International School, based on the International Baccalaureate program, includes community service as part of its requirements. Students must donate 15-20 hours of their time on a project of their own choice. Projects range from making blan- kets for The Peace House to creating activity kits for sick kids and their siblings at Primary Children's Hospital. TMMS parent and International School planning committee member Lisa Cilva-Ward says many students go beyond the required hours. She estimates her 13-yearold son Hayden spent 90 years raising funds for a community sports scholarship through Basin Recreation. "He worked his tail off. He made a public commitment to the community and it really motivated him," said Cilva-Ward. Ov • Club lv\V€v<?icV >- fiw\t G t y H"wl^ ^cV\ool » . /Ac The soon-to-be eighth grader has enjoyed giving back to his community. "Not to sound cliche, but it's very rewarding," said Ward. Cilva-Ward adds that the altruistic efforts arc crucial for Park City teens. "Crowing up in a very affluent area and especially at this age, it's important for kids to look outside themselves and notice that there arc needs in the world far greater than theirs," she said. Cilva-Ward is no stranger to working with Park City teens to instill in them a sense of community. For seven years, she served as director for Jump-In!, a program geared toward Park City High School students, primarily juniors and seniors. During the school year, the kids complete "modules," including teambuilding, communications and diversity. One particular module, "Urban Plunge" exposes the students to life at the homeless shelter in Salt Lake City. "It helps them understand that stereotypes of the homeless aren't accurate," said Cilva-Ward. Recently placed under the direction of the National Ability Center, Jump-In! also helps students identify their strengths and weaknesses and make conscious choices about what impact they can have on their community, according to Cilva-Ward. Just like the students enrolled in the International School, she has witnessed the impact volunteerism has had on the Jump-In! participants. "Kids are so amazing in their changes and transformations. You see kids rise to the surface and show their true character," said Cilva-Ward. Park City Parent Back to school / 08.2004 "AM fcUsS C"£.C/y • • . . ' • ; • ' - • '•-' or Jess Ret^. Re^il Estate Jw*Ap~H\! . . P«»k City VfyU ^cUool ov N^IHOH^II Ability Center RcnvV City H»^U ^cUool j •" .. . *TVe^^S^re MoiAHt<?u* Ki^Ale School • p . - • • * . - . • • * " - t - . ^ f f ' -• '•' ^ - . " • " • - - ' - ; • " . ' •••••' '••''.. - -- • - •**> * •»* * t * i 27 |