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Engaged Citizenship

Gould students and faculty spend a day of community service at a book fair for immigrant children in Lewiston, Maine

Service Learning & Civic Engagement

Serving with Purpose 

At Gould, service isn’t a requirement—it’s a value we live by. Through weekend volunteering, student-led fundraisers, and dedicated Four Point projects, students engage meaningfully with the world around them and the local Bethel community. They learn what it means to lead with empathy and make a real impact in the community.

Whether students are packing food boxes for local pantries or volunteering at organizations like Partners for World Health or Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services, Gould students serve with purpose. These hands-on experiences connect directly to our mission: preparing independent-minded, ethical citizens who lead lives of action and compassion.

Gould students volunteer at a community garden as part of a Martin Luther King Day of service

 

Students and Faculty join immigrants in Lewiston for a book festival

“ONE OF THE MAIN BENEFITS OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FOR OUR STUDENTS IS THAT IT BUILDS CHARACTER. IT HELPS STUDENTS TO ACTIVELY ENGAGE IN THE WORLD AROUND THEM. TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES,  AND FOSTER AN UNDERSTANDING OF OTHER CULTURES.”

- Adam Leff,  World Languages Department Chair

Learn More about Service Learning at Gould

Gould students teach kids to ski at Mt. Abram on MLK Day

 

How Students Serve

  • Tenth Grade Four Point includes a dedicated service learning component, where students collaborate with nonprofits and community groups.
  • Twelfth Grade Four Point Capstone Projects often center on service, encouraging students to address issues they care deeply about—locally or globally.
  • REACHOUT, our student-led civic engagement club, organizes fundraisers and service events throughout the year.
  • Weekend Opportunities let students volunteer with local partners and give back regularly to the Bethel community.
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a “day on” at Gould. In the spirit of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., each year we invite guest speakers to educate the community, travel to events at Bates College, and engage in service projects around the state.
Students volunteer for community service by preparing meals

 

Community Partners

Students have worked with organizations such as:

  • Bethel District Exchange & Food Pantry
  • Good Shepherd Food Bank
  • Partners for World Health
  • Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services
  • Immigrant Resource Center of Maine
  • Maine Adaptive
  • Preble Street