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Education & Training

Service Learning Programs

Build your resume and earn college credit. Our Experiential and Service Learning Program invites students to join our efforts in community engagement, social advocacy, and environmental justice — moving beyond the classroom.

Join the Program Explore Roles
Service Learning Programs
12
Intern Roles Available
Format
In-person & Online
Internships
Paid & Unpaid Available
Location
San Diego, CA & Beyond
Focus
BIPOC Community-centered
Service Learning in action
🌍
Community engagement, social advocacy & environmental justice
Our Mission

What do
we do?

We are creating opportunities for our youth. They will gain skills that make them more aware of society and nature. We will also equip them to be competitive in the job market. We want them to be self-starters who solve problems, not create them.

Students can choose from sessions that explore various aspects of nature — Earth, Fire, Water, and Air. All four factors necessitate deeper investigation and comprehension. Our programs attempt to take into account a comprehensive view of education across all four elements. Sessions are totally customizable based on the learner.

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Environmental Justice

Environmental
Programs

Environmental Program
San Diego
Nature-centered learning in the field
Program Goals
What we're working toward
  • Revitalize communities with BIPOC-focused workshops.
  • Emphasize balance, harmony, justice, order, and reciprocity.
  • Raise awareness about farming's impact on soil and water.
  • Promote holistic environmental practices.
Program Benefits
What you will gain
  • Engages students in nature-centered service learning.
  • Develops critical thinking, leadership, and environmental stewardship values.
  • Exposes students to diverse environmental career paths.
  • Raises awareness of community needs and enhances interpersonal skills.
  • Enhances resumes, scholarship applications, and networking opportunities.
Environmental Programs
Available Roles

Service-Learning
Programs

ASCENDtials' unique Service-Learning Program offers real-time Volunteer and Internship roles, providing students with opportunities for the practical application of knowledge that heals, crafting entrepreneurial and business acumen ready futures.

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Gain hands-on experience as a legal aid for our nonprofit. We are dedicated to providing low-income BIPOC families with comprehensive legal support. You will be responsible for conducting research, drafting documents, and providing legal advice and counseling for the community.
Help us maintain our organization's image. As a public relations intern, you will be responsible for assisting with media outreach, monitoring media coverage, and promoting our events. You will play a crucial role in gaining visibility for our organization.
Help out at our events! You will be vital to the efficient planning, organization, and implementation of our various programs. You will also be responsible for answering emails and fielding questions about our programs.
Identify and cultivate relationships with prospective individual, foundation, and corporate donors. You will also be responsible for coordinating fundraising activities to support ASCENDtials' initiatives. Must be local to San Diego.
Help us organize and run our various events. Manage event details such as catering, entertainment, transportation, location, and equipment, and ensure everything runs smoothly. Must be local to San Diego.
Plan, create, and code our web pages. As a web designer intern, you will be responsible for reviewing website templates, refining our designs, experimenting with website features, and enhancing user experience.
Create and edit flyers, banners, event logos, and other graphics. Help us create compelling digital content and grow your portfolio. Stretch your design skills, foster creativity, and gain experience working with Canva.
Take charge of our internal and external newsletters. Create our monthly newsletters and ensure they are sent out in a timely manner. Help us grow our readership and improve the quality of our content.
Perform clerical and administrative duties essential to keeping our organization running smoothly. You will be responsible for answering emails, setting up meetings, calendar management, and all things customer service.
Edit all social media, PR, and website content. Proofread copy for grammatical, spelling, punctuation, and formatting errors, and improve readability. Follow our style guide to ensure all copy adheres to the organization's style and voice.
Crafting compelling copy for social media posts, newsletters, website content, and other marketing materials. Do necessary research on assigned topics. Write content that suits our organization's style and tone.
Research and draft grant proposals and applications to acquire funding for our organization. Build relationships with current funders, and reach out to new potential partners. You will play a crucial role in keeping our organization running.
Our Framework

Program
Pillars

Six principles guide how we design learning experiences — from integrating academic knowledge with community service, to empowering every student voice.

Integrated Learning
Flagship Pillar
Integrated Learning
Where academic study meets real-world community impact — bridging knowledge and lived experience across all four elements of nature.
Read Program Brief
Quality Service
Quality Service
Collaboration
Collaboration
Student Voice
Student Voice
Civic Responsibility
Civic Responsibility
Continuous Improvement
Continuous Improvement
Our Team

Demographics of
current team

161
Total
Pacific 88
Eastern 45
Central 18
Other regions 10
Global Reach
ASCENDtials Global Reach Map
Pacific US — 88 Eastern US — 45 Central US — 18 GMT / UK — 5 Central Africa — 2 Middle East — 1 W. Europe — 1
Academic Partners

Top University
Partners

We partner with leading universities across the U.S. to offer students meaningful service-learning opportunities that count toward academic credit. These institutions trust ASCENDtials to provide enriching, community-focused experiences.

Become a Partner
California State University Monterey Bay
San Diego State University
University of California, San Diego
New York University
Fordham University
Volunteer Voices

Testimonials from
our volunteers

"

Volunteering with Ascendtials for the past 1.5 years has been an amazing journey. As a Business Development Manager, I've had the opportunity to contribute to growth by working on a wide range of events, connecting with stakeholders, identifying strategic partnerships, and helping build impactful community programs that align with Ascendtials' mission of cultural empowerment and holistic healing.

H
Harsha Sartandel
Business Development Volunteer
"

Volunteering with ASCENDtials has been a valuable experience so far. I've appreciated the trust and creative freedom I've been given, especially in my graphic design work. It's been rewarding to contribute to a team focused on meaningful, community-driven projects. This role has helped me strengthen my design skills in a real-world setting.

E
Esra Turhan
Graphic Design Volunteer
"

As a Program Manager at Ascendtials, I have the opportunity to design and lead community-focused programs that promote education, wellness, and sustainability. I work closely with a dedicated team to bring meaningful initiatives to life, while strengthening my skills in project planning and strategic development.

A
Anushree Kunigal
Program Manager Volunteer
How It Works

Explore our
learning programs

Students can choose from sessions that explore various aspects of nature. There are activities for the earth, fire, water, and air. All of these factors necessitate a deeper investigation and comprehension. Our programs attempt to entice students by seeking a comprehensive view of education and taking into account all four factors.

Students can make a difference by focusing on one or more areas. Sessions are totally customizable based on the learner. We can supply 15–25 hours per academic term, with a weekly demand of 3–4 hours.

To learn more, join us here or contact us at info@ascendtials.org, and someone from our staff will get back to you. Please include experiential/service learning in the subject line.

Ready to Start?
Begin your service learning journey today

Join our growing community of students making a real impact in San Diego and beyond. Academic credit available through our university partner program.

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Get in Touch

Still have
questions?

Schedule a call through Calendly and someone from our team will walk you through the program, available roles, and how to get started.

Join the Movement

Make an impact through
service learning

Move beyond the classroom. Develop civic knowledge and practical skills while working for our nonprofit in San Diego.

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