Service-Learning Adapts with Local Volunteering
What does a spring break trip coordinator do听if spring break听is听canceled due to COVID?听听
The short answer is听they听adapt.听听听
Rebekah Van听Zoest, a junior studying Speech Pathology,听was hired by the Service-Learning Center听last year听to听help coordinate the听yearly听spring break trips. She quickly听found out听this fall听that听Calvin鈥檚 traditional spring break would听be canceled due to COVID.听听
鈥淚 knew it was a听very real听possibility,鈥 said听Van听Zoest. 鈥It definitely started the conversation of now what? What would it look like听if we did something this year?听罢丑补迟鈥檚听where the idea of these one-day, local trips came about.鈥听
Throughout the month of April, five student leaders lead groups of students听to serve alongside and learn from 5 different community partners in Grand Rapids with over 40 students participating.听Students had the opportunity to volunteer with Alpha Grand Rapids,听Exalta听Health, Friends of Grand Rapids Parks,听ICCF, and听Treetops Collective.听听
鈥淚 think this model aligns really well with what the听Service-Learning听Center鈥檚 mission is.听I do think that there is a value of getting to know this place and learning more about this city,鈥 said Van听Zoest. 鈥淧art of the goal of these trips were to get students familiar with places in Grand Rapids听that they could go back to while they are here at Calvin.鈥澨听
An opportunity to connect with Grand听Rapids.
The Service-Learning Center has seen听a positive response from听both the students and the organizations who participated.听In a year that has felt isolating to many people,听students were eager for the opportunity听to volunteer听within their community.听
鈥The response has been really positive,鈥 said Van听Zoest. 鈥People听were excited at having the opportunity to get off campus and get connected to a place during a year where it has been really challenging to do that.听听听
Van听Zoest听worked with 5 other student leaders to identify what organizations they would connect with鈥攚here they went depended on what each of them were passionate about.听Together they planned the details of what each day trip would entail.听听
Sophomore听Jesse Kinyua听lead the group that volunteered at Treetops Collective. 鈥淚听am really passionate about creating community wherever I听am,听and听I resonate with how Treetops Collective approached building community amongst New American women in Grand Rapids.听It was amazing to听learn more about the work Treetop does, but also to watch the students I led connect with the community around Grand Rapids!鈥澨听
As听the Service-Learning Center begins to think ahead to the 2021-2022 school year and returning to their听regular spring break plans,听their conversations have听also听included听this model of听shortened local听trips.听听
听鈥It was very cool to see students getting excited about this,鈥 said Van听Zoest. 鈥My hope is that something like this would continue in the future.鈥