The End is Nigh - Smith

     We haven't been able to spend as much time with the kids this semester as we did last semester, but that is because a large portion of our volunteering has been helping Central High School plan a carnival that will be taking place next week. At the beginning of the semester we were able to do a couple of in class presentations, and when it started warming up we had a green recess. We were also able to go to the Gardening Club kick off and help the kids plant avocado trees and make notebooks from recycled materials.

     The greatest experience so far this semester was the Gardening Club kick off. The kids really enjoyed making planters for their avocado seeds out of old milk cartons, and ate food that was grown locally. The garden they will be working in will grow vegetables that they can bring home and share with their families. The next day we had a green recess, and several of the kids who were at the Garden Club kick off came up and talked to us. They all seemed pretty excited about having their own garden. A couple of the girls even made their own garden on the playground that they named "Justin Bieber's Garden".

     The greatest challenge this month has definitely been time. April seems to be the month that all the professors decide to assign their hardest assignments, and so, for me at least, finding time to volunteer hasn't been the most easy of tasks. Besides all the homework I am also going to Powershift this weekend as a facilitator, and I have had to spend some time training for that, as well as helping Think Green plan the Earth Day festivities on Drury's campus. Fortunately for my grades, I have been able to finish my assignments and find time to volunteer.

     The last project we have for the year is going to be the BEST one. Our house has partnered with the Central High School Science Club to plan a carnival for Boyd Elementary on Thursday the 21st. There will be booths set up with games, crafts, and prizes for the kids to enjoy. Originally meetings were held once a week but as we have neared the date meetings have grown to twice a week. There is only one left before the big day, and everything looks like it will be finished in time. The kids are going to LOVE this!