Volunteering Success! WOOT!
I feel like singing, I'm so happy right now! Today was my first day working at the Cincinnati Zoo as a Volunteer Educator. It went GREAT!!!!!!
Dad drove me there this morning at 9:10 am, which gave me 5 minutes to get to the morning meeting. While there I got my name tag and parking pass, then I went to the Wolf Woods exhibit with two senior educators. Their names were David and Judith. They'd never done the Wolf exhibit before themselves, which helped with my nerves a little. Starting out, I let them do the talking to the guests, and observed how they guided kids through the investigation. Then I started helping, holding the map of the exhibit and such for them. Then I started guiding the investigations with the kids, while David and Judith spoke to the older visitors. I was nervous at first, but once I jumped in, it was like riding a bike. My teachers said I did a wonderful job, which made me all kinds a happy. There was one point where Judith and I both lead investigations with two different groups of kids. I'd gotten half-way through it with a family, when some school kids doing the Adventure Pass showed up. She handled them so I didn't have to break my focus.
At 12:30 we packed up the discovery cart we'd been using, and all three of us went to lunch at the Rhino Cafe with some other volunteers. I'll admit, I was a little shy at first around so many strangers, but everyone was so friendly and supportive, I started to feel like I really belonged there.
After lunch I sadly had to leave. Sigh. Didn't want to but Mama's cats needed feeding , and I needed to get home. So I hopped on the Metro, stopped by Moms place, and came home. All in all, I'd say it was a very good start at my new job! I can't wait for my next day!
Dad drove me there this morning at 9:10 am, which gave me 5 minutes to get to the morning meeting. While there I got my name tag and parking pass, then I went to the Wolf Woods exhibit with two senior educators. Their names were David and Judith. They'd never done the Wolf exhibit before themselves, which helped with my nerves a little. Starting out, I let them do the talking to the guests, and observed how they guided kids through the investigation. Then I started helping, holding the map of the exhibit and such for them. Then I started guiding the investigations with the kids, while David and Judith spoke to the older visitors. I was nervous at first, but once I jumped in, it was like riding a bike. My teachers said I did a wonderful job, which made me all kinds a happy. There was one point where Judith and I both lead investigations with two different groups of kids. I'd gotten half-way through it with a family, when some school kids doing the Adventure Pass showed up. She handled them so I didn't have to break my focus.
At 12:30 we packed up the discovery cart we'd been using, and all three of us went to lunch at the Rhino Cafe with some other volunteers. I'll admit, I was a little shy at first around so many strangers, but everyone was so friendly and supportive, I started to feel like I really belonged there.
After lunch I sadly had to leave. Sigh. Didn't want to but Mama's cats needed feeding , and I needed to get home. So I hopped on the Metro, stopped by Moms place, and came home. All in all, I'd say it was a very good start at my new job! I can't wait for my next day!