Champlain College: Tent City from DanS on Vimeo.

BURLINGTON, VT. (November 15, 2010) - Today through Friday, about 100 Champlain College students will ditch their iPods, cell phones and warm beds to highlight the struggles of homeless families and individuals to the greater Champlain community. It is all part of National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week which begins Nov. 15. The event, organized by the College's Center for Service and Civic Engagement (CSCE), offers a first-hand experience for Champlain College students to learn about what it is like for the increasing number of homeless people in our nation.

During the week, students and some Champlain faculty and staff will sleep in tents, provided by Student Life, in the center of campus on the Aiken Green. Participants are asked to give up all technology, shower in the gym locker rooms and use public resources, such as, internet in the library. At the cafeteria, they are provided with a typical "soup kitchen" menu, similar to those often served in homeless shelters and food shelves.

Daytime activities and workshops will be conducted on campus in hopes to educate others. In the evening, guest speakers from local-nonprofits, such as COTS and Spectrum Youth and Family Services, will discuss the constant struggle for many people in Vermont and participants will give nightly reflections. Evening event and daytime activities and workshops conducted throughout the week are open to the public.
CSCE Service Coordinator Ashley George hopes that this year will be as successful as the last. Roughly 100 people participated in at least one night last year and the group collected more than $2,000 for COTS (Committee on Temporary Shelter). A similar number of participants have already signed up for Tent City. "Tent City raises awareness on campus about homelessness," explained George, "it's important to support COTS, to help folks who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless and that includes families."

Tent City fulfills a portion of the College's community service requirements for students who participate in one or multiple nights.

If you are interested in participating visit www.go.champlain.edu/service or contact Service Coordinator Ashley George at the Center for Service and Civic Engagement at Champlain College, (802) 383-6632. Or by email at ageorge@champlain.edu.

To learn more about COTS, visit www.cotsonline.org or call 864-7402

 

See photos from the 2009 Tent City at Champlain College - http://picasaweb.google.com/ChamplainCollegePhotos/TentCity?feat=directlink

 

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Everyone (faculty, staff, and other students not sleeping out) is invited to attend the nightly speaker series AND a tour of COTS shelters. The schedule is as follows:

 

• MONDAY: 8:30 p.m. - Case manager from Spectrum Youth and Family Service - Cyrus Patten
• TUESDAY: 8:30 p.m. - Panel from COTS including a client who has utilized COTS services
• WEDNESDAY: 12:30 p.m. - Walking tour of COTS shelters (individual and family shelters). Meet on Aiken Green at Tent city. Be back on campus by 1:15 pm.
8:30 p.m. - Speaker from the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger- Angela Smith-Dieng
• THURSDAY: 8:30 p.m. - Community Interventionist (collaboration between Burlington Police Department and Howard Center) - Justin Verette

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ABOUT CHAMPLAIN COLLEGE
Since 1878, Champlain College has provided career-focused education to students from its hilltop campus in Burlington, VT. Champlain's distinctive educational approach embodies the notion that true learning only occurs when information and experience come together to create knowledge. Champlain offers study abroad programs in Montreal, Quebec and Dublin, Ireland. The College was named a "Top-Up-and-Coming School" by U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges. It is also ranked in the top tier of 2011 Regional Colleges in the North by U.S. News & World Report. Champlain is ranked third nationwide among colleges and universities offering online programs. To learn more about Champlain College, www.champlain.edu