Iowa School Gives PE Credit for Helping Elderly, Disabled

A group of Iowa high school students are helping their neighbors prep their yards for summer — and getting P.E. credit at the same time!

Students at Alternative Learning Center in Dubuque, Iowa took the last two weeks before their summer break to help their neighbors with yard work. Social studies teacher Tim Hitlzer is responsible for starting this unique program.

“Once kids do it once, they wanna do it again. It’s good for them to learn real-life skills,” Hitzler tells PEOPLE. “They work hard, it’s not easy. They’re sweating when they’re done.”

The school allows for students to choose a number of activities for P.E. credits. Other students have chosen to clean up golf courses, while others have cleaned a river barge, according to Dubuque Community School District representative Mike Cyze.

A project four years in the making

Hitzler has been leading the program for four years. He got the idea after the school started its own garden. The program involves two hours of work each day during the last week of school.

“The students and I and other students come out and help them. Could be raking leaves, pulling weeds, cutting grass, cleaning gutters, just depends on what they need,” Hitzler told NBC affiliate KWWL.

“The students aren’t typically too excited at the beginning, but once they get involved and start doing the yard work, they become more motivated,” he added to the station. “They really like giving back to people and meeting the person.”

Cyze told local media that 29 ALC students participated in the service program in partial completion of the school’s P.E. requirement. Hitzler noted that 12 students requested to help with yard work specifically.

He says the community has really gotten behind the project, often inviting students for a cookout after the work is completed.

Some students have even chosen to continue volunteering over the summer months.

“I’ve had students that graduated that have come back to help,” Hitzler tells PEOPLE. “There’s something about helping people that really need it.”

Hitzler says he’s still surprised that the project has gotten so much attention online.

“It’s been amazing, the attention this has gotten,” he tells PEOPLE. “I think it’s because it’s such a simple idea.”

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