Northwest Middle School is working to bridge the gap in opportunities for life skills students by engaging them alongside regular education students in the annual YVC Canstructure Contest.
This program, run by Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) of Reading, challenges students to build creative structures out of canned goods to fight hunger. Life skills students are those who receive specialized instruction to develop essential daily living, vocational, and social skills that promote independence and self-sufficiency.
Northwest has participated in Canstructure for years, giving life skills students the opportunity to contribute to their community in a meaningful and hands-on way. This year, their hard work and creativity were recognized with an Honorable Mention for Best Original Design in the 2025 YVC Canstructure competition!
Megan Faust, a life skills teacher at Northwest, shared the impact of these opportunities, stating, “When students with different needs are given access and the ability to participate in a supported environment, they are unstoppable. I get to see their confidence and independence grow through these types of programs.”
Life skills students often have fewer chances than their general education peers to engage in community-based learning experiences, making service learning an essential tool for promoting inclusion and equity. Through projects like Canstructure, students develop teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills in real-world settings, helping to build independence and confidence.
Lindsay Sites, Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading Program Director, witnessed the impact of this firsthand, stating, “I had the pleasure of doing a site visit at Northwest and got to see these students in action. They were so happy and excited, and the teamwork was unbelievable! I left feeling so inspired and thinking that we needed to do more to bring these opportunities to life skills students.”
Her words highlight the power of service learning in creating meaningful experiences that engage and empower students. Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading utilizes a service-learning model in all facets of its programming, ensuring that every volunteer opportunity is designed to teach valuable skills, promote social responsibility, and directly impact the community.
This model fosters a sense of civic engagement and responsibility among participants while also providing them with real-world skills they can apply in the future. Research shows that service learning enhances social and vocational skills, improves self-advocacy and motivation, and increases long-term engagement. Studies indicate that service learning helps students develop communication, leadership, and teamwork skills, improves academic outcomes, and fosters civic responsibility.
By incorporating service learning – like the YVC Canstructure Contest – into life skills education, schools can provide students with the real-world experiences they need to prepare for future employment, independent living, and active participation in their communities. Northwest Middle School’s Honorable Mention award is a testament to what students can achieve when given the opportunity to learn, create, and serve.
