Welcome back to campus! Things have been pretty busy around here these days--we held a training for our Bonner Leaders before classes started, and in just three short weeks our first Break Away trip of 2008 will be headed off to New Orleans!
We've been watching the construction going on here in Dewey Campus Center. You'll see three photos here of the future bookstore! This is right where Courtney, our graduate assistant, used to have an office! Things have been a little dusty and noisy but we're excited for the changes here on campus.
We're also adding more ways for you to interact with JSC's community service and leadership programs online! Visit us on Facebook, and become a fan! Join us in the discussion boards, and watch out for events where you can join in the fun in person.In the meantime, here's a quick overview of our programs:
- America Reads: This is a reading partner program in which students, after going through a training, are paired with local kids in elementary schools, pre-schools and after school programs. It's a work-study eligible position or you can just volunteer to share the love of reading!
- Bonner Leader Program: Our newest program (but well-established across the US) gives dedicated first- and second-year students the opportunity to engage in intensive, long-term service at local nonprofits. This service (of 6-8 hours per week on site) is paired with ongoing leadership and civic engagement training and education opportunities. We give financial support to students in the program through work-studyand the AmeriCorps Education Award, where eligible.
- You'll be hearing more about Talko Tuesday, which is a dialogue project started in Fall 2007 by our Bonner Senior Intern, Kaila. Talko Tuesday meets monthly for open discussion of "hot topics" on campus, in the region and around the world!
- Break Away: Our popular alternative break program has been sending JSC students, faculty and staff on service trips around the USA and the world since 1990! This year, we have four student-led trips going out during the February and April breaks. In February, a group will be going to New Orleans to work with Hands On New Orleans. In April, we have a trip going to Oregon to work at Jackson Bottom Wetland Preserve; a group going to Washington, DC to work at Friendship house; and a group traveling to Cincinnati, Ohio to volunteer with the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless.
- CSLocal is our "low-commitment" service option. If you're looking for something to do on a weekday afternoon or weekend here in the local community, this is your place! We offer 3-4 one-time or service opportunities per month. Past projects have included river clean-up canoe trips on the Lamoille, animal care at North Country Animal League, painting the Johnson Food Shelf, Red Cross Blood Drives and more. We are always willing to organize projects around a particular issue you're passionate about, too.
- And as always, if you're looking for an ongoing volunteer opportunity, we're happy to help you make connections!
