Developing undergraduate community psychology pedagogy and research practice

Abstract

In this study two community psychology students describe their experiences in participating in different types of “green” volunteer sustainable programs. In the first scenario, Anthonie Collins describes his experiences in working with young men in a youth detention facility and how the participants discovered the intrinsic value of maintaining a vegetable community garden. In the second scenario, Jordan Seitz describes her experiences in organizing a community apple harvest at a local fruit tree orchard in Wyoming, MN. At the conclusion of their community service projects, participants were interviewed regarding their overall subjective experiences in participating in an outdoor “green space” community service project and how superordinate programs that provide increased positive contact helped improve understanding of persons from ethnically diverse cultures and appreciate the value of outdoor “green” voluntary programs.

KEYWORDS:

• Community engagement
• “green” space activities
• horticulture
• community connectedness
• volunteerism
• stewardship