On Friday, Dec. 20, I was reading a book about kangaroos to kids called “Pouch” when I realized that doing the same thing for payment wouldn’t be the same.
The reason I’m bringing this up is that there’s a weekend job offering at the Children’s Museum as a facility fun manager (something to that effect). I’m tempted to take the position as a way of supporting my writing endeavors.
But the problem is this: what should volunteers do when they are offered a job?
Of course, the answer is dependent upon your situation. If you’re a student, you may not have time to work. If you’re already employed, you may not need the job. But if you take the job, how will the experience change?
The beauty of volunteer work is that you’re performing a service without an exchange of money. But if you can continue to enjoy the experience, why not take a paid job doing what you enjoy?
Volunteer work is centered on service. However when you volunteer, you meet awesome people, discover new things you enjoy, learn about yourself and realize you have potential.
If it were up to me, everyone would spend time doing volunteer work before they ever decided on a career path.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Minnesota Children’s Museum of Rochester: Volunteer Orientation
My volunteer orientation with the Minnesota Children’s Museum of Rochester is complete. We went through an informational PowerPoint, discussed learning techniques and played with Play-Doh®. What else would you do in training to become a “Playologist?”
I’ve been through a few of these orientations and, although the experience varies by organization, there are a few actions you can perform to ensure your success.
1) Be happy. Smile while greeting other volunteers or employees of the organization.
2) Firm handshakes and good pronunciation of your name. The goal here is being remembered. Some volunteer coordinators see a lot of volunteers in a given day. Don’t go overboard by dancing or screaming … too much … but ensure your presence is known.
3) Get to know another volunteer. May sure you’re paying attention to the orientation speaker but, if you get a chance, chat with another volunteer. It’s good to have friends at work for questions, problem solving and collaboration.
4) Know the job. Orientation is a great time for asking questions. If the job isn’t clear, ask as many questions as possible. Once you’re on the floor, you may not have the guidance you’re getting in orientation.
5) Have fun. You’re a volunteer, doing good work for a good cause. If you enjoy parts of the orientation, you will have a great time working for the organization.
I’ve been through a few of these orientations and, although the experience varies by organization, there are a few actions you can perform to ensure your success.
1) Be happy. Smile while greeting other volunteers or employees of the organization.
2) Firm handshakes and good pronunciation of your name. The goal here is being remembered. Some volunteer coordinators see a lot of volunteers in a given day. Don’t go overboard by dancing or screaming … too much … but ensure your presence is known.
3) Get to know another volunteer. May sure you’re paying attention to the orientation speaker but, if you get a chance, chat with another volunteer. It’s good to have friends at work for questions, problem solving and collaboration.
4) Know the job. Orientation is a great time for asking questions. If the job isn’t clear, ask as many questions as possible. Once you’re on the floor, you may not have the guidance you’re getting in orientation.
5) Have fun. You’re a volunteer, doing good work for a good cause. If you enjoy parts of the orientation, you will have a great time working for the organization.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Rochester Public Library: Tricks of the Trade
What? A public source for books, learning, events and more. Volunteer work includes tutoring, maintaining a book store, and working toward tidying up shelves with circulation.
Who? Mature high school students and up.
Volunteer Process Time: It took me a little over a month but can be done in two weeks time.
Website: http://www.rochesterpubliclibrary.org/
Soon, I will be volunteering at the library!
I completed orientation on Monday, Dec. 17 and should be able to start volunteering within the week.
For as long as I can remember, the smell and sound of pages turning has been comforting. I suppose one trick to the game of volunteer work is to make sure you do it somewhere that interest, excites, comforts or motivates you.
I hope to be tutoring, helping out with the library Facebook page and more. I will keep you posted.
Boys & Girls Club: Overcoming Chaos
Alright, its time to be honest. Volunteering with youth, no matter where you are, is going to be chaotic. Here’s my advice.
1) Remain calm.
2) Approach and address children one at a time.
3) Remember each child is unique and it will take time for you to understand him or her. Likewise, it will take time for children to understand who you are.
I’m inspired to jot down of few words of advice and encouragement while performing a youth service position because, as fun as it can be, small things make your work as a volunteer difficult.
For an entire hour of volunteer work on Monday, Dec. 17th, L was jumping out from corners of the room and screaming in my ears. I’ve struggled with this same young gentleman enough times in the past to know that he uses screaming as a coping mechanism.
Screaming, at least for L, helps him deal with stress. However, L manages to scream his stress directly into me.
So what do you do?
1) Remain calm and take a second to think about what to say.
2) Focus in on L and pay less attention your surroundings. The brain can focus and really zero in on one thing at a time. The Boys & Girls Club serves a lot of youth and there are a lot of distractions – but when it comes time to mentor a child, you need to focus.
3) Speak with with L. Discover screaming is “fun” for him. Explain, “L, I admire your creativity, but I think it would be best if you used it towards something that doesn’t harm or negatively impact others. You’re hurting my ears, buddy.”
4) Here’s an important step: Acknowledge that you aren’t going to permanently change a child’s life with one conversation. L continued to scream until he received a STEP (the discipline policy at the Boys & Girls Club, Rochester).
I’d like to comment on my last tip. Volunteers perform an awesome service and make a HUMONGOUS difference – one uninspired by the changing hands of money. However, remember to have fun, keep a positive attitude and give up some of the control.
You can’t always be the hero, changing lives for the better and keeping everyone safe. Other people don’t need a hero – not if we want them to grow up to be independent leaders.
Volunteer service is all about new friends, new experiences and good times.
1) Remain calm.
2) Approach and address children one at a time.
3) Remember each child is unique and it will take time for you to understand him or her. Likewise, it will take time for children to understand who you are.
I’m inspired to jot down of few words of advice and encouragement while performing a youth service position because, as fun as it can be, small things make your work as a volunteer difficult.
For an entire hour of volunteer work on Monday, Dec. 17th, L was jumping out from corners of the room and screaming in my ears. I’ve struggled with this same young gentleman enough times in the past to know that he uses screaming as a coping mechanism.
Screaming, at least for L, helps him deal with stress. However, L manages to scream his stress directly into me.
So what do you do?
1) Remain calm and take a second to think about what to say.
2) Focus in on L and pay less attention your surroundings. The brain can focus and really zero in on one thing at a time. The Boys & Girls Club serves a lot of youth and there are a lot of distractions – but when it comes time to mentor a child, you need to focus.
3) Speak with with L. Discover screaming is “fun” for him. Explain, “L, I admire your creativity, but I think it would be best if you used it towards something that doesn’t harm or negatively impact others. You’re hurting my ears, buddy.”
4) Here’s an important step: Acknowledge that you aren’t going to permanently change a child’s life with one conversation. L continued to scream until he received a STEP (the discipline policy at the Boys & Girls Club, Rochester).
I’d like to comment on my last tip. Volunteers perform an awesome service and make a HUMONGOUS difference – one uninspired by the changing hands of money. However, remember to have fun, keep a positive attitude and give up some of the control.
You can’t always be the hero, changing lives for the better and keeping everyone safe. Other people don’t need a hero – not if we want them to grow up to be independent leaders.
Volunteer service is all about new friends, new experiences and good times.
Rochester Chamber of Commerce: Serendipity
Who? Depends upon the volunteer project. The one I did was posted in a member email.
Volunteer Process Time: For my project, 12 hours.
Website: https://www.rochestermnchamber.com/
Does volunteering mean you get the chance to travel, meet awesome people, do exciting things like bungee jumping and parachuting out of an airplane? Not necessarily, I’ve learned, but you might be able to see a basketball-playing robot.
All it takes to experience random volunteer adventure is an email, a post in the newspaper, a slip on a bulletin board, et cetera.
You must always be careful and verify you’re volunteering with a legitimate organization, but risk-taking is essential.
V Tip 006: Take a chance and go for it.
I volunteered to help clean up the First® Lego® Tournament hosted by Rochester Chamber of Commerce.
The event itself was exciting: groups of kids aged 6-9 wearing the same colored shirt, all cheering on the basketball-playing robot or themselves when it was time to hand out awards.
Cleaning up was less exciting: pulling down and carefully untying cameras, carrying tables, and attempting idle chit chat.
But volunteer work is a lot like showing up at a ritzy art gathering with a ketchup stain down your shirt. The pain is worth a few laughs, a few life lessons, and an awesome story.
A First® Lego® team accepts their reward.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Minnesota Children’s Museum of Rochester: Easing into Story Time
Volunteering at the Minnesota Children’s Museum of Rochester on Thursday and Friday, Dec 13-14, I discovered youth volunteers often have to perform their work in subtle ways.
For example, as a Playologist, I can’t approach a child, say that I want to help them learn, and begin lecturing on the difference between fruits and vegetables (trust me, I tried it). Instead, you need to play around with blocks or a toy cash machine until children come up to you.
Even without wearing the costume of Clifford, the big red dog, I discovered I can be a frightening person to 4-year-olds. But once the ice is broken, and the child isn't running to his or her mother in fear, you can begin to ask questions.
“What’s that you’re playing with?”
“What color is it?”
“Is that your favorite color?”
“What else shares the same color?”
Sometimes, youth volunteers can start their own program or projects. I wanted to read to children in the company of a pet therapy dog named Sadie on Friday. But instead of telling children it was story time, I gave them and their parents the heads up: “We will be having story time in 10 minutes.”
When children came to me for story time on their own or supported by their parents, we could be engaged without all the fear or ice-breaking.
I had to hand it for Sadie the dog. She may have been my most attentive listener.
For example, as a Playologist, I can’t approach a child, say that I want to help them learn, and begin lecturing on the difference between fruits and vegetables (trust me, I tried it). Instead, you need to play around with blocks or a toy cash machine until children come up to you.
Even without wearing the costume of Clifford, the big red dog, I discovered I can be a frightening person to 4-year-olds. But once the ice is broken, and the child isn't running to his or her mother in fear, you can begin to ask questions.
“What’s that you’re playing with?”
“What color is it?”
“Is that your favorite color?”
“What else shares the same color?”
Sometimes, youth volunteers can start their own program or projects. I wanted to read to children in the company of a pet therapy dog named Sadie on Friday. But instead of telling children it was story time, I gave them and their parents the heads up: “We will be having story time in 10 minutes.”
When children came to me for story time on their own or supported by their parents, we could be engaged without all the fear or ice-breaking.
I had to hand it for Sadie the dog. She may have been my most attentive listener.
Friday, December 14, 2012
BGC and Kiwanis: On Garland Popcorn
Thursday, Dec. 13’s volunteer work with the Builder’s Club of Kiwanis at Golden Hill School and Torch Club at the Boys & Girls Club passed into one of those messy, gloppy and wonderful memories of arts and crafts.
You might think arts and crafts wouldn't count as a service project, but the way they engage kids is incredible. One moment Boys & Girls Club member J is bored off his gourd and the next, he’s stringing up popcorn on a string and telling me about the time he donated money to a homeless man.
I volunteer for Torch Club and for Builder’s Club along with Diane, the super woman who can. This lady works nights, volunteers days and enacts random acts of kindness at every moment in between. She got both groups going with popcorn garland projects, cookie baking projects and Christmas decoration projects.
V Tip 005: If you want to be effective and to enjoy your time as a volunteer, connect with someone starry eyed and positive.
J wanted to make a gigantic cookie into the shape of a tree. F wanted to leave flour hand prints everywhere. I'm learning so much from working with these guys, I often forget the most basic of lessons. As messy as things are in the world, we can create something amazing.
Possibly, the best cookies I ever tasted.
You might think arts and crafts wouldn't count as a service project, but the way they engage kids is incredible. One moment Boys & Girls Club member J is bored off his gourd and the next, he’s stringing up popcorn on a string and telling me about the time he donated money to a homeless man.
I volunteer for Torch Club and for Builder’s Club along with Diane, the super woman who can. This lady works nights, volunteers days and enacts random acts of kindness at every moment in between. She got both groups going with popcorn garland projects, cookie baking projects and Christmas decoration projects.
V Tip 005: If you want to be effective and to enjoy your time as a volunteer, connect with someone starry eyed and positive.
J wanted to make a gigantic cookie into the shape of a tree. F wanted to leave flour hand prints everywhere. I'm learning so much from working with these guys, I often forget the most basic of lessons. As messy as things are in the world, we can create something amazing.
Possibly, the best cookies I ever tasted.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Boys & Girls Club: A Blizzard of Inspiration
V Tip 004: Use the tools around you to make your job successful.
Dec 10, 2012: It snowed two days ago; the first time we've had a real snow fall in the community in almost 300 days. Volunteer work requires that you take advantage of changes like this. It’s new. It’s fresh. It makes Boys & Girls Club kids want to sled. And so we did.
It was 5:00 pm and the typical schedule of the Boys & Girls Club required that we did something academic during that time: completing homework, reading or working on an art project. Instead, we went outside to sled.
I made sure the sledding happened by getting a Boys & Girls Club staff to come with us, by obtaining sleds from the Club closet and by asking a few educational questions before pushing kids down the hill, whooping and laughing.
“What is snow made out of?”
“What is 12 X 5?”
“What is a cumulus cloud?”
In between the questions, M complained about her freezing fingers and I lent her my gloves. S later complained that his ears were freezing and I lent him my hat. Oftentimes, the easiest solution is right in front of you.
Dec 10, 2012: It snowed two days ago; the first time we've had a real snow fall in the community in almost 300 days. Volunteer work requires that you take advantage of changes like this. It’s new. It’s fresh. It makes Boys & Girls Club kids want to sled. And so we did.
It was 5:00 pm and the typical schedule of the Boys & Girls Club required that we did something academic during that time: completing homework, reading or working on an art project. Instead, we went outside to sled.
I made sure the sledding happened by getting a Boys & Girls Club staff to come with us, by obtaining sleds from the Club closet and by asking a few educational questions before pushing kids down the hill, whooping and laughing.
“What is snow made out of?”
“What is 12 X 5?”
“What is a cumulus cloud?”
In between the questions, M complained about her freezing fingers and I lent her my gloves. S later complained that his ears were freezing and I lent him my hat. Oftentimes, the easiest solution is right in front of you.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Minnesota Children's Museum, Rochester: Live - Laugh - Play
What? Learning through play for infants to grade school children. This is a satellite site of Minneapolis’s museum.
Who? Mature high school students and older
Volunteer Process Time: With contacts, I made it through in one week
Website: http://rochester.mcm.org
It’s finally going to happen. After years of debating whether I’d become a doctor, a lawyer, a writer, an astronaut, a dinosaur or a super villain, I've decided to become a Playologist!
“Playologist” is the name for volunteers of the Minnesota Children’s Museum, Rochester. I’m loving the basic concept: learning through play.
This upcoming Thursday, I will be patrolling the small, restaurant-sized Children’s Museum for opportunities to play, ask questions and goof off. Roughly two months back, I had the opportunity to dress up as Clifford the Big Red Dog at the Minnesota Children’s Museum, Rochester and, despite the countless terrified children; I had a blast playing the role of one of my childhood heroes (who doesn't love a friendly red dog the size of a house?). I can only hope I will have as much fun when the true me is revealed.
More to come,
Andy Seifert, Playologist
Builders Club Collaboration Project
What? International org. which sets up projects to improve communities.
Who? Involvement can start as early as kindergarten. Please note, adult groups and formation of youth groups have membership fees
Volunteer Process Time: Involvement can happen immediately and without registration depending on the project. Registration can take two weeks.
Website: www.kiwanis.org
V Tip 003: Say yes. A lot. Saying yes leads to unexpected volunteer opportunities.
Here’s one for you: Volunteer work combo packages. The Boys & Girls Club, Kiwanis Club and Golden Hill alternative school collaborated to create a service think tank out of 7th and 8th graders. Once a week, three other volunteers and I meet up with this class for a 45-minute session and discuss how we can serve our community. Using the time we have in class along with some spare time on weekends, we make our plans happen.
We are the Builder’s Club.
Picture the usual series: math class, English, History and so on... Now imagine breaking up the typical school day with snacks, round-table discussions, art projects and field trips. That’s what we do.
Dec. 6th, we worked on making Holiday cards for an elderly home and decorated our own Charlie Brown—sized tree with painted gingerbread men, snowflakes, ducks and whatever else we could come up with. With our group, the messier the project – the better. I lost count of the amount of thanks we received on our way out. One student commented, “I wish we would keep doing this all day.”
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Boys & Girls Club of Rochester: Let It Be
“Do you want to see how fast I can drink this water?” said T.
"You are the Lava Monster," A said, refusing to negotiate, "and you can’t climb up here to tag us. You have to stay down there.
Many adults would have answered, “No,” to the previous two statements. But I don’t see how that would be possible. Volunteering at the Boys & Girls Club on 12/5/12 taught me in invaluable lesson that I can’t get out of my head. It’s too catchy.
V Tip 002: Let it be, let it be ….
Barbara Coloroso, youth speaker and author of “kids are worth it,” argues that if a situation isn't life threatening or morally threatening to children, they should get the chance to live it out. I’m a volunteer, not a parent, but I want Boys & Girls Club kids to grow up as independent leaders and sculptors of a changing world. These leaders need to grow in their own worlds – we need to let them be.
No, I’m not recommending youth service volunteers permit bullying, violence or worse before their own eyes. But today, T tackled me when I entered the building. L crept close to my face and screamed. D decided he didn't want anyone to talk to him ever again. “Okay,” I said, offering guidance but playing right along. I caught T, made faces right back at L and gave D the space he needed while waiting five yards away. All volunteers should aspire to become the Lava Monster.
"You are the Lava Monster," A said, refusing to negotiate, "and you can’t climb up here to tag us. You have to stay down there.
Many adults would have answered, “No,” to the previous two statements. But I don’t see how that would be possible. Volunteering at the Boys & Girls Club on 12/5/12 taught me in invaluable lesson that I can’t get out of my head. It’s too catchy.
V Tip 002: Let it be, let it be ….
Barbara Coloroso, youth speaker and author of “kids are worth it,” argues that if a situation isn't life threatening or morally threatening to children, they should get the chance to live it out. I’m a volunteer, not a parent, but I want Boys & Girls Club kids to grow up as independent leaders and sculptors of a changing world. These leaders need to grow in their own worlds – we need to let them be.
No, I’m not recommending youth service volunteers permit bullying, violence or worse before their own eyes. But today, T tackled me when I entered the building. L crept close to my face and screamed. D decided he didn't want anyone to talk to him ever again. “Okay,” I said, offering guidance but playing right along. I caught T, made faces right back at L and gave D the space he needed while waiting five yards away. All volunteers should aspire to become the Lava Monster.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Boys & Girls Club of Rochester: World Exhileration
What? A safe place where kids can hang out.
Who? Members ages 6 – 18 with volunteers ages 21 +
Volunteer Positions: Mentorship, tutoring, music, language, fitness, sports and more upon request.
Volunteer Process Time: Two week minimum.
More Info: http://www.bgclubroch.org
We threw open the two front doors. Unleashing our freedom, we ran. You could do that outside: no reminders that we needed to walk, no circle time, no homework and no worries. It was only inevitable that our running turned into a race. M, S and little K took off sprinting toward the far fence. “You think you can outrun me,” I must have said, touching the fence first. K giggled and raced back from where we started.
Volunteering Tip 001: Keep an open mind and, like a veteran traveler, revel in new experiences. Volunteering somewhere new is like entering another world or engaging others who have a different culture than your own. You take it all in, adapt and join in the movement.
After racing and playing a few energetic games of Dodgeball, I reentered the Boys & Girls Club building on Dec. 3, 2012, realizing how unique an experience it is to hang out with people of every single age group.
• T talks about his kid traveling the world. He’s worried, excited, and uncertain whether or not I could understand what it’s like.
• C talks with me about his Red Ninja Lego warrior. He wants me to help make him an entire world.
• A and M talk about Twilight with me. They’d rather not say if they are team Edward or Jacob because it might get too heated.
• I ask B about riding bicycles at night. He tells me to go for it.
• R is practicing logging onto the computer. She cries when an educational web site won’t accept her password and I tell her its okay.
When you volunteer in places like this, you learn something new every day. You may not know what your role will be – mentor, listening ear, friend, confidant, food source, punching bag, or tutor. But, given time, you feel like a part of a boisterous family. Loving every minute of it.
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