In the Lower School, the words “Gift Ark” are everywhere: on posters, in classrooms, and often overheard in students’ conversations. Say “Gift Ark” to any fourth grade student and watch them transform into a young leader. “The Gift Ark is a group of animals we’re donating to a community that needs more food and work,” fifth grader Lindsey Gunther says confidently as she explains fundraising plans for the project. “People will get food and supplies from the animals, like milk, meat, and eggs, and some of the animals can actually help people do work. We really need to try to help as many people as we can.” Lindsey was a member of last year’s Gift Ark fundraising committee, a group of students that met with fourth grade teacher Christine Brennan twice a month to organize efforts for the purchase of the Gift Ark. Once fundraising is complete, the Gift Ark will be purchased through Heifer International and donated to a community. Heifer International will also provide training to the Gift Ark recipients so community members get the most from their animals. Although the purpose of the project is to give to others, the Gift Ark is a prime example of how service learning projects give as much to those performing service as those receiving it. Perhaps unexpectedly, the Gift Ark project arose last year from the 2016 presidential election. During the weeks leading up to the election, Lower School teachers and administrators sought ways to help students understand the democratic process in a positive, productive light. Their goal was to teach students how to respect differences and look for common ground. To model the election process, the Lower School decided to hold an election of their own to “elect” an animal that the school would donate through Heifer International to a family or community in need. Students learned about primary elections, campaigning, and the voting process. The election involved the whole Lower School, creating a spirit of collaboration and community. Each class researched the benefits different animals provide and made posters and speeches to advocate for their choices. As they researched, fourth grade students discovered that Heifer offered an option that was not initially on the primary ballot: a “Gift Ark” that would provide all the resources a community would need to sustain several kinds of animal agriculture. By their own initiative, fourth graders successfully campaigned for the Gift Ark to be added to the ballot. The Gift Ark won the election, demonstrating to students the power of their own choices and voices in the democratic process. Along with a sense of urgency, the victory of the Gift Ark also imparted new responsibilities. The cost to purchase and donate the Ark is $5,000, which is well beyond the budget that teachers and administrators originally envisioned. Instead of viewing the cost as an obstacle, however, fourth grade students chose to accept it as a positive challenge. They formed a committee to create plans for fundraising, and reached out to parents and teachers for support. Some of their fundraising efforts included writing a grant proposal to Greensboro Day School’s Philanthropy Council, organizing a donation- based rock, paper, scissors tournament, and speaking to grandparents and special friends on Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day. As of November 2017, students had raised $2,863 toward the purchase of the Gift Ark, and fundraising efforts will continue this year, as the new fourth grade class steps into their role as Lower School leaders. For students in the Lower School, the Gift Ark has become an opportunity for students to practice tenacity, providing opportunities that no one expected when the project began. It has forged new connections between students, teachers, and community members and deepened students’ understanding of the world outside our school walls. Fritz Vaneus ’29 votes in the Lower School Heifer International animal election. Service Learning: the Gift that Keeps Giving By Kathy Goodkin 22 | Winter 2017