SL Showcase

Service-Learning

What is Service-Learning?

An educational approach that integrates service in the community with intentional learning activities.

Canadian Alliance for Community Service-Learning

Co-Curricular Service-Learning

In service-learning, you will have a chance to work with children and youth, apply course concepts to the real world, and get co-curricular credit while you build your professional network.

We're proud to be working with a wide range of community and campus partners as part of the service-learning program. Since 2016, our partner organizations have provided over 1,800 placements for Werklund students. Service-Learning primarily takes place in the Fall and Winter semesters, but there are some opportunities that begin or take place in the Spring and Summer semesters. 

These are the Service-Learning opportunities available for both semesters. Please use the red "Learn More" buttons to see more information about each opportunity. Please make a note of the Werklund dates and deadlines, as well as program-specific timelines on each program's page.

These programs take place between October and mid-December. Registration typically opens in early September.

  1. Academic Preparation Program

    Who - Werklund students who have completed 1+ Education courses.

    What - Support adult learners in foundational courses through small group tutoring, one-on-one assistance, and academic mentoring.

    Where - Online (Zoom)

    When -  Evenings and weekends; flexible scheduling dependent on the mentor and mentee availability

  2. City Hall School

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Join Calgary students to explore how the city works and share your voice.

    Where - Municipal Building 800 Macleod Trail SE.

    When -  School days, with dates and times varying by program and availability.

  3. Classrooms Without Walls (CWW) Volunteers

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Online teaching to students in Afghanistan and Ukraine.

    Where - Online

    When - Schedules vary based on student locations

  4. Complex Needs Educational Experience

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Support students with diverse learning and adaptive behaviour needs in Grades 10-12

    Where - William Aberhart High School

    When -  School days, 1.5 hours to 5 hours a week.

  5. Contemporary Kids

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Help children ages 5 to 12 explore and make contemporary visual art.

    Where - Contemporary Calgary

    When -  Sundays, 12-5PM

  6. Grade 1 Classroom Volunteers

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Support Grade 1 students complete hands-on math and literacy activity stations

    Where - Dr. J. K. Mulloy School

    When -  2 hours per week, scheduled around volunteer availability

  7. Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (IPSE) Literacy Tutors

    Who - Werklund students in their EDUC 400 courses or higher

    What - Plan and lead literacy-based lessons to enhance students' university experience

    Where - University of Calgary or St. Mary’s University

    When - Wednesdays afternoons

  8. Journey 2050 at the Calgary Stampede

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Sustainable agriculture inquiry-based classroom program for Grades 4-12

    Where - Stampede Park 

    When - School days, bookings-based

  9. Junior Achievement's Financial Literacy Workshops

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Deliver financial literacy workshops for children/youth

    Where - Locations vary based on session schedules

    When - School days, bookings-based

  10. Learning Buddies Network

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Help elementary students develop literacy and math skills through free one-on-one, after-school mentoring

    Where - Online, or in-person in Lower Mainland, BC

    When - Monday/ Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday. Minimum of 10 hours in a semester

  11. Let's Talk Science

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Support STEM demonstrations & learning in classrooms

    Where - Online or In-Person

    When - Weekdays, based on available events

  12. Literacy and Numeracy Support for High School ELLs

    Who - Students in their EDUC 400s courses or higher

    What - Work alongside experienced teachers to provide proactive support to students

    Where - St. Anne Academic Centre

    When -  Flexible between Monday to Thursday, 9 AM-3 PM

  13. Literacy and Numeracy Support for K to 9

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - ELL, Literacy and Numeracy, French and English support for K-9 Students

    Where - St. Matthew School, Calgary

    When - 2-3 hours per week

  14. Little Red Reading House

    Who - Recommended to EDUC 400s or Werklund graduate students

    What - Support early literacy programs and a love of reading

    Where - Little Red Reading House

    When - Weekdays, evenings, weekends available

  15. Pre-Pathways to Education for Indigenous Students (PEISSA) Program

    Who - Indigenous Werklund students in university for 2+ years

    What - Support Indigenous adult learners navigating university with peer support and mentorship.

    Where - Online (Zoom)

    When -  Evenings and weekends; flexible scheduling

  16. Sam Centre Volunteers

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Support field trips for K-6 students to the Calgary Stampede's Sam Centre

    Where - Calgary Stampede Grounds

    When - During school days, based on session schedule

  17. Stampede School Facilitators

    Who - Werklund students in their EDUC 400s courses or higher

    What - Support activities for education program run by the Calgary Stampede Foundation

    Where - Stampede Park

    When -  3-6 hours of week

  18. Support en littératie et numératie de la M à la 12 en français

    Who - All Werklund students who speak fluent French

    What - Support literacy and numeracy development in French

    Where - L'École des Hautes-Plaines, Airdrie, AB

    When -  2-3 hours per week

  19. Telus Spark School & Day Camp Support

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Support delivery, logistics, and prep of all curriculum-based activities that occur at the Science Centre

    Where - Telus Spark Science Centre, 220 St. George’s Dr NE

    When -  Weekdays, 9-2PM (optionally 9-12PM). Minimum of four shifts during the semester

  20. Trellis' Youth Programming

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Support and mentor youth with academic work and post-secondary education journeys

    Where - Locations vary: Bowness Club, Genesis Centre, Rundle NE

    When - 6-8 PM, days vary by location, possible Saturdays

  21. Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo School Program Volunteers

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Engage participants in learning and teaching experiences connected to Calgary Zoo/Wilder Institute

    Where - Weekdays, schedule varies based on volunteer availability

    When - Calgary Zoo, in schools, or online

These programs take place between January and mid-March.

  1. Academic Preparation Program

    Who - Werklund students who have completed 1+ Education courses.

    What - Support adult learners in foundational courses through small group tutoring, one-on-one assistance, and academic mentoring.

    Where - Online (Zoom)

    When -  Evenings and weekends; flexible scheduling dependent on the mentor and mentee availability

  2. City Hall School

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Join Calgary students to explore how the city works and share your voice.

    Where - Municipal Building 800 Macleod Trail SE.

    When -  School days, with dates and times varying by program and availability.

  3. Classrooms Without Walls (CWW) Volunteers

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Online teaching to students in Afghanistan and Ukraine.

    Where - Online

    When - Schedules vary based on student locations

  4. Complex Needs Educational Experience

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Support students with diverse learning and adaptive behaviour needs in Grades 10-12

    Where - William Aberhart High School

    When -  School days, 1.5 hours to 5 hours a week.

  5. Contemporary Kids

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Help children ages 5 to 12 explore and make contemporary visual art.

    Where - Contemporary Calgary

    When -  Sundays, 12-5PM

  6. Grade 1 Classroom Volunteers

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Support Grade 1 students complete hands-on math and literacy activity stations

    Where - Dr. J. K. Mulloy School

    When -  2 hours per week, scheduled around volunteer availability

  7. Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (IPSE) Literacy Tutors

    Who - Werklund students in their EDUC 400 courses or higher

    What - Plan and lead literacy-based lessons to enhance students' university experience

    Where - University of Calgary or St. Mary’s University

    When - Wednesdays afternoons

  8. Incoming TAB Support Volunteers

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Werklund undergraduates support Incoming TAB students from Australia and Japan

    Where - In-person, on campus, possibly around Calgary

    When - Participation depends on volunteer schedules and TAB events

  9. Journey 2050 at the Calgary Stampede

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Sustainable agriculture inquiry-based classroom program for Grades 4-12

    Where - Stampede Park 

    When - School days, bookings-based

  10. Junior Achievement's Financial Literacy Workshops

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Deliver financial literacy workshops for children/youth

    Where - Locations vary based on session schedules

    When - School days, bookings-based

  11. Learning Buddies Network

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Help elementary students develop literacy and math skills through free one-on-one, after-school mentoring

    Where - Online, or in-person in Lower Mainland, BC

    When - Monday/ Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday. Minimum of 10 hours in a semester

  12. Let's Talk Science

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Support STEM demonstrations & learning in classrooms

    Where - Online or In-Person

    When - Weekdays, based on available events

  13. Literacy and Numeracy Support for High School ELLs

    Who - Students in their EDUC 400s courses or higher

    What - Work alongside experienced teachers to provide proactive support to students

    Where - St. Anne Academic Centre

    When -  Flexible between Monday to Thursday, 9 AM-3 PM

  14. Literacy and Numeracy Support for K to 9

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - ELL, Literacy and Numeracy, French and English support for K-9 Students

    Where - St. Matthew School, Calgary

    When - 2-3 hours per week

  15. Little Red Reading House

    Who - Recommended to EDUC 400s or Werklund graduate students

    What - Support early literacy programs and a love of reading

    Where - Little Red Reading House

    When - Weekdays, evenings, weekends available

  16. Pre-Pathways to Education for Indigenous Students (PEISSA) Program

    Who - Indigenous Werklund students in university for 2+ years

    What - Support Indigenous adult learners navigating university with peer support and mentorship.

    Where - Online (Zoom)

    When -  Evenings and weekends; flexible scheduling

  17. Sam Centre Volunteers

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Support field trips for K-6 students to the Calgary Stampede's Sam Centre

    Where - Calgary Stampede Grounds

    When - During school days, based on session schedule

  18. Stampede School Facilitators

    Who - Werklund students in their EDUC 400s courses or higher

    What - Support activities for education program run by the Calgary Stampede Foundation

    Where - Stampede Park

    When -  3-6 hours of week

  19. Support en littératie et numératie de la M à la 12 en français

    Who - All Werklund students who speak fluent French

    What - Support literacy and numeracy development in French

    Where - L'École des Hautes-Plaines, Airdrie, AB

    When -  2-3 hours per week

  20. Telus Spark School & Day Camp Support

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Support delivery, logistics, and prep of all curriculum-based activities that occur at the Science Centre

    Where - Telus Spark Science Centre, 220 St. George’s Dr NE

    When -  Weekdays, 9-2PM (optionally 9-12PM). Minimum of four shifts during the semester

  21. Trellis' Youth Programming

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Support and mentor youth with academic work and post-secondary education journeys

    Where - Locations vary: Bowness Club, Genesis Centre, Rundle NE

    When - 6-8 PM, days vary by location, possible Saturdays

  22. Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo School Program Volunteers

    Who - All Werklund students

    What - Engage participants in learning and teaching experiences connected to Calgary Zoo/Wilder Institute

    Where - Weekdays, schedule varies based on volunteer availability

    When - Calgary Zoo, in schools, or online

Co-Curricular Service-Learning Dates

Learn more and register for events through the Werklund Experiential Learning Events list on Elevate.


Fall Semester Timeline

  • Fall 2025 Applications Open: August 28, 2025
  • Werklund Information Sessions: September 16, 5:00pm (Zoom)
  • Fall 2025 Applications Close: October 1, 2025 for smaller programs, larger placement applications are ongoing.
  • Fall 2025 Placements Start: early October (program dependent)
  • Fall 2025 Placements End: mid-December (program dependent)

Winter Semester Timeline

  • Winter 2026 Applications Open: November 14, 2025
  • Winter 2026 Information Session: November 18, 5:00 pm (Zoom)
  • Winter 2026 Applications Close: Ongoing, program-dependent
  • Winter 2026 Placements Start: early January (program dependent)
  • Winter 2026 Placements End: mid-March (program dependent)

Experiential Learning Check-In & Reflection Opportunities

All participants in Experiential Learning programs are welcome and encouraged to attend at least two of the check-in & reflection sessions below as part of their program. Reflection is an incredibly important part of experiential learning. It encourages students to consider their experience so far and to adjusted as needed as they go forward through the rest of their program, or into the next step of their career.


Check-In & Reflection Sessions

We've started to all registration for the check-in & reflection sessions on Elevate!

Check out and register for available sessions on here!

Other Werklund Experiential Learning Events

We have lots of other events and opportunities happening in Werklund Experiential Learning. You can see more information and register through the link below!

Check out what else is going on here!

Other Service-Learning Opportunities

The Volunteering with Diverse Communities Program (VDC) is an optional offering connected to the EDUC 450: Diversity in Learning course in the winter semester of our BEd program. While all Education students must take EDUC 450 before they graduate, the VDC program is an optional extension to enhance your experience in the course. 

Registration for this program opens in the Fall semester, and placement volunteering occurs in the Winter semester. 

Building Community & Connection in Classrooms is a collaborative opportunity with K-12 schools. This three-week service-learning placement gives students entering their final year of the program the chance to work alongside teachers as they begin a new school year. Participants support the school start-up process and work with teachers to develop classroom community and foster relationships with students from August until late September.

Registration opens in March, volunteering takes place in late August and September.

Connect Your Skills to Your Career! Visit Werklund's Graduation and Career supports here.

Collaborating with others ... to better understand and resolve challenges facing the communities we are all a part of.

Gemmel and Clayton, 2009