Make a Difference Day

Week 9: Storytelling of an Experience in Nature

 Make a Difference Day is an event that the United Way - Portage County puts on.  Hundreds of volunteers sign up in teams to rake yards.  Participants range in age from the very young to the very old.  It is a great way to get a community together to help a cause.  I participated with my sisters in Delta Phi Epsilon sorority, as well as the family of one of my sisters.

The morning of Saturday October 26th I got up at 7:00 AM and it was incredibly chilly outside.  I bundled up in several layers as well as mittens, a scarf, and a hat.  I was immobilized a little bit, but I was warm. We went out to two different yards. The first was labeled as "very large" on our sheet but our team of 20 people was able to knock out that yard within 45 minutes.  The second yard we went to was a little bit out of the way and was only labeled as "large."  This yard was twice as big as the first with four times as many leaves.  It took us a bit longer, but we managed to get the yard done and have a great time while doing so.  

I want to have students be active in their community.  As a teacher, I plan on advocating for service learning projects for my students to complete.  Many great service activities can take place outside.  Another that I've participated in college was the Labor of Love.  Students would pick up trash in Schmeeckle among other service projects. Personally, I was part of a group that helped to paint a fence for an elderly woman.  I believe that these service projects are great for students and I will advocate for them as a teacher.