Work with Kidsbridge and youth to encourage respect for others
Volunteers are needed to greet and speak with small groups of children and teens about diversity appreciation, bullying prevention and respect for all persons at the Kidsbridge Tolerance Center. If the fit is right, retired educators, adults with flexible schedules or college students will be trained to help share Kidsbridge’s concepts with visiting youth.
The Tolerance Center is located in the Ewing Senior & Community Center at 999 Lower Ferry Road in Ewing, NJ. For TCNJ college students, it is less than two miles away from campus! The building is easily accessible from I-95 and has free parking. Schools and groups visit by appointment only.
No experience necessary! Potential candidates should have an interest in character education and enjoy interacting with children and teens.
Who
College students of all majors, especially Education & Psychology. Sociology, Criminal Justice and Gender Studies majors have also benefited by volunteering.
Persons with disabilities have had a profound impact when sharing their stories with visiting students.
Retired adults, educators or not, can impart their wisdom and share their life experiences after being trained as program facilitators to guide discussions and hands-on activities.
Subjects
Bullying and cyberbullying prevention; diversity appreciation; social-emotional learning; name-calling, teasing & being mean; prejudice & discrimination; religious & social stereotypes; sensitivity for persons with disabilities; gender stereotypes & LGBT; UPstander versus bystander behavior; empathy & personal/group empowerment; character education; pro-social skills; creating a support group; mindfulness; and respect for all persons.
Where
The Kidsbridge Tolerance Center is physically located in the Ewing Senior & Community Center. Click here for the address, written directions and a detailed map.
How to Start
First come to the Tolerance Center to observe when we’re alive with kids. There is no obligation. If you like what you see and feel you are a good fit with the Kidsbridge mission, vision and values and you think you’d like to teach, Kidsbridge will train you to become a program facilitator. This includes working with visiting youth by leading small group discussions.
If teaching is not your thing, there are other areas and tasks with which Kidsbridge can use help! What is your skill set? What are you passionate about? Are there things that you like to do that can help keep Kidsbridge’s wheels turning? Contact us, and let’s see if there is a fit.
When
The Tolerance Center is open to groups by appointment only, so you would volunteer as your schedule permits when we have schools or groups visiting. A typical visit for grades 2-8 lasts for four hours and mostly takes place during the week between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Occasionally there are weekend sessions. Volunteers can stay for the morning session or for the entire visit (as their schedule allows).
Kidsbridge also now offers Mobile Outreach Programs for grades two through six. For individuals who like to travel to different schools, assisting a facilitator educate students might be a perfect option for you.
Preschool through first grade are served by our Mobile Outreach Program only — which means we don’t host them in the Tolerance Center but instead educate them in their own classrooms/schools. Again, if early education is your passion, assisting a facilitator is an option.
All Kidsbridge programs are developmentally-appropriate for each age group.
[pl_button type=”emailus” link=”https://kidsbridgecenter.org/contact-form/” ] E-mail Us [/pl_button] Let us know of your interest and availability to volunteer.