LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — In 2023, Governor Sanders passed the LEARNS Act, which requires students to complete 75 hours of community service in order to graduate. While many schools have worked to create volunteer opportunities for students, a newly established program aims to help out.
The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission recently launched a new volunteer program aimed to help high school students interested in gaining hands-on learning experiences in conservation earn community service hours toward their graduation.
“We’re really embracing Gov. Sanders’ initiative to get more people outdoors, especially our youth,” said AGFC Director Austin Booth. “Conservation has always been driven by people volunteering their time and resources into making this world better than they found it, so this was a natural fit for her vision.”
Partaking in community service can also help make a difference for students applying for scholarships and internships as they prepare to transition from high school to college.
“Besides being a requirement and a resume builder, volunteering is an opportunity to be more involved in your community and meet people with the same interests,” said Leah Hughes, AGFC Volunteer Program coordinator. “And, best of all, those students who participate are credited for their contributions.”
Teachers, parents, and students can direct their school administrators online and register their district to be endorsed for volunteer opportunities.
“The district needs to fill out this form to make sure that resources like transportation can be considered,” Hughes explained. “From there, we will send the request to our staff in that area to look for volunteer opportunities that can fill needs at the agency.”
Students will work with crews of AGFC staff to perform organized trail cleanups and help out at fishing derbies, archery tournaments, or other events.
“We’re trying to offer a variety of experiences so students can find something they can enjoy doing and feel like they contributed once the work is done,” Hughes said. “Having worked at many of our events myself, I can tell you that it can be so fun and fulfilling that you might have a hard time stopping at those minimum hours required.”
Districts that request volunteer opportunities from AGFC will be notified of events in their area, and receive priority placement for events with limited participation.
However, any student wanting to volunteer can also find opportunities as they become available at the AGFC’s web portal.
“We’re already loading the portal with opportunities as the school year is kicking off,” Hughes said. “Right now we have a conservation appreciation day and fishing derby and the World Champion Squirrel Cook Off scheduled in Springdale that will need volunteer help. There also are opportunities to help out at the Gov. Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center. I’m sure we’ll have even more coming as the school year gets underway and requests come in from the districts. I’d tell everyone to register with our Volunteer web portal and bookmark that page so they can keep an eye out for some fun opportunities to help carry on conservation in their communities.”
