What I've Done
Cave : I Have been volunteering as a part of the CAVE program for six semesters. Each of my experiences has been unique and I feel as though I have gained a lot from each experience. My first experience with CAVE was working in a first grade classroom at Emma Wilson Elementary School. In this class I acted as an aid to the teacher. I would do any work that she needed help with and I would help the students whenever they needed it. I also ran small groups in this classroom and I did some one-on-one reading work with the students. My second placement through CAVE was in a special education classroom at Hooker Oak Elementary School. In this classroom I also acted as an aid to the teacher but I spent most of my time helping the students. I would help them to finish their work stations and when they sat down at the carpet for the lessons I would sit with them to make sure that they were paying attention and had good behavior. After they did their work and finished the lesson I would hep them to prepare for snack and finally I would take them out to recess. I volunteered in one CAVE placement which may have been the most unique of all my experiences. In this placement I worked as a "Special Pal" to a special needs student who is in kindergarten at Emma Wilson Elementary School. As a "Special Pal" I did everything that my buddy, Elliot, did during the time that I was in his class. I would work with him in his group to complete his assignments, go to recess with him, sit with him on the carpet during lessons and play with him during free time. This experience was very special to me because I really got a chance to form a one-on-one bond with Elliot. He was able to trust me to ask me for help when he needed it and we accomplished a lot together this semester. After this placement I decided to return to Hooker Oak Elementary to the classroom that I had previously volunteered in and continue my work in that classroom. This semester was especially helpful to me because I already had such a great relationship with the teachers that I was able to learn a great deal from them during this time. During my next semester I volunteered in three different placements for a total of 42 hours. My first placement was in a resource room at Hooker Oak Elementary. I worked as a helper and aid in that classroom for 30 hours. My second placement lasted for six hours and was completed in a mild-moderate special education room at Chico High School. My final six hour placement was in a moderate-severe special education room at Marsh Junior High. In all I have volunteered over one hundred hours of my time with CAVE and I have really enjoyed each and every placement. For my final undergraduate semester here at Chico State I will be returning to my placement in the special education Kindergarten class at Hooker Oak Elementary. I am excited to continue working in this classroom and believe I will gain a lot from being in this environment. All of my experiences with CAVE through the semesters were amazing and I look forward to gaining more and more experiences like these.
Royal Family Kids Camp: I have had the opportunity over the last five years to volunteer as the lifeguard at a camp for abused children during one week of summer. The goal of this camp is to allow the children to have a fun carefree week where they don't have to worry about anything. They can do any activities that they choose, they can eat as much as they like and they have a chance to let go of their past. I start my camp mornings at 7 am for morning "polar bear" swim. From there I go to the kitchen to help prepare breakfast for the kids. Once we have served breakfast and cleaned up after they eat we start preparing things for lunch. Just before lunch I teach swim lessons for those children who need it or just want to increase their swim skills. Once lunch has been served I leave the kitchen to go lifeguard for the remainder of the afternoon. Following swim time I return to the kitchen to make dinner and dessert. Once the kids have eaten and we are cleaned up we prepare for the next day and finally we get to spend the rest of our evening with the kids. This has been such an amazing experience for me. The children that attend this camp are all so thankful and truly happy to be there. I look forward to camp every year and I am so happy to have the opportunity to continue to work with these children.
Teacher Cadets: In my Senior year of high school I was able to be a part of a program that allowed me to work for 2 hours each morning in a kindergarten classroom. During the time that I was in this classroom I worked as a teacher's aid. I did any work that she needed help finishing or needed prepared for her lesson. I also helped the students who needed extra work practicing their alphabet, and ran small work groups. Working as an aid in this classroom really helped me because I got to see what it was really like to be a teacher and it gave me experience that I wouldn't have been able to get if I had not been a part of it.
Big Brothers Big Sisters: Also during my senior year I was able to participate in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. In this program I went to the after school program for two hours a week and spent the afternoon with a student who was in need of a good role model. I would help my little sister finish her homework and when she was done she got to choose what we did for the rest of the time. My job was to be a friend, tutor and role model for my little sister. Even though I was supposed to be the mentor in this situation I feel as though I really learned so much from working with my little sister.
