A safe place to have fun

The following was written by sophomore Phyllis Willis, social work student, from Miami Hamilton about her experience working with the Boys & Girls Club on East Avenue with the Accelerated Reader (AR) program. 

This summer, I volunteered at the Boys and Girls club of Hamilton, they have a reading program every summer. This program allows the children, to keep their reading skills through the summer, and it also gives them an incentive to read. The children that read 50 or more books in the summer, are given a pool party! The books are set up on the book shelves by grade level, and they are color coded. The children can then look on the binder of the book, and see what level it is, and pick according to their grade. Once they have read the book, they take a quiz on the computer. There are usually 5 questions, and once they finish the quiz, a score of 80% or higher allows them to get a choice of any piece of candy they want, and this happens for every book they read. If they read 5 books in a day, the prize can be snacks, flip flops, purses, and stuffed animals. There is a great assortment of prizes, and it makes the kids really happy to be rewarded for their hard work. 

Through this summer, there have been at least 4 kids that have reached the 50 plus book marker. A few of them have read over a 150 books. This shows what a great resource the Hamilton Branch of the Boys and Girls club is. The club also has swimming, arts and crafts, and electronic games. So this shows that the reading program that Ms Deb runs is competing with a lot of other distractions. It also shows how much dedication that The Club has to these children. These are children that probably are not even considered middle class, but this Club offers them a place to go, that feels safe, allows them to have fun, and it does this for little or no money. This is a great resource in that community.

I feel honored and privileged to have been able to be a small part of that program, and I received so much more from the program, than I gave. The smile on those children faces as they read or was read too became the highlight of my week. This is a wonderful program and I have enjoyed myself immensely!

Each reader has a set of flip flops and for every book they read they get a sticker!

These are the students that have read over 50 books and get a pool party! 

Allowing Other's to Take the Lead

The following was written by Amanda Villarreal , a junior Social Work major, from Miami Hamilton about her experience working with Sojourner Recovery Services at the Buckeye Adolescent center. 

This week we were met with an apology letter from the boys of Buckeye. The week prior, they weren’t as willing to participate as they usually are and used a lot of foul language. It was a gentle reminder that they are not as grown up as they think! Our plan for the day was to engage all of the kids in a game of kickball. We figured we’d use this as a mood lifter and then take it from there after it was over. However, despite their letters, we were not met with approval of the game! Although we (as in the Miami group, Ike, and Rachael) all wanted to play something active, we allowed them to take the lead and direct us to what they wanted to do. We moved the picnic tables together and broke off into two groups. Half played UNO and the other half played Jenga. Jamie brought a book of questions that made it feel like we were still apart of both sides even though we were doing different things.

            There were still moments where we had to redirect them to use better language and times where they started to annoy each other but it comes with the territory. We can tell teenagers to not tease their peers, especially ones they live with, until we’re blue in the face and it will still happen. The questions Jamie asked helped us learn more about them and we realized, at least I did, that we actually have a lot in common. There is one girl who is the newest that seemed to be the most quiet. I noticed after our second (or third) week with her, she has started to warm up and be more engaged. The questions helped her relax a little bit too! We have decided to go out with a bang and host a cookout our last day at Buckeye. I think the kids will like this and it will give them something to look forward too.

Amanda & Jamie outside Buckeye's Mission house! 

Jamie playing an intense game of jenga!

Time flies when you're volunteering

The following was written by sophomore Abby Fenton , a psychology student, from Miami Hamilton about her experience working with the Boys & Girls Club on East Avenue with the Accelerated Reader (AR) program. 

I loved working with the kids at the Boys and Girls Club in Hamilton. It is such an awarding experience to see them learn how to read while becoming stronger individuals. 

I have read to a lot of different kids over the last few weeks. Some know how to read, some know how to read a little, and some not so much. I have enjoyed my time with each kid. They have taught me a lot about myself and how much fun it is working with kids. I was surprised how fast the time went by when I was helping them. I believe that I have grow more patient through this experience because sometimes kids can become frustrated when they do not know the words and it is is important to tell them to take their time and sound it out.

I like the way that the Boys and Girls Club are encouraging kids to read. Every two book they read they get a piece of candy or a snack. If they read five books in one day they get a toy. If they get up to 25 books total for the summer they get a toy from three or four boxes and if they get 50 books, they get invited to a pool party held at the club. This really makes reading fun. 

I hope that I get an opportunity to continue to volunteer with them in the fall so that I can grow more with the kids.

Discovery Through Service

The following was written by senior Robynne Wilson , a nursing student, from Miami Hamilton about her experience working with Sojourner Recovery Services at the Buckeye Adolescent center. 

When I signed up to volunteer in the community, I thought I was going to be working with adults. When I found out that I was going to be working with children, I instantly told myself I made a mistake. All three of my children had just arrived home from college, and I knew I was going to need some adult conversation. 

However, the first day at Buckeye changed my mind. I met all of the children and knew I was in the right place. The first day the children seemed more like young adults who had made a big decision to change their lives with the help of some adults who have a special love for children.

As time went on we played games, had one on one conversation about different things and most of all we became friends. The staff at Buckeye makes  volunteering there a great experience, they also participate in the games and share their ideas on how the children can get the best experience out of the time we share with them. 

I have learned something about myself since I became a volunteer at Buckeye, I have a special gift with working with children, and from this day forward I will embrace it and make the best of each day and hopefully I can be apart of helping to change a child's life.  

Changing a child's outlook

The following was written by Chris Shugart , a statistics major, from Miami Hamilton about his experience working with the Boys & Girls club this summer with their Accelerated Reader program. 

Hello my name Chris. I am sophomore statistics major here at Miami University. My decision to volunteer this summer was mostly driven by my desire to give back to the community that allowed all of the opportunities that I have today. (The service hours don't hurt either!) We all have had our experiences with under privileged situations whether that be first hand or third person. Both points of view in this case are of despair, and one can't help but wonder how they can make it better. I am here to say that after helping little Emilio read Dr. Seuss every Wednesday I feel that I have provided some semblance of hope. Even if the only thing I accomplished this summer was to change his outlook into something positive then it would be a success. 

So, basically day to day we would show up at 2:45 and walk in to this fairly old building in one of Hamilton's less optimistic neighborhoods. Upon entry you notice right away the severe ratio imbalance of kids to staff. Believe me once you meet Deb and Karen you will know right away that it is not due to their lack of guidance. The funds are just not there to staff the place with enough help. Even with the usual three volunteers and Deb in the reading room there were plenty of kids who had to read by themselves. My point is they are a little overwhelmed and imagine the impact that could be made if child had a positive influence from a local university student. Just imagine what kind of ray of hope could be created. Even if we changed one child's outlook it would be a success.

Now all that being said this isn't exactly a cry out for volunteers. I was asked to write a brief report of what went on in the Boys and Girls club of East Hamilton and once I began writing I noticed the opportunity. For education majors I see it as a crime to not volunteer for one day which equals out to 2 hours a week. You would have the opportunity to not only practice your teaching skills but more importantly make sure that teaching is what you want to do. Daily you learn how to communicate better with children and how to motivate someone who can only think about Spongebob and Jelly Beans.  I can't think of a more practical experience for those seeking a teaching degree. Even if we changed one child's outlook it would be a success.

I tried to keep this as short and sweet as possible and with that being said I will conclude. These kids are our future contributors to society and it is hard for a lot of college students to put that into perspective, myself included. The most inspiring thing I can say about this experience is that with my sometimes goofy encouragement Emilio, Anthony, Ivan, Josh, and Giselle like to read just a little bit more now and have learned to see outside the world trapped inside that chain link fence. So, now I'll say it. Volunteer people its 2 out of 168 hours in a week! Thank you for your time and remember... Even if we changed one child's outlook it would be a success.

Who doesn't love snacks!?

The following was written by Ryan Jester, a brand new Civic and Regional Development major, from Miami Hamilton about his experience working with the Boys & Girls club this summer with their Accelerated Reader program. 
I want to start out by saying that I have absolutely loved the time I have spent at the Boys and Girls Club so far this summer. I have been in the Education major for a good amount of years getting work done in the classroom in all subject areas and now I am in the Civic and Regional Development major just starting out. I believe that what we are doing here this summer and as programs continue throughout the school year for the Boys and Girls Club are just as important as the in classroom experience. Here at the Boys and Girls Club children not only have the chance to grow, develop friendships, enhance reading and art skills, but they also have a safe place to go and play throughout the majority the day.

What I have done at the club this summer has seemed relatively small in the grand aspect of everything but I know that is not the case. I have met so many children that want to read and want to get better if they are not the best. For those couple hours a week I am able to help.  They read to me and I am able to help them with a word if they don’t know it or have them hear my voice read to them while they follow along. I know that just that is making the biggest difference. They have incentives and goals and when they finish a quiz they get a snack out of the snack bin. And who doesn't love snacks?! This program is perfect for summer readers to keep the children on track and keep them ready for the next grade. I love these summer programs and after-school programs and believe that it does everything for the children of America to succeed.