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Education > Middle and High School - Bluefield College

Page history last edited by dtaylor@bluefield.edu 12 years, 9 months ago

Service | Academic Work | Education & Training | Capacity Building | Deliberative Democracy

Sub-categories in this issue

Types of Service short-term | ongoing school year | summer

"Make A Difference Day" - (short term) one day of service that integrates the college and campus- community to engage in approximately five various community partners.
Summer Athletic Camps - college students and staff host a variety of campus for both middle school and high school boys and girls during the summer months. This is a great opportunity for youth development.
"X-Treme Winter Blast" - Each year the college hosts a weekend event for youth throughout the state of Virginia. Because our campus is faith-based, we held a youth retreat for churches and their youth groups, which included skiing, concerts and speakers. This was a great opportunity for youth to mingle with college students and to be empowered for life!
After-School Programs - In regards to Bonner, most of the students are currently serving at one of the following after-school programs:

Wade Center: Program for at-risk youth. Student volunteers have an opportunity to mentor Monday through Thursday with middle-school youth who are struggling socially, academically and even emotionally. Check out their website: http://www.wadecenter.com/
2nd Chance Learning Center: Program for at-risk high school students struggling academically. The center was established to address the increased school drop-out rate rising in Southwestern Virginia by providing free counseling, tutoring and mentoring. Students work with about 15 students who apply to 2nd Chance from local schools in Bluefield. Check out their website: http://www.secondchancelearning.com/aboutsecondchance.htm
Mountain Mentors: This program provides an opportunity for college students to act as a mentor to one middle-school student, for one day a week, for one hour. This program assists children who do not have strong parental influences in their lives. The mentor acts as a consistant encouragement for a student's emotional, social and intellectual well-being.

Impact Virginia - This project is actually sponsored through the VA Baptist Mission Board. Each summer, Bluefield College will host Impact VA for Southwestern VA. The week long project invites middle and high-school youth groups from all over the state (approximately 250 children) to the Bluefield campus where they break up into about 15 different teams in order to make homes in the greater Bluefield community warmer, safer and/or dryer. This weekend teaches youth that they can make a difference and embrace responsibility. It is amazing to see their boost of confidence as they are shingling a roof or repairing a deck! Check out their website: http://www.vbmb.org/glocalmissions/Impact-VA.htm

Read Across America Day - March 2nd is the National Read Across America Day. Bonner students are planning a book drive prior to the actual day in order to use the books donated to donate to classrooms at the local primary school in Virginia and West Virginia. On March 2nd, college and high school students will have an opportunity to read to children in K-3rd grade, promoting literacy.
Earth Day -For Earth Day 2011 the Bluefield College Bonners again partnered with the city of Bluefield, WV to plant an additional 150 tress in the city park and to prune and weed the existing trees that were planted last year.

Academic Work courses | service-learning | CBR and policy research | departments and institutes

Freshmen Seminar - The Freshmen seminar course is a one-credit requirement for all incoming freshmen. As part of a course requirement, students must complete a minimum of 3 hours of community service within the Greater Bluefield area. This year students served at the following locations: The Bluefield Union Mission, Clinch Valley Community Action (after-school program), The Wade Center and the Bluefield Parks and Recreation.
Education Classes - The education department provides a variety of opportunities for their college students to observe and interact with youth in the local school systems. They integrate hands-on instruction to the classroom learning process.

Education & Training forums | workshops | reflection activities

Bonner Meeting Reflection - Each week the Bonner students meet for training and enrichment as well as reflection. During this time the students often bring up issues they might be dealing with at their service site, linking between edcuation, poverty and childhood neglect. Students reflect and offer solutions to make the service sites in our local community a better place. Sometimes this reflection leads to further individual and group research as an organization.
Freshmen Seminar Service Assembly - Every fall semester the freshmen seminar class gathers to learn about service opportunities and the importance of getting involved in these opportunities. Generally 2-3 community partners come and speak with the students about their service site, statistics, how they impact the community and their need for volunteers.
Convocation - Each week, Bluefield College students, faculty and staff gather in our Chapel to meet for convocation. Often times these speakers will provide a heartfelt sermon based on meeting the needs of the poor and the helpless starting with our own communities. Although this is more of a spiritual and social education/training it bears a lot of truth when communicating the message to students.

Campus and Organizational Capacity-Building training | fundraising | resource development

Community Partner Training - All students who choose to volunteer at one of the community partner sites who offer education and mentoring to young students, must go through a series of guided and specific training in order to gain the skills needed to serve to their fullest capacity when at their particular site.

Research, Policy Analysis, Deliberative Democracy evaluations | policy research | issue forums | advocacy

Contacts staff | faculty | students | community partners (local, regional, national)

Eric Robinson - Executive Director of 2nd Chance Learning Center - (276) 326.1078

David Taylor - Director of the Dan Macmillan Center - (276) 326.4206

Kristen Garrett- Director of the Bonner Leader Program and Community Outreach - (276) 326.4471