Last weekend, the Involvement Fair highlighted the wide variety of ways that students can get involved with CCCE programming. Lena Nyblade, class of 2021, could be found tabling for the Young Chefs program, drumming up interest among new students. This program pairs Carleton students with students from the Northfield and Faribault Middle Schools.“We teach kids science through cooking”, says Nyblade, emphasizing how the Young Chefs program promotes sustainability and healthy habits while supporting students in developing useful skills.
When asked her favorite part about getting involved with Young Chefs, Nyblade points to the hands on nature of the program. “The kids get to eat what they made and it feels like you’re showing them how to do science in an interactive way.” She is excited to continue her involvement with Young Chefs this year as one of the program directors. Young Chefs and other similar programs are always in need of student volunteers, which is a great way to apply your academic interests in a real world setting. In addition, Nyblade’s experience demonstrates how getting involved with programs like Young Chefs can lead to future leadership opportunities.
Aside from volunteering, there are number of students who get involved through community based work study in local schools. Alexis Shuck, class of 2021, is the program assistant for the Greenvale Park Community School. This after school program served over 500 students last year and provides homework help, child care and activities for the elementary school students, as well as tutoring for high schoolers and educational opportunities for families.
Last year, Alexis worked as a Reads and Counts tutor at the Community School, and enjoyed working with students of all different ages. “It feels good to get out of the Carleton bubble” says Shuck. “You can lose perspective if you stay on campus. Getting off campus makes me think about the larger Northfield community and how big a role Carleton has to play in such a small town.” In high school, Alexis volunteered for after school programs in the U.S. and in Bosnia, where she lived for a year. She is excited at the opportunity to engage with the community here in Northfield and continue learning from the kids she works with. Alexis’ experience shows how working with the CCCE through work study allows students to build upon their previous experiences with community involvement and take on more responsibility as they continue working in the schools.
The four focus areas of the CCCE cover a broad range of issues, and there are always opportunities to volunteer no matter your previous experience or your individual interests. Thanks to everyone who expressed interest in our programming at the Involvement Fair, whichever route of involvement you choose we look forward to working with you! If you missed us at the Involvement Fair, stop by Sayles 151 to connect with us, find us on Facebook or Instagram, or write to ccce@carleton.edu.