Volunteer on children's recreation programs this summer.
Christopher Columbus, Sacajawea, Henry Hudson, Matthew Henson – all are famous explorers who made a world of difference. Today, for a kid who has never left his or her South Bronx neighborhood, a trip to an upstate farm can open up a world of discoveries too, thanks to New York Cares' wide-ranging "Explorers" Programs.
These programs broaden the horizons
of children from homeless shelters, community centers, and low-income
neighborhoods in every borough. And as one volunteer said, "They help keep the kids active, while inspiring curiosity, building confidence, teaching teamwork, and creating lots of fun."
Volunteers interested in visual arts help
children discover their creativity through a painting or photography project. If you're a performer, you can sing songs or play improvisational games with a child on a Music or Theater Explorers program. Or teach a child to dribble a basketball or swim the backstroke on a Sports Explorers project.
On Urban Adventures, volunteers spend a Saturday with kids on indoor and outdoor adventures, including climbing "rock" walls, skating or bowling, visiting the museum or zoo. One Saturday, for example, an exhausted but happy group of kids was riding the subway with their volunteer buddies on their way home from a fun-filled day at the Bronx Zoo. An elderly gentleman asked where they had been. A volunteer told him they were a New York Cares group, on their way back from a field trip. One of the kids couldn't contain his excitement and launched into his own story about the day. He told the gentleman, "We just went to the zoo – the best place ever. I'm going to have a museum for birds one day!" The other children also chimed in with more reviews. The gentleman smiled. "That is so wonderful," he said. "I wish there had been a New York Cares when I was a kid. It might have changed my life."
So, whether the destination is the zoo, the neighborhood center swimming pool, or an upstate apple orchard, a day of exploring, learning, and having fun can mean the world to the children you help.
How You Can Help If you are interested in volunteering on a children's recreation program, register for one of our upcoming orientations by clicking here or calling our Project Sign-Up Hotline at 212-402-1156.
Search Online: Project Type= Children's Recreation
Key Word = Art Explorers, Sport, Urban Adventures
Christopher Columbus, Sacajawea, Henry Hudson, Matthew Henson – all are famous explorers who made a world of difference. Today, for a kid who has never left his or her South Bronx neighborhood, a trip to an upstate farm can open up a world of discoveries too, thanks to New York Cares' wide-ranging "Explorers" Programs.
On Urban Adventures, volunteers spend a Saturday with kids on indoor and outdoor adventures, including climbing "rock" walls, skating or bowling, visiting the museum or zoo. One Saturday, for example, an exhausted but happy group of kids was riding the subway with their volunteer buddies on their way home from a fun-filled day at the Bronx Zoo. An elderly gentleman asked where they had been. A volunteer told him they were a New York Cares group, on their way back from a field trip. One of the kids couldn't contain his excitement and launched into his own story about the day. He told the gentleman, "We just went to the zoo – the best place ever. I'm going to have a museum for birds one day!" The other children also chimed in with more reviews. The gentleman smiled. "That is so wonderful," he said. "I wish there had been a New York Cares when I was a kid. It might have changed my life."
