Community Education - Rochester, Minnesota

Summer of Service is a service-learning summer program for youth entering grades 5-10. During each two-week session, students will work in teams to perform service projects in our community, witness the missions of local organizations firsthand, and reflect on how their personal talents can be used in service to others. Fridays are designated for Fun Friday activities where we will celebrate our work! Join SOS for two weeks of fun today!

We recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of SOS, and we can't wait to continue our mission:

“The main reason to begin a Summer of Service program in our community is to show youth that our community values them and challenges them to contribute through service…This Summer of Service program will give our youth the skills and tools necessary to help our community, at the same time allowing them to develop through a structured program.”

-Proposal for SOS in 1997

SOS Sessions (Monday-Friday)

Session 1: June 16-20, 23-27. No SOS on June 19

Session 2: July 7-11, July 14-20

Session 3: July 21-25, July 28-August 1

Students are welcome to register for multiple two-week sessions. Similar service projects may be repeated between sessions.

Location

Summer of Service will be based at Willow Creek Middle School this year. Students will be dropped off and picked up there. Buses will transport students to and from project sites.

Drop-off and Pick-up

Supervision and building access will not be available for students before and after the program. We kindly ask all parents/guardians to respect these times to ensure the safety and well-being of our students.

Drop-Off: 7:30-8:00 AM Students may NOT be dropped off prior to 7:30 AM.

Pick-Up: 3:30-4:00 PM All students MUST be picked up promptly before 4:00 PM.

T-Shirts

You will see us all over town in our iconic tie-dye t-shirts. Participants must wear an SOS t-shirt each day. One t-shirt is included, and additional t-shirts can be purchased during registration. Returning participants may wear SOS t-shirts from previous years.

Community Partners

We are proud to serve non-profit organizations in Rochester and the surrounding area. We take buses to their locations, they teach us about their missions, and we help them with whatever projects they have planned for us. Ten students can get a lot done in just a few hours, and over the course of the summer, multiple teams of SOS students can leave a meaningful impact. These are a few of our partners from recent years:

Camp Companion

Channel One

Family Promise Rochester

Habitat for Humanity

PossAbilities

Seasons Hospice

High School Students

In previous years, the age range for SOS had encompassed grades 5-12. This year, we are tailoring the SOS experience so that high school students can take on new leadership responsibilities.

Entering Grades 9-10: Register here as an SOS participant. Part of your team's time together will be separate from younger students.

Entering Grades 11-12: By application only. A limited number of students entering grades 11-12 may assist staff in leading SOS activities. Apply online by 4/25/2025. Please contact Josh Halverson (johalverson@rochesterschools.org) for more information.

Medications

Students must self-carry and self-administer all medications.

Keep in Touch

Please contact Rochester Community Education with any questions at RochesterCE@rochesterschools.org or 507-328-4000 Ext.1.