What happens when young people are given real, meaningful opportunities to lead, serve and make a difference in their community?
Engaging young people in service experiences not only benefits communities, it also nurtures skills in critical thinking, empathy, civility and leadership in young people. Service experiences are a powerful blend of both self development and community impact.
There are a lot of ways to do service. Depending on time availability, access, age and interest, there are many avenues to get involved in a cause.
Here are a few common types:
In youth development, service is inherently experiential. That is, youth actively take part in designing, implementing and learning from the experience.
Using frameworks like the Investigation, Plan, (take) Action, Reflect, Demonstrate (IPARD) model helps ensure that all young people are guided through a meaningful process that deepens their learning and amplifies their impact. Below are some best practices to consider as you plan a service experience.
Empower them to share and discuss their sparks and issues that matter to them. Chances are, they are well-aligned. When you coach youth through uncovering issues they’re passionate about and what they’re good at, they’ll build commitment and connection to the service experience you’ll plan together.
Youth deserve honesty and transparency (in age-appropriate ways) when exploring the issue they care about. Whether it’s mental health, gun violence or disaster relief, youth can handle complexity when given context and support by a caring adult. Resources are available to support your conversation.
Planning and sharing a service experience is a great opportunity to nurture positive relationships, share power and knowledge, and build leadership skills and connections among youth.
Go beyond the number of hours dedicated and people reached. Document stories, reflections, skills learned and connections built. Celebrate both community impact and personal growth in all of its meaningful outcomes with audiences who should know and care about this.
Encourage youth to think about ongoing engagement in this topic. Who else can they share this experience with? What’s next to address on this issue? Your support of any long-term involvement only adds to their civic identity and reinforces that actions make lasting, positive change.
When youth are given voice, agency and the support they need, service becomes more than volunteering—it becomes a transformative learning experience that strengthens both the individual and the community.
Lauren B., with the Otsego 4 Leaves 4-H Club in Sherburne County, exemplifies what meaningful service looks like through her ongoing partnership with CAER Food Shelf.
Her club addresses a real community need with their love of dairy. In two short years, they've contributed 70 boxes and over 400 pounds of cheese to support local families.
What’s more, they get these cheese curds from Ellsworth Creamery—the same place where Lauren’s family ships the milk produced on their own farm.
Lauren herself has also taken her learning and leadership even further by presenting this project at a national conference and even earned a purple ribbon at the Minnesota State Fair.
Lauren’s journey shows how youth-led service, when rooted in purpose and supported by caring adults, can grow into leadership that creates real, lasting change.
There are many ways for youth to make a difference! One resource that you may find helpful is right here with Minnesota 4-H.
Our State Ambassadors thoughtfully select a service theme each year and design projects that any youth, family or club could take on in their community.
Choi, Yoonhee, Jiyoung Han, and Hyejeong Kim. "Exploring Key Service-Learning Experiences That Promote Students’ Learning in Higher Education". Asia Pacific Education Review (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12564-023-09833-5.
Jones, Lisa. “Youth Civic Engagement Has Lasting Benefits.” International Youth Foundation, July 5, 2018. https://iyfglobal.org/library_item/caribbean-youth-empowerment-program-fact-sheet/
IPARD Service-Learning Process. Magnified Giving Programs. Accessed September 2025. https://www.mgprograms.org/ipard-service-learning-process.
Toole, James, and Pamela Toole. "Service-Learning: How to Design Service Experiences that Narrow the Opportunity & Achievement Gap." Saint Paul, MN: Compass Institute, Minnesota Alliance With Youth, 2015. https://mnyouth.net/wp-content/uploads/mn-alliance-servcie-learning-tool.pdf
© 2026 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.