Service Learning Journal #3

Because my volunteer hours at William Randolph did not work out, I had to look for an alternative route. I looked into Brother Wolf but ultimately kept looking because I wanted to do something with children. So i looked into Asheville Middle School, but the hours didn't align with my schedule. Finally I realized where i could take care of my hours. Last fall I started going to Shakori, a four day festival of music, art, and dance. I was able to contact the event planner and volunteer in the Kid's Tent for all four days I was there. Over the course of the time I was there I did arts and crafts with the kids as well as just play games with them. I learned how to make bubble wands with the children and taught them how to distinguish between recycling, compost, and trash. I also met many like-minded people in the other volunteers I worked with, one of them being my supervisor. The tent supervisor told me about how she home schools her kids because she doesn't trust the public schools or the teachers in the schools near Pittsboro. It was interesting to see how peoples perception of education changes depending on where you are. Overall it was a great experience, especially because I was able to recognize the activities that really interested the kids, like bubble wands and stomp rockets, and the activities they weren't into, like story time.