Barks of Love | Docents of the Doggies
Barks of Love is not a shelter, they instead rescue dogs from the “death row” of local shelters and attempt to find them new, loving homes.
Chilling with some puppies inside a PetCo for a few hours isn’t a bad way to give your time. Along with myself, there were a few other volunteers who came and went during the five hours we were camped inside the store. The job was simple: get to know the pups, walk them occasionally, and show off all their adorableness and fun quirks to passing shoppers.
As a volunteer, you can become a foster family, help transport the pups, or, like me, help out at one of their meet and greets. At the end of the day, it was near impossible to have not fallen in love with a few of the pups. I can see why so many volunteers have multiple dogs filling their homes with love. I’ll also add that if you are looking for a new puppy, volunteering at an event is an amazing experience to really get to know these animals’ personalities before you commit to one. All in all, it was a very rewarding and heart-warming experience. Puppies!
Website: barksoflove.org
Orientation: No.
Commitment: 5hrs. of hanging with puppies inside PetCo.
Cost: $0
This entry is part of 2011’s Project 365 – Volunteering 12 places in 12 months.
The Children’s Nature Institute | Pathfinders of the Youth
The Children’s Nature Institute provides children with the opportunity to explore the natural world through hands-on, educational experiences. Using nature as a tool for fostering creativity, curiosity, independence, and growth. They aim to inspire children and provide opportunities to be excited and intrigued by all that the natural world has to offer and teach us.
I arrived at Eaton Canyon Nature Center in the hills above Pasadena where I met the CNI docents that were to be our trail guides. I also met a few other volunteers, I barely had time to integrate with them before one exclaimed, “The children are here!” as he pointed at the approaching bus. All us volunteers were quickly told our duties, my job was to trail the group and echo whatever information our docent said to the children that could not hear or were not paying attention. As well as to ensure the stragglers didn’t wander off into a mountain lion den.
Soon the parking lot was infiltrated by four large yellow school buses with the insanity of 3rd-grade students pouring out of them. After everyone was separated into groups, my group, approximately thirty of the most excited children I had ever encountered went inside the nature center to see the small exhibit of taxidermied animals. There were also a few live reptiles and amphibians along with interactive pieces that most of the hyper-children flocked to enlivened at touching real snake skin, pelts, and scores of acorns. They all but abused the push buttons that triggered the sounds of the animals’ roars, became entranced at the preserved butterflies encased in glass, and unfortunately hadn’t the time to capitalize on a small reading area with books and stuffed animals.
After leaving the exhibit, our miniature army tromped down the paths with our docent leading the way. She educated us about local flora and wildlife. She focused on classifying animals, mammals from reptiles, and how these animals and plants adaptations helped them survive. Our final stop was down at the dry river bed where all the kids were paired up. Everyone was given magnets and instructed how to search the soil for iron flecks. The kids were mesmerized as they began to discern science from magic.
The Children’s Nature Institute certainly needs volunteers to help out on these trail walks, but unlike some volunteer opportunities, this assistant position can be the first step to growing into becoming a lead docent. This is a perfect institution for lovers of nature who want to light up kid’s eyes by describing the process of metamorphosis or show them how to identify mountain lion tracks and how not to follow them into that large, dark hole behind the bushes.
Website: childrensnatureinstitute.org (now closed)
Orientation: No.
Commitment: 2hr. nature hike teaching kids.
Cost: $0
This entry is part of 2011’s Project 365 – Volunteering 12 places in 12 months.
Art of Elysium | Ambassadors of Joy
Art of Elysium encourages working actors, artists, and musicians to voluntarily dedicate their time and talent to children who are cooped up in hospitals for long periods battling serious medical conditions. They provide artistic workshops in the following disciplines: acting, art, comedy, fashion, music, radio, songwriting, and creative writing.
Art of Elysium looks to the volunteer to use their talents to brighten the day of these hospital-bound children. So, after brainstorming, I came up with a project that could reuse kids’ juice boxes. With a little paper mâché, paint, and decorating accessories, these juice boxes could be transformed into unique creatures spawned from the kids’ imaginations. I then corresponded with an emissary from Art of Elysium who helped me refine my lesson, what supplies they had available, and what I needed to provide myself.
As I arrived for my first workshop I was extremely nervous. Would the kids even be interested in making monsters and creatures out of a box? How good would I be at teaching them? What if they revolted and attacked me with glitter and paint!?
I was ushered to a table that came up to my thighs. I immediately started to unpack my supplies. When I pulled out the finished monsters that my friends and I had created the night before, the previously indifferent kids began to take interest. “That’s Batman!”, one kid roared! “Wow! Cool robot!” another one shouted. The project was an instant hit.
My emissary was nothing short of amazing, she brought more supplies than I could have asked for as well as helping me with the onslaught of kids wanting to create their own creatures. Near the end, some of the kids offered up their completed creations to be showcased in Art of Elysium’s annual art show, Little Pieces of Heaven, in Hollywood.
Website: theartofelysium.org
Orientation: Yes. Mandatory.
Commitment: 2hr Orientation. 2hr. workshops teaching kids.
Cost: $0
This entry is part of 2011’s Project 365 – Volunteering 12 places in 12 months.
Comfort Zone Camp | Champions of the Littles
Comfort Zone Camp is a nonprofit bereavement camp that transforms the lives of children who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or primary caregiver. The free camps include confidence-building programs and age-based support groups that break the emotional isolation grief often brings. Comfort Zone Camps are offered to children 7-17 and are held year-round across the Country.
My Comfort Zone Camp experience transcends words. Its transformative powers can only be understated. I fully believe when people seek out volunteering, they are seeking what Comfort Zone delivers. And its delivery is more powerful than I could have ever suspected.
For three days I left my old life, I put aside my problems and dedicated all my energy to helping out a child in need. It was amazingly freeing and rewarding in ways that have forever changed me.
To begin, I had to attend a CZC orientation which is like an adrenaline shot of camp life plunged directly into your heart. You’re instantly switched on, you get a quick taste of things to come, and are left wanting more. I came to realize that taste was just a fraction of the energy and only hinted at the impact that the full camp experience would deliver. The beauty of volunteering with CZC is they need you for exactly who you already are. They need to match you and your interests with a child of seven to seventeen with similar interests. There are also plenty of other volunteering roles, from photographer to therapist, where you are helping out, yet are not directly matched with a child. So give the video below a gander and then check out this page for the orientation dates and locations.
After I filled out the questionnaire listing all my interests and signed up for a camp date, I waited eagerly to see if I would be matched up. Before the weekend of camp, I received the good news: an email with info on who my Little Buddy was to be as well as the specific loss they had undergone. Next, I gave a brief call to my “Little” to get to know them a bit before I meet them at camp, this serves to make the actual meeting a little less awkward.
Then, on a Friday afternoon, I drove up into the beautiful hills of Malibu to a campsite that could have been pulled straight out of any summer camp film. I had arrived at Comfort Zone.
I met and greeted other “Bigs” and staffers, found my cabin, and unloaded my stuff. Then we all waited eagerly for our “Littles” to arrive. As the sun set, rain began to fall, and the temperature dropped quickly. The camp began to sprout rivers of mud by the time all the Littles began to arrive, some eager to leave their normal life in the dust and have a wondrous, magical weekend at camp. Some crying not wanting to leave the comfort and protection of their family. I looked around for a face I would not recognize with nervous apprehension as all around me Bigs greeted their Little for the first time.
After a while worry crept over my face, it seemed that everyone’s Littles had arrived except mine. Finally, I was approached by staff and told there was an issue. My Little had arrived but was refusing to stay. Many people went to talk to him and they finally got him out of the car into the cafeteria. It seemed like everyone in camp was trying to convince him to stay. It was my first time at camp and all the Bigs but me were bonding with their Littles, playing games, sharing stories, and having a great time. I stood alone, lost, confused about what to do.
Finally, in what seemed like ages, they brought him over to me to be introduced. My Little was a not-so-little, angst-ridden seventeen-year-old. This was his second time at camp and from the deepest reaches of his soul, did not want to be there. After a brief chat, he tried to leave. However, once he realized his mother had left him, he shut down, refused to talk to anyone, and walked outside into the damp darkness. We found him standing in the torrential downpour like a sponge, you could feel his anger swelling with every drop of rain. As I saw him out there something inside of me click on. I knew right then — this was my zero hour.
Here was a kid, alone, lost, and confused like we have all been at one time or another. At that moment my empathy exploded. Without hesitation I walked outside, instantly getting soaked to the bone and not even noticing. The rain washing away all of my problems, all of my other identities — I was a Big and I had a job to do.
Alone with the white noise of the rain pounding all around us, I spoke. I told him that he was here and that it sucks, but he wasn’t alone, that I was there for him. I made him understand I was on his side, and that, sure, he was stuck here for three days, but no one was going to make him do anything he didn’t want to do. I would be his gatekeeper, his confidant, and his friend. I don’t know if it was my inspired speech, the piercing rain turning his blood to ice or he was tired of fighting, but he eventually gave in and followed me back to our cabin.
On Saturday my Little, still reserved, socialized a bit with some of the other kids. Then, to my surprise, decided to join us in some activities. Once committed, he melded with other truly amazing kids who accepted him wholeheartedly. He even showed great leadership skills in some of our group activities. I couldn’t help but beam a little.
In the long run, I don’t know how much I helped him deal with his grief. Our teenage years have a way of tearing down even the most resilient of us. To carry an extra burden of loss during those fragile years, that extra grief can easily tip the scales. By the end of the weekend, I knew exactly what my role was and why I would always continue coming back. I understood that it’s these little connections that matter, that help us understand different perspectives. It’s knowing we are not alone that helps us open ourselves up to the world. All these little connections we have throughout our lives create who we are and who we will eventually become.
Addendum:
About a month or so later, I signed up again and was paired with an amazing nine-year-old boy who was super excited to be there; he was a huge Star Wars fan and loved the outdoors. Needless to say, we got along smashingly.
Website: comfortzonecamp.org
Orientation: Yes. Mandatory.
Commitment: Orientation – 6hrs. Camp big buddy – 3 days/2 nights (Fri-Sun).
Cost: $25 donation.
This entry is part of 2011’s Project 365 – Volunteering 12 places in 12 months.
01-14-11
I sit here in a condo in Mammoth. Alone with friends. Thinking, where could I be if I made a few different choices? Is this the best life I could have led? I’m at a crossroads. I am literally a blank canvas. I have no job, no girlfriend, no close friends, and no direction. The future is frighteningly mysterious.
It seems I’m a lone traveler. If you asked me 15 years ago where I would be today, it would not be here. It would be someplace else. Someplace where I wore a smile more often, with someone who brings it to my face.
There comes a time in one’s life where perspectives change. Where we have lived enough, experienced enough to look back and reflect — constructing an accurate portrait of what we’ve become and perhaps who we will always be.
There are so many things I did not write about this last year, my self-imposed moratorium on drinking, my lost job, and of course, Wendy.
We live. We die. And happiness, contentedness is the only thing that matters. The problems only arise when you desire more than what the world offers and that which you are not willing to fight for.
Chaos Falls
Dean
This is very personal piece. It has its origins in my career’s beginning, teaching art, experimental techniques, silly frugality, and an unreachable, unreasonable love. Its companion is a grouping of words some may consider poetry.
Ode to Man in Sea
2021 Dean: This was written for me by a close friend, now lost. I means a lot to me and I enjoyed it immensely. I wish to share it here.
Stirring before your curious posture, is a world. You know it well enough. You have long recognized it, defined it, explored it, and loved it. Dear, you held it close and manipulated it. You sought yourself in it, all the while letting it slowly carry you adrift to other thoughts of wonderment. Peacefully adrift. Recklessly adrift. You conquered the furious winds like a warrior. You then laid on your back with ease and felt the calm after the victory. But you do not gloat in your peace. You dismissed the glory because you are not a warrior. You are not a savage beast on a mission to captivate other’s thoughts. You are an explorer. Do you know how beautiful that is?
Your goal in life, remains unfulfilled. Perhaps you never really focused on the goal. True explorers let the curiosity carry their hearts to distant places. Perhaps you never really knew what the goal was. True explorers are driven to seek, even at the cost of their lost goals. Perhaps there is no such thing as a life goal. Perhaps there is no such thing as a true explorer. Yet, you seek. You tread the difficult path, despite the small rewards that tempt and distract you on occasion. You move forward, one step at a time. Do you know how amazing that is?
So you seek beauty? Look at the blinding intensity that pours out of everything you touch! You seek wisdom? Feel the peaceful breath you exhale once you stumble on the best of your intricately settled thoughts! You seek reality, passion, and love? Understand, that you already have it. Dear, you give it as easily as you breathe. You give it selflessly. You give it naturally. Do you know how much I admire you for that?
Stirring before your curious posture, is another world. This is my world; it’s chaos. But the wavelengths of light, in which we view all the beauty before us, are of the same spectrum. And the way that we process these visual realities are similarly compartmentalized in our respective beings. And the way that we internalize our own worlds, makes us shed the same tears. Do you know how beautiful that is? Do you know how amazingly beautiful, and inspiring that is?
We all drift away into the slumber of non-realities from time to time. But we all wake up from the same dream. The exact, same dream. We all wake up and find ourselves inside our own caves, comfortably shielded from the treacherous and mysterious worlds outside.
I love you because when you awake, you crawl out to explore them. I love you because you understand that no one can really understand another’s cave, but you seek to find it nonetheless. You seek to be there, just to breathe it in! You don’t even care what you will find! You’re just following your drive to explore. Do you know how fascinating that is?