Personal Narrative: Why I Volunteer At Camp Rainbows

Every summer between 7th grade and my freshman year of college, I would volunteer at a local summer program. This consisted of helping the teachers come up with lesson plans, activities, and games to play. During my last two years, I gained more responsibilities as the “Head Leader in Training” and managed the other volunteers, while designating tasks and responsibilities. I continued working with and coming up with activities during undergrad through the organization Project Literacy. After going over the lessons with the students, we would have a group activity or play a variety of sports with them. Working with children

When my brother was three years old, he was diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder, which is on the autism spectrum. Because of his many years of growing up in the special education system, my mom was connected with many other parents dealing with the same type of children. They had a small handful of friends and really nowhere to connect themselves with other people. The problem lent itself to a solution. In this instance, a lack of creative opportunities for adults with disabilities was the problem, and Camp Tiger Paw was the solution. I never imagined that I would ever be volunteering at a camp such as this.

I had never been to Camp Wapsie Before. I didn't think I would like it, but I loved it. My favorite thing to do there was ziplining. I had never ziplined before, but I loved it. I wanted to climb the tower in 45 seconds.

I completed my first sixteen hours of service learning at the Hope Haven summer camp for the special needs children. This was a great experience and definitely one of my favorite places to volunteer. I was able to contribute to the organization by keeping an extra eye on the children in their various activities. This included ensuring the children were having fun and not getting into mischief. I also helped set up and take down activities they had planned for the children. I did everything they asked of me and made sure to help kids who needed me.

Every year the students of my high school host the Wyoming County Special Olympics- a day of fun, a day of laughter. As a sophomore I was very hesitant to volunteer for this activity. Some of the teachers and other students convinced me this would be a worthwhile project. We let the handicapped students put on our school uniforms, we taught them to throw and catch, and did everything possible to entertain them. In that one day, I received more blessings through the eyes of those children than in all of the other days of the year.

There have been two major opportunities that have shaped and impacted me: serving with Calvary Kids Care and watching a girl’s cabin on Thursday nights at Camp Brookwoods and Deer Run. I started volunteering with Calvary Kids Care my freshman year in high school. The first time that I ever held a baby, I was terrified. I had no idea if I was holding her correctly, or if I looked as uncomfortable on the outside as I felt on the inside. The little ball of life that I held in my hands kept trying to snuggle closer, but I held the baby away from me, afraid that I would crush it if I let it get too close. This first experience led to many, and thus my partnership with Calvary Kids Care was formed. I started to work with the kids, mainly newborns

I volunteered at the Atrium Court Apartments as an aid to a Tutor that would come in and help the kids who lived around the apartments with their homework and any other necessary needs. At first, it was difficult for me to balance my work schedule and volunteer schedule but gradually I learned how to manage work, school and volunteering and it felt like an accomplishment. I worked with and helped all the kids with the Mrs. Farrow, who was the Tutor in charge and conducted this after school program. At first it was hard for many kids to accept a stranger who would help them besides Mrs. Farrow but eventually, they were okay with me teaching them. As I started going gradually I started getting to know the kids a little more. Some louder than

As a kid, Arizona camp Sunrise and Sidekicks played a very important part of my life and it still does today. This is where I went to escape from the hard times of my little brother having cancer. It gave me the chance to express my feelings and the events happening to people who have or were going through the same thing as me. The camp is a week long every year in the month of July. I attended camp every year for 8 years as a camper. This camp gives kids the break they need and the fun they deserve by having jello wars, a formal dinner and dance, lake day, hiking, fishing, movie night, and alot more activities. Most of the children that attend this camp don’t get to have this kind of fun because of the fact that a sibling of theirs has cancer

Through my church, family and The Boy Scouts of America I have learned to always give back and serve my community.  As an adolescent and young man I have been able to give back to my community by volunteering in free stores for the less fortunate, food pantries, and serving free lunches during the summer to school age children.  Even though this has helped build my character and shape my decision for my future, the most significant service project I have been a part of has been my Eagle Scout Service Project.  I learned an important lesson in project management and taking responsibility for something significant. This act of responsibility has helped define my transition from a child to a young adult I can be proud of.

I worked directly with these disabled individuals each day and tried to help out in any possible way I could to get the most out of my experience. At North Star each day they would have different educational and fun activities for adults, for example the first day we started off with a craft activity, making tissue Christmas trees and

Last summer, I volunteered at the Alpha Park Public Library. It had been something that I had been looking forward to for a long time, but it wasn’t at all what I had expected. I guess like all things that we imagine, they are perfect and just what you expect, with rainbows and unicorns and everything is happy and wonderful. But, back here in reality things go wrong and most of the time it seems like nothing is ever going to be happy and wonderful.

Some students who were in second grade would ask to volunteer because they wanted to do what we were doing. There is nothing that feels better than knowing that you are a role model for young kids and your community. I felt as if I was shaping those kids’ future by showing them that making a difference in your community is a good thing. Another great encounter I had was getting to see middle school students teach adults how to use gardening tools. This program also won a state award. Just getting to be a part of that is an amazing thing. Even though I did my hours over summer, I still continue to volunteer. I also landed a job with PLAY as their intern. I love my job and the experience is

As often as little children are, my parents thrusted me into an activity that I had no idea that I wanted to take part in. Most of these activities rarely outlive the years of barbie dolls or legos, due to a general lack of interest, or most of the time, an increase of dislike for the activity. For me, my dancing abilities withered away, as my place with the Girl Scouts of America grew stronger. Of course in the beginning they cater the activities towards the interests of little girls, but they still provided the community feeling. One year a small group of ten year olds made jewelry with the residents of assisted living. Admittedly, the jewelry crafted was made in the interest for the ten year olds, but each of us can still see the smiles on the elderly women when we handed them our finished, stylized, plastic necklaces.

I volunteer every weekend at the church I attend. I teach two year olds, as most know they can be a hand full at times. When I first started volunteering I didn’t know if I would like it or not and it took a little time to adjust to the different child’s needs. The craziest thing about watching the kids is that they go through bad days too, just like adults do. People say I’m the crazy one for being in a room with two and sometimes three year olds, but I love it. I love watching the kids play and when it’s time to clean up they actually help clean up. They each have complete different personalities and it amazes me just how much they learn.

It was just an ordinary day when my mom asked me if I wanted to go to the National Scout Jamboree in West Virginia. Immediately I said yes. Not knowing what in the world a jamboree was, I asked my mom what it was. I was them able to realize that this trip was a trip of a lifetime.