The YELS Experience: Work

Students will have the opportunity to take two college-level courses:

Students will complete at least 60 hours of community service (helping to meet the requirement for Bright Futures Scholarships or for the service portion of IB CAS hours).

In the past we have worked with organizations such as: Alachua Conservation Trust, Citizens Co-op/Cooperative Communities, Early Learning Coalition, Wilmot Gardens at Shands Hospital, Community Weatherization Coalition/EarthGivers, Forage Farm, Florida Organic Growers - GIFT Community Garden planting, Current Problems/Adopt-a-River, the Repurpose Project.

Students will participate in evening programs, including a Speaker Series (featuring notable leaders in the fields of entrepreneurship & social entrepreneurship), a Mentor program (where students are paired with both undergraduate students pursuing a minor in Entrepreneurship or Organizational Leadership for Nonprofits and adult Entrepreneurs and Social Entrepreneurs), the New Heroes Film Series, visits to an Entrepreneurship Incubator, and many others. The program will culminate with an awards banquet on the final evening, recognizing the students for their leadership and entrepreneurial spirit.

Upon successful completion of the courses, students attending a Florida public school or Florida private school with a UF articulation agreement may earn 6 credits of dual-enrollment credit. Out-of-state students or students attending a Florida private school without a UF articulation agreement are NOT eligible to receive credit. Students who do not enroll for credit will receive a statement of completion which can be appended to high school transcripts. Students receiving credit can request that the credit be counted as elective credit towards a bachelor’s degree at public universities or colleges in the State of Florida or transferred to most other four-year colleges.