Community Building Experience Opportunities

LEAD 104 - Community Building Experience Requirement

First-year students in the LEAD program are required to participate in a Community Building Experience.  There are various opportunities throughout the year to fulfill this requirement.  As these opportunities come up, we will post them here.  Students can sign up for activities here, with their Peer Advisor or at the Hub.

Semester Long Commitments:

Sports for Kids at Barnes Elementary: Sports for Kids is a program designed to help students from low income families build skills such as conflict resolution and teamwork through organized sports at recess.  The hours are between 11am-1pm, Monday - Friday, and volunteers are asked to simply play recess games with the students.  Volunteers are asked to commit to at least one hour, once a week for an entire semester.  The students must sign up by October 15^th for this to qualify for LEAD credit.  To signup, send an email to Andrea Gewirtzman (agewirtzman@champlain.edu).

On-going Opportunities:

ECHO Lake Aquarium:  Help the public learn about over 70 species of animals plus fascinating culture and history of the Lake Champlain Basin in the only aquarium in Vermont!  Volunteers will help guests make buttons, play trivia games, learn about the water cycle and much more!  There is a minimum commitment of two, 4-hour shifts (during the weeks listed), and students must also attend an orientation session on the dates and times listed.  Students must pre-register at least one week in advance to volunteer during any of these opportunities.  In order to receive LEAD credit students must attend an orientation session, volunteer for two, 4 hour shifts of service and either attend a reflection meeting to discuss the event or write a brief reflection paper.  To register or get more information contact Becca Rimmel, Volunteer Coordinator at ECHO at brimmel@echovermont.org or (8... x166.

• Thanksgiving Vacation:
  • Orientation: 3:30-5:30 on Wednesday, November 18th
  • Volunteer shifts: 9:30-1:30 or 1:15-5:15 November 21-29
• Winter Break:
  • Orientation: 3:30-5:30 on December 15
  • Volunteer shifts: 9:30-1:30 or 1:15-5:15 December 26 - January 3

Environmental Club Initiatives: The Environmental Club has various programs happening first semester which will fulfill the LEAD 104 Community Building Requirement.  Click here to learn more.

November Event Descriptions:

November 2 - Common Ground - A dialogue about a controversial topic: Homelessness.  Joyce 301 6-8pm. Event is technically full; however, there may be spaces on the actual evening of November 2.  If you are still interested, get there early to see whether there are openings.  Next event December 8. 

November 3 - Ronald McDonald House Dinner.  Cook dinner for the guests of the Ronald McDonald House.   Meet at the Center for Service and Civic Engagement at 4:15pm and walk down to the Ronald McDonald House with a group of 4 or 5 of your peers. You will cook dinner from 4:30pm until about 7pm. This event is full.  Students may sign-up for the wait list and will be contacted should an opening arise.  Wait List Form

November 9 - Spectrum Dinner. Cook dinner for area youth in our community who are homeless at Spectrum. Meet at the Center for Service and Civic Engagement at 3:00pm to walk down to Spectrum Youth and Family Services Drop-in Center.  We will prepare and serve a meal for around 30 people (13-25 year olds) in our community who are homeless and/or at risk of becoming homeless.  We will return to campus by 6pm. This event is full. Stay tuned for upcoming Spectrum Dinner Events in December.

November 16-20 - Tent City.  For LEAD credit students must spend one overnight, attend that evening's speaker session and also attend that evening's reflection circle.  

To Sign-Up here for Tent City:

Monday, November 16

Tuesday, November 17

Wednesday, November 18

Thursday, November 19

 November:

December Event Descriptions:

December 7 December 10- Cultural Simulation - Bafa Bafa.  Participate in a simulation of what it might be like to enter a culture completely different from any which you are familiar with.  This activity is facilitated by Peer Advisors. Hauke Conference Room from 6-8pm.  This event is full, students are welcome to arrive at Hauke Conference Room at 6pm to see if there are any open spots.

December 8 - Common Ground: A dialogue about a controversial topic: TBD.  Joyce 301 6-8pm. This event is full, students are welcome to go to Joyce 301 at 6pm to see if there are any open spots.  

December 8 - Ronald McDonald House Dinner.  Cook dinner for the guests of the Ronald McDonald House.   Meet at the Center for Service and Civic Engagement at 4:15pm and walk down to the Ronald McDonald House with a group of 4 or 5 of your peers. You will cook dinner from 4:30pm until about 7pm.  This event is full. Stay tuned for upcoming Ronald McDonald dinners next semester.

December: