How will You make a Difference this Summer?
The Volunteer Center VIVA Summer Program!

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VIVA
Volunteer.Involvement.Values.Action
 Summer Service Learning Program

The Volunteer Center’s Service Leaning Program titled VIVA (Volunteer.Involvement.Values.Action) is the perfect way to get our communities youth involved and in touch with the needs of our community. Participants attend a Pre-Service Training where they learn how to identify a need in their community, formulate a plan to address the need, act on their plan, and reflect on the success of their project. Then throughout the summer, participants work with prescreened non-profits first hand. They gain a better understanding of their community’s needs and how they can make changes to address those needs. The program ends with a Celebration where participants share their unique reflection projects with other participants, parents, non-profits, and the community. Participants then make a plan to continue their active engagement throughout the school year and throughout their future.

Why volunteer through The Volunteer Center?

• It’s an organized, fine-tuned program
• You can choose from a list of youth-friendly agencies
• We give you a Pre-Service Training to prepare you for a successful experience
• Unique civic engagement component for older students
• We will provide extra support if you run into difficulties
• Older students will mentor younger students; you meet students from other schools
• We keep track of your service hours
• We recognize your achievements at a special celebration
   

Last summer, over 2,325 service hours were donated to community non-profit agencies to help improve the quality of life in The South Bay through our tenth VIVA Summer Service Learning Program by participants who had an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of others and understand how to promote lasting change as active citizens in their community. But it did not stop there - the young volunteers themselves experienced a kind of mentoring through the use of guided "Reflection," a tool often described as "the yeast that transforms a service experience into a learning experience."

Our Summer^'08 Service Learning Partners are:

• Pediatric Therapy Network "Camp Escapades," or "Leaps and Bounds", South Bay
  Camp Escapades - Facilitate fun games & activities for children w/special needs during 3 weeks in August, one week minimum half or full day, ages 13 & up.

  Leaps and Bounds (located at their Center in Torrance, 90501) - As a volunteer your main responsibility it to PLAY with the children and help keep an eye out for safety, at all times.  Volunteers will play an active role in assisting in therapy sessions, helping the staff with set up and clean up duties, and prepare materials for arts and craft projects. ages 13 & up. Mornings 8:30-11:30am or Afternoons 12:00pm-3:00pm (Don't let your fun end with summer, they have year-round opportunities)

• Harbor Interfaith Food Pantry and Shelter, San Pedro
  Bag groceries, sort food donations, receptionist, child care helper, after-school program ages 13 & up

• Toberman Settlement House, San Pedro
  Read/tutor/play with disadvantaged children; Campers' Helpers ages 13 & up

• Boys and Girls Club of LA Harbor, San Pedro, & Wilmington
  Game Room, Art Program, Computer Lab, Skate Park, Sports Programs and more, ages 13 & up

• Palos Verdes Art Center (PVAC)
  July 21 - August 29 Art Camp assistants ages 14 & up minimum one week half or full day: 8:30-12:30pm or 12:15 - 4:15pm

• Ride To Fly, Rancho Palos Verdes
  Help with therapeutic horse-riding lessons for children with special needs; care for horses; computer entries; no equestrian experience needed, ages 14 & up

• Salvation Army Senior Day Care, Pre-school, Summer Day Camp, Torrance
  Help with recreational activities, provide individual attention to seniors or children ages 14 & up

• Boys and Girls Club of Harbor City
  Computer Lab, Game Room, Homework Assistance, Sports & Fitness, Arts & Crafts Program assistant, ages 15 & up, AM & PM

• Adventure Plex, Manhattan Beach
  Help answer phones at the front desk or help guests use the rock wall or help monitor the play areas. Help in the cafe or help their Camp staff  during their summer camp. ages 13 & up. For the safety of the children all volunteers will have to have submit to a drug test and a TB test (Adventure Plex covers the cost!)

• Roundhouse Marine Aquarium, Manhattan Beach
  Summer Camp - As a junior counselor you will help supervise campers with Arts & Crafts projects, games, and snack. ages 14 & up.

  Aquarium - Learn about the ocean and its inhabitants; learn how to take care of the aquarium and marine animals; gain public speaking skills by interacting with visitors; increase environmental awareness with your knowledge and expertise. ages 15 & up. (possibility for year-round opportunities)

• Shakespeare by the Sea, San Pedro and the South Bay
  Do you love the theater?  Do you want to learn about 'behind-the-scenes'?  Shakespeare by the Sea works with you to help bring out your talents.  You can help with the concession stand, pass out programs and questionnaires, help create and build sets, learn about costume design, learn how to manage sound and lighting then put your skills into practice, work with the Assistant Stage Manager or even the Director!  Let your talents shine behind the scenes!! ages 15 & up. (Don't let your learning end with summer, they have year-round opportunities)

More still to come . . .