Abstract
This article describes a service-learning partnership between a first-year Environmental Studies/Science course at Trent University and the Haliburton–Muskoka Children's Water Festival, an event held in rural Ontario about 125 km from the university. The partnership was brokered by the U-Links Centre for Community-Based Research, an independent, Haliburton-based nonprofit. Key issues explored in the article include the challenges of rural service learning, striking an equitable partnership between university and community, and offering service learning within a large class setting. The article concludes with a series of lessons learned from the case.
We acknowledge the research assistance of Sarah Burgess as well as the organizers of the Haliburton–Muskoka Children's Water Festival for their contributions and partnership.