Many youth eagerly participate in community service projects, whether spearheaded by church groups or with a nonprofit organization whose mission matches their interests.

But sometimes "community service" gets a bad name when mandated by schools, especially when used as a penalty for some infraction or as another layer of requirements for graduation.

The Indiana Department of Education would like to ensure that such projects are meaningful for students.

Using the term "service learning," the department states projects should have five elements to be effective: They must have stated learning outcomes, involve meaningful service, make use of community partners, and afford opportunities for reflection and celebration.

IPS's Key Learning Community is committed to service learning. Its high school students are required to join a service learning team each school year. This past year, the teams were in animal welfare; domestic abuse prevention; hunger; working with the elderly; conflict resolution; and greenway preservation.

Lillian Bronson, a sophomore, and Gorgi Parks Fulper, a freshman, joined the animal welfare group along with about 35 other students. Lillian described their role: "A service group is people working for a cause to give back to the community and to basically make a change in an area that they think needs to be changed."

The group's mission was to help animals, and they did it by visiting different organizations that worked with animals and for animal welfare. They then teamed up with Indianapolis Animal Care and Control, the city agency that picks up stray and mistreated animals and operates a shelter.

Both students are animal lovers and joined the group as a way to give back the support they've received from their pets.

"In a way, they've always been there. They can also be your support system if you think about it. If you've had a really bad day and you have a little thing to cuddle up to, it makes you feel better," said Gorgi.

Under the supervision of three teachers -- Gari Williams, Ralph Neth and Patience Calvert -- they visited the shelter at least once a month to play with and care for the animals. What they saw there sometimes broke their hearts.

"Many people neglect and abuse their animals and just leave them out to fend for themselves. They don't care if they run away or if they don't eat that day. It's so overwhelming," said Gorgi.

"There were a lot of pets that didn't have any homes," Lillian added. "I learned how really and truly sad it is to see all these animals that are being neglected and not taken care of by humans and how humans can be so ignorant in a way not to take care of their pets."

The students often came away from the shelter with mixed emotions.

"The worst part was probably going to the shelter and seeing how these animals were and their conditions and how much they really needed a home," said Lillian. "The best part was seeing the animals be so happy to play with you and enjoy being around you."

Upset with the poor care many animals receive from their owners, the students decided that pet-care education would be the theme of their final project. They wanted to make it fun, though, so they came up with Pet Day, a school celebration that would be open to the public, too.

First, the team had to publicize the May 26 event at school and in the neighborhood. Then, the day before Pet Day, they brought in their adult partners at Indianapolis Animal Care & Control to help educate the younger students about general pet care.

"They wanted us to get out how important it was to care for your animals and to spay and neuter your animals and to give them their vaccinations so they wouldn't become sick," said Gorgi.

On Pet Day, students and neighbors brought their dogs to school for treats, play and grooming.

"Pet Day was a community event, where people could bring in their dogs to play with other dogs, and then there were also treats and bandannas you could buy," said Lillian. "The money went towards the shelter."

Those involved in the project called the event a success. The team made $80 that would be spent on flea medications and other supplies for the shelter.

There were several hairy moments, however.

"It was hard trying to make sure that all the dogs that were brought had shots and were dog-friendly and human-friendly, because we didn't want wild dogs coming to our school," said Lillian.

Gorgi added it sometimes became chaotic with all the dogs and kids, "especially with the face painting, because everybody wanted their face painted at one time."

However, the girls feel they fulfilled their mission to educate the public, especially kids, about how to treat and care for animals.

"Kids learn by example, so if someone's parent is being cruel to animals, then most likely they are going to grow up and be like that. It's gonna keep going until someone steps in and says it's wrong," Gorgi said.

REPORTERS: Clare Welch, 12; Justin Byers, 12; Max Dean, 12.

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