Service learning creates awareness, belonging, perspective, and an understanding of the world and its challenges that simply can’t be taught in a classroom. It’s an integral part of McLean School, and engages students in meaningful service to their school and communities through on-campus, off-campus, and international programs. As a graduation requirement, Upper School students are required to complete 40 Service Learning hours. Research shows that students learn best by (1) doing, (2) serving, and (3) reflecting on the experience. Our Service Learning goals for our students include:

• Intellectual development (problem solving)
• basic skills acquisition (communication)
• moral and ethical development
• social and civic responsibility

Service Learning Parternships and Experiences


Visits to the Brookdale Senior Center to perform songs, make holiday cards, and play Bingo with the residents.

Partnership with Comfort Cases to learn about foster care children and help pack overnight cases for them with donated personal care items and new socks.

Utilization of the “So What Else Program” and learning about “Pesky Plastics” to create classroom and family recycling charts after a visit to the Montgomery County Recycling Center.

Partnership with the Locust Grove Nature Center to learn about different environmental stewardship practices, such as invasive weed pull, stream clean up and park improvement projects.

Food preparation and donation collection for organizations serving our local communities, such as Shepherd’s Table, Martha’s Table, Nourish Now, The Hunger Project and Manna Foods.

Creating care kits, cards, blankets and activity bags for young people at the Children’s Inn at NIH, children living in foster care, active duty medical providers, first responders and military personnel, as well as for people experiencing homelessness.

Working at Bikes for the World, an international organization empowering people through access to transportation, and a Wider Circle, a local non-profit organization that supports families towards the goal of ending poverty.

Participating in activities to clean up our local environment and help reduce the impact of litter and invasive species in our parks with organizations such as the Rock Creek Conservancy.

Cross Divisional Buddy Program with K-4 students.

Raising funds specifically for Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and March of Dimes.