Volunteering at Camp Chew 20-23 June 2019

Bio blitz
Copyright Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig

Youth Worker at nature camp for teenagers from disadvantaged, VME or rural backgrounds.

We desperately need volunteers from 20-23 June 2019 at Compton Martin & Chew Valley near Bristol.

Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig

Photocopyright Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig

Camp Avalon 2017

Photography copyright Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig

Volunteer tasks

By 17 June 2019 – split between volunteers

to prepare an Eventbrite report with contacts for children/volunteers.
to finalise the camp programme and e-mail parents/volunteers.
to finalise a breakdown of tasks with who is responsible for what.
to prepare and print parent consent forms.

Camp Avalon 2017

Photo copyright Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig

On 20 June 2019 Campsite 10 am and 6 pm

to help move camping equipment from storage to the campsite;
to help put up 6 large tents;
to help set up all equipment needed for the campsite; and
to help do food shopping.

21 June 2019 1.00 pm to 3.30 pm

to finish setting up at the campsite.

21 June 2019 3.30 pm to 5.00 pm

to travel back to Bristol with our driver.
to pick up the minibus before picking up children.
to ensure parents sign consent forms.
to remind parents that they need to both come to pick up their children for a camp feedback session and so the children can have their free gift.

Camp Avalon 2017

Photo copyright Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig

21 June 2019 5.00 pm to 22 June 4.00 pm

to be nature volunteers engaging teens in nature activities; or
to work as a youth worker engaging with VME children age 7-11 year olds at our nature camp;
to talk to children about nature;
to talk to children about how going outside helps with mental health;
to talk to children about the need to protect the environment
to talk to children about what they can do to help the environment and wildlife
to support nature volunteers who are providing expertise;
to supervise football games
to help with camp cooking, supervising toasting marshmallows, washing up and tidying up, serving meals;
to ensure children have the equipment needed for sessions;
to ensure children pack up all their belonging.

Working on our camps will leave you feeling incredibly positive about the future.

Media – to take photographs and video footage, interviewing the children about their experiences at the camp, how they have benefited and about how it made them feel from a wellbeing/mental health point of view.

Camp Chew 2017

Photo copyright Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig

22 June – 4 pm to 6.30 pm

to travel back in the minibus with the children;
to help set up a table and Gazebo outside St Pauls’ Resource Centre with literature from Time to Talk, a mental health charity;
to talk to parents with their children about the camp, how the children enjoyed getting outside, how it was good for their mental health and academic achievement, what the parents can do to carry on with that in terms of continuing to take their children outside and enjoy nature.
to then talk to the parents about mental health in order to raise awareness of the issue;
to let the children have their free water bottle after these discussions have taken place;
to if possible, video the parents about what they feel the benefits for their children have been.

23 July 10 am to 5 pm

To take down tents, pack up campsite and put into storage.

Volunteering for Camp Avalon 12-14 & 19-21 July 2019

Bio blitz
Copyright Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig

Youth Worker at nature camp for teenagers from disadvantaged, VME or rural backgrounds.

We desperately need volunteers from 11-15 and 18-22 July 2019 at Paddington Farm, Glastonbury.

Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig
Photo copyright Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig

Camp Avalon 2011
Photography copyright young environmentalist Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig

Volunteer tasks

By 8 July 2019 – split between volunteers

to prepare an Eventbrite report with contacts for children/volunteers;
to finalise the camp programme and e-mail to parents/volunteers;
to finalise a breakdown of tasks with who is responsible for what.

Camp Avalon 2017
Photo copyright Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig

On 11 & 18 July 2019 Campsite 10 am and 6 pm

to help move camping equipment from storage to the campsite;
to help put up 6 large tents;
to help set up all equipment needed for the campsite; and
to help do food shopping.

12 & 19 July 2019 1.00 pm to 3.30 pm

to finish setting up at the campsite.

12 & 19 July 2019 3.30 pm to 5.00 pm

to travel back to Bristol with our driver;
to pick up the minibus before picking up children;
to remind parents that they need to pick up their teenagers at 4 pm on Sunday.

Camp Avalon 2017
Photo copyright Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig

12 & 19 July 5.00 pm to 14 & 21 July 4.00 pm

to be nature volunteers engaging teens in nature activities; or
to work as a youth worker engaging with VME children age 12-18-year-olds at our nature camp;
to talk to teens about nature;
to talk to teens about how going outside helps with mental health;
to talk to teens about the need to protect the environment
to talk to teens about what they can do to help the environment and wildlife
to support nature volunteers who are providing the expertise; to supervise football games
to help with camp cooking, supervising toasting marshmallows, washing up and tidying up, serving meals;
to ensure children have the equipment needed for sessions;
to ensure teens pack up all their belonging;

Working on our camps will leave you feeling incredibly positive about the future.

14 & 21 July – 4 pm to 6.30 pm

to travel back in the minibus with the teens;
to talk to teens about the camp, how the children enjoyed getting outside, how it was good for their mental health and academic achievement, what the teens can do to carry on with that in terms of continuing to go outside and enjoy nature.
to if possible, video the parents/teens about what they feel the benefits have been.

15 & 22 July 10 am to 5 pm

to taking down tents, pack up campsite and put into storage

Bioblitzing
Photo copyright Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig

By 17 & 24 July

to prepare two 700-word blog posts about the camps with images.

Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig
Photo copyright Mya-Rose Birdgirl Craig

Philosophy

We believe that teens learn best when they are leading and when outdoors. We do not organise play for them throughout. We are looking for volunteers who encourage children to take part without telling them off or leading them. We can pay travel expenses and provide lifts, but volunteers need to lift share as part of our commitment to reducing our environmental impact. We aim to have zero waste, zero plastic and so volunteers will need to collect plastic, sort rubbish, sort it into recycling and discuss it with children.

Qualifications needed

We do not need any specific qualifications although having a DBS Certificate would be very useful. We are ideally looking for VME volunteers who can act as role models to the VME children attending otherwise knowledge of VME communities would be useful. However, we are happy to consider applicants who are not VME especially if they have experience of any of the following, but this is not essential and we would encourage anybody interested to apply;

The experience that is helpful:

Experience and knowledge of nature activities
Camping eg putting up/taking down tents or camp cooking
Nature or conservation
Nature education, forest school, outdoor play or working with children
Photography or film-making especially in nature or wildlife
Mental health

Tag: volunteering