If you think students spend all their spare time avoiding studying, going out with their mates and having a good time then you'd be right. Well our student bloggers do anyway. While they assure us they don't slack on the study, they've got a lot to answer for when it comes to enjoying themselves while volunteering.

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Wednesday Aug 16, 2006

Boosting my skills

Hi all – just would like to say a big thanks to everyone who made cadet camp such a success.

Usually I volunteer once a week, on a Wednesday night for a few hours, which is when the cadet meetings are. I then do extra planning or organising if I am teaching or sorting out a special event for the cadets. There is then public duties which we go out and provide first aid cover for – which is lots of fun. So all in all I usually spend about three to four hours a week, and then any duties time volunteering – which isn't really a lot when you think of all the people it helps.

There is then the opportunity to go on weekend courses to improve your skills in all different areas. As well as learning you also get the opportunity to hang out with friends from all over the county which is great fun. Courses range from learning to become a senior cadet, and how to cope with all the responsibility which follows to how to teach and organise training for the cadets back home. It is a great way to boost your skills, and it looks good on your CV when it comes to finding a job.

Hope your all having a good summer

Sammy  x x

 

Posted by Sammy ( 1:33 PM )
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Things People Wanna Know.....

Firstly apologies for the crummy title, didnt know what to put!

Going to answer some of the most commonly asked questions today that people ask me

Do you feel differently about working in a primary school to how you feel about working with the Brownies?

Yes, they both have very different atmospheres. Experience in a school is vital to me, i can watch the ways in which children react to things and behave in the classroom and the things that go on. At Brownies we are focusing on just having fun really, usually learning new things on the way, it is a much more informal atmosphere. Next people tend to ask me which i like best which i cannot really answer because they are so different. School is interesting whilst brownies is fun, so both combined is a great mix. Which leads on to the next question...

Do you think you will stop volunteering when you go into further education or when you get into a career?

Once I have hopefully passed all my exams (so scared about the 24th when i pick up results) and start college where i will be studying childcare, and then hopefully continue to train as a early years teacher will i be continuing the brownies. To put it straight forwardly YES! I cannot properly start training and "count" as a leader until i am 18 and bring on 2008 for that. I want to be able to train and count but then to also be able to continue my training in extra fields in guiding such as being able to take them out on trips, camp etc. Currently no one in our pack leader-wise has the training to do that and i am brimming with ideas as to trips and camps and holidays and all that and i cant wait until i can organise and carry out these activities. The only reason why i would have a break from brownies is if the studying got too much or if i was away at uni or something which obv prevents me but until something forces me apart, no way!

Can you tell us a bit more about the penfriend relationships you have with Brownies in the US... ie do you have a penfriend there too? Do you have any idea what it's like for the volunteers who help out the US group?

This project lagged a bit whilst i was taking my exams and i have been unable to get the letters fineshed with the brownies and send them off. But i emailed the lady in the US the other week and she is just as keen as i am to get the link going again. We have only exchanged two letters with the troop and recieved one back so it is early days yet. I have absolutly no idea which it is like for the volunteers in the US group but mabye that is something we could look into once the link has been established and is fully on the go! Will keep you posted!

What would be your dream volunteering experience?

I have always always always dreamt about taking a gap year after college and travelling, and volunteering overseas. That is why i look up to Selina, Dana, Lucy and Emily. I would love nothing more to put my 2yrs training to the best of uses and travel to a third world country to help them. The only thing which would hold me back from doing that is me. I would worry until my head blew up! I would worry about being out there alone, if i could hack it, if what i saw would affect me too much etc etc. But I have 2 yrs to build myself up to that. So who knows, I could be being transferred to the overseas blog for a while, we will have to see eh!

Right OK Fingers aching now, so going to see you all later, any more questions feel free to write them in the comments bit of this blog

Cya soon guys x x x

Posted by Ashley ( 10:30 AM )
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Friday Aug 04, 2006

Cadet Camp - a week of no sleep

Hi ppl - hope you are all well and enjoying the summer

Cadet camp is in 8 days and all the cadets ( and adults ) seem very excited and looking forward to a week of fun. cadet camp is a yearly event which involves cadets, young adults and adults from alol over the county. The camp last a week and cadets will sleep in tents for the duration of this time.

camp is a great oppurtunity for the cadets to be rewarded for their hard work throughout the year and meet new people, and make great new friends from all over the county. the week is filled with a huge variety of activities to suit all cadets including - swimming, sports, it's a knockout (involving fairy liquid, foam and lots of water), team games, bbq's, fancy dress, discos and so much more.

the adults have been working so hard to put the whole week together since last autum and so i would liek to take this opurtunity to thank all the adults involved.

till next time,

sammy x

Posted by Sammy ( 7:27 PM )
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