SPECIAL REQUESTS FOR VOLUNTEERS
Letters from organizations that have expressed an interest in having NCSSM Summer Service Learning volunteers
Agency: The Health Adventure
City: Asheville
Category: Health
Letter:
  
Hi Service Learning Coordinator!


My name is Jessica Lane, and I am the Director of Volunteers at The Health
Adventure in Asheville, NC.  For the past two years, we've had some
wonderful summer volunteers from NCSSM--Amelia Wallace and Caleb Lee--and
I'd love to have more students involved this summer.

Our formal summer volunteer program began during the summer of 2004, and
it's been growing steadily in popularity.  Throughout the summer, we offer
involvement opportunities in our summer science camps.  These week-long camp
programs include classroom time, experiments, and activities for students in
grades 1-6.  Camp interns and volunteers assist in all aspects of the camp
programs from preparing materials and testing activities to serving as
primary assistants to the camp teachers.  Camp volunteers and interns gain
valuable experience in museum programming, teaching, and guest interactions.

This summer, we are also excited to host a new traveling exhibit: "The Magic
School Bus Kicks Up a Storm."  This exhibit will use the familiar vehicle
the Magic School Bus to educate guests about weather and other scientific
concepts.  This will be a blockbuster exhibit for us during the busy summer
season.  To improve guest experiences in the exhibit, we are recruiting
interns to work in the gallery.  Interns will assist guests as they explore,
set up and conduct activities, and become experts on the exhibit's content.
Interns will gain experience in hands-on education, interactive program
development, and back-of-house work necessary to maintain a traveling
exhibit.

I hope these summer program opportunities will appeal to some of your
students who are from the Asheville area.  We have thoroughly enjoyed our
past summer interns from NCSSM, and we're excited to have multiple
opportunities to offer them this summer.

I am attaching information sheets and application forms for the summer camp
and Magic School Bus internships as well as general information regarding
our summer camps.  Please feel free to disperse this to interested students,
post the information, etc.  I would be happy to speak with you further
regarding these opportunities, and I hope to see NCSSM students here again
this summer!

Yours,
Jessica
Director of Volunteers
The Health Adventure
(828) 254-6373 x322
jessical@thehealthadventure.org
  

Agency: Tackle Design
City: Durham
Category: Health & Technology
Letter:
  Service Learning Coordinator -

We are still in the process of incorporating and getting federal non-profit status. I met with lawyers from Wyrick-Robbins, who are doing the work pro-bono. We expect to have the process completed this year, and will let you know. We are seeking 501(c)3 status. Currently, we are simply a website with information posted by volunteers, including the partners of Tackle Design, and have no budget and no expenditures.

We hope to be ready to apply the work of interns and volunteers certainly by next summer, by which time we hope to have hired at least a part time administrator.

I'll keep you posted.

Thanks,
Jon
919.660.5482
http://cbimms.duke.edu

919.341.5396
http://tackledesign.com
http://openprosthetics.org		  


Agency: Haw River
City: Bynum / Saxapahaw
Category: Environment
Letter:
  Service Learning Coordinator -

I remember you being the contact person for the students' community service projects. Is that right? The folks at the Haw River Assembly, a group that advocates for preservation and environmental education efforts in the Haw River watershed have a project that would be perfect for a environmentally concerned computer savvy student. For details you can contact Catherine Deininger - deininger@hawriver.org. For more information on the Haw River Assembly see http://www.hawriver.org/.
 


Agency: Cornacopia House
City: Chapel Hill
Category: Health
Letter:
  Service Learning Coordinator -

Thanks for contacting me.  Cornucopia House is a Resource Center for individuals with cancer and their family, friends, and caregivers.  It is staffed with part-time paid staff and volunteers so we are always looking for individuals who can come and learn the basics of the services provided to perform routine tasks associated with running the office and resource center and helping the participants feel comfortable and welcome! 

I'd suggest you take a look at the website to get a sense for the hours and the services offered; you may be able to make a judgement from that about whether it's an appropriate placement for a high school student:

www.cornucopiahouse.org

We have a number of volunteer opportunties throughout the year that are staffed with members of various high school groups - clubs, etc. so there are definitely special projects appropriate for a student.  The goals of your placement should figure into our discussions too as I'd like to ensure we can provide a meaningful experience for the student(s), as well.  I'd like to know the goals of the Summer placement from your perspective, too.  Can you explain more?

I'll hope that the collaboration has good potential for us both!

Best,
Terry