Get trained to volunteer at the Charter House Homeless Shelter
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 24th, 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Ross Basement B11
The Charter House winter housing facility that serves as an emergency home staffed 24/7 by trained volunteers who provide a warm, welcoming environment for families in stress. Attend this training over October Break to learn more about volunteering at the Charter House. Contact Adam Schiff, aschiff@middlebury.edu if you have any questions or would like to be notified of future training dates.
Participate in a workday with the Nature Conservancy of Vermont!
Upcoming worksite date: Tuesday, 10/30 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
The Nature Conservancy of Vermont is looking for volunteers to join us in removing invasive plants (primarily buckthorn) from our Snake Mountain South Natural Area in Bridport this fall. These days are an excellent opportunity to get to know a great conservation organization here in Vermont, give back to your community, and to gain field experience. For these days we will be cutting and clipping non-native invasive shrubs which threaten the health of this beautiful forest. No experience required, just an interest in working hard in a very special place. Snake Mountain South, just south of the often hiked Snake Mountain, is home to rare amphibians and other wildlife, and many rare and uncommon plants and trees. This year, we will be working on top of the cliffs, so you can expect a good workout and stunning vistas. If you are interested in joining The Nature Conservancy on any of these dates please RSVP to Tim Duclos (tim.duclos@tnc.org) or call us at 802-229-4425 ext. 111.
October 23rd: College Defensive Driving Class [Required to drive campus vehicles!]
This program is required for anyone who wishes to rent a College passenger or 15-passenger vehicle. If you might want to use a campus vehicle for volunteering in 2012-2013 get prepared by taking this class! There is no cost for the class but a driving orientation (a 1 hour review on the road) is required for 15-passenger Vans and larger vehicles. Class time is about 2 Hrs. REMINDER: A valid state license is required to take the class. Individuals wanting a 15-Passenger Van license must have 3 years of driving experience. To sign up email Ed Sullivan, Sullivan@middlebury.edu. Upcoming class: October 23rd 4:00PM at Hillcrest 103 (The Orchard Room).
JOIN IN ON A FARM SERVICE DAY!
WHEN: Saturday, October 27th. We’ll meet at ADK circle at noon, arrive at the farm by 1pm and work until we’re worn out (not past sun set).
WHERE: Evening Song Farm south of Rutland. The owners lost the entire farm last year due to Irene and are still working to rebuild their infrastructure on a new location. As winter approaches, there is a lot of work to be done and extra hands are needed. During this particular weekend, the farm needs help spreading mulch over a quarter acre of garlic and harvesting winter root crops.
WHO: Anyone and everyone. Invite your friends!
RSVP: Please email Avery McNiff, amcniff@middlebury.edu, if you are interested in helping out by Wednesday, October 24th so we can arrange transportation.
Can’t wait to try out your costume before Halloween? Have some time to spare?
The Dance Marathon committee will be volunteering at the Halloween Dance at the Teen Center in town on Friday night (9/27). We would love volunteers to help us with this event, or other community service initiatives throughout the semester. The teen center especially needs volunteers for the later shift from 9:30pm to 11:15pm but also from 7:45pm to 9:45pm. Dance Marathon takes place over J-term and will raise money for family with patients at the Vermont Children’s Miracle Network Hospital at Fletcher Allen. To get involved contact middleburydancemarathon@gmail.com.
Writing Tutors Needed: Middlebury Union High School World Literature Course Middlebury Union High School is seeking 3-4 volunteer writing tutors to help 11th and 12th grades students in World Literature. It would be ideal if the college volunteer and high school student determine a mutually agreeable time once a week to help generate, develop, and revise current writing assignments. Interested? Email teacher Kate Carroll, kcarroll@addisoncentralsu.org.
Volunteer/Intern positions available: Explore educational experiences on the mountain
Curious about the experiential educational opportunities in the outdoor environment? Comfortable handling challenging situations related to leading a group of children or your peers outside in the winter weather? Willing to commit time for training …and then be available for assisting with PE classes at the Bowl over Jterm or weekend series with locals? Both paid positions as well as volunteer/intern situations available. Email the Middlebury College Snow Bowl Snow School (sbsc@middlebury.edu) for more information.
Trick or Treat for Canned Goods
Date: Wednesday October 31st from 5-8pm
Location: Meet up at ADK (trick-or-treating in Middlebury neighborhoods)
Want to volunteer and trick or treat at the same time? Come help trick or treat for canned goods on Halloween night. The neighborhood will be expecting us so dress up, ring door bells, and gather canned goods. All canned goods will later be donated to the HOPE Food shelter. If interested, please email vso@middlebury.edu.
Community Friends
Really enjoy playing soccer, baseball and other sports? Want to feel like you’re making a big difference for someone else? Consider becoming a mentor for a local 8 year old boy! Community Friends, a campus-based mentoring program that matches Middlebury College students with children of Addison County ages six twelve, is seeking a willing volunteer to be a mentor for a child that is in need of “someone that he feels comfortable and trusts to talk with.”. Take him to a hockey game, talk about the world while taking a walk. The possibilities are endless! You could be an important part of this child’s life by simply meeting up and being yourself on a regular basis! Flexible meeting times, no car required, and alternate ways of transportation are available at no cost. For more information about the program, or to apply to be either one of these or another child’s mentor, please visit our website (go/cf), get in contact with a student coordinator or contact Nes Martinez ’10 (nmartinez@middlebury.edu).
Join DREAM! Become a Mentor!
The DREAM Program is a non-profit mentoring organization that builds communities of families and college students that empower children from disadvantaged circumstances to recognize their options, make informed decisions, and achieve their dreams! DREAM is looking for new mentors to visit the children of the Pine Meadow and John Graham Court Neighborhoods in Middlebury Friday afternoons. The only requirements are enthusiasm and energy to spend time with kids! Among some of the planned activities this year are a Halloween Party, a “Science Day” and a mentor-mentee culminating event (ropes course and a visit to a local pizzeria have been some of past years events). If you think you’d like to be a part of this or to help plan some of these events, please email Simran Sabharwal at ssabharwal@middlebury.edu.
Speak Fuzhou, or know someone who does?
Local ELL instructor is in search of a Fuzhou speaker to help orally interpret some forms for a local family. For some information, please contact Nes Martinez at nmartinez@middlebury.edu or call 802.443.3010.
Creative Website Design Assistance Needed!
Lynn Slaughter-Naves is working on a website project at the Monterey Institute of International Studies along with EWAY Entertainment & Foundation. The website would aid women’s self-defense training programs in developing countries around the world; connecting these programs with each other and with potential partners and donors. They are currently looking for a student volunteer with website-building expertise, someone who would like to develop their portfolio and help strengthen women’s international security programs in the process. Contact Lynn (lslaughternaves@miis.edu) to learn more details!
Questions? If you have questions about any of these volunteer opportunities or want to learn more ways to get involved in the local community, contact Ashley Calkins, Community Engagement Coordinator, jcalkins@middlebury.edu, 802.443.3099