After arriving on campus in September, 43 incoming freshmen participated in MiddView's volunteer trips as one component of their orientation to Middlebury. The trips provided students with an opportunity to become acquainted with the greater Vermont and Addison County communities through service. Students spent their days working with community partners to meet identified needs.
Six groups of students participated in service around areas of education, environment, and social justice at 24 community organizations. Jeanine Buzali '09 and the student trip leaders worked with community partners to provide meaningful service experiences for each of the first-year participants!
Education
Middlebury College partners with numerous schools and educational organizations, all of which rely heavily on community support to enhance opportunities for youth. This year's orientation trips included working with families at the Addison County Parent Child Center, barbecuing with teens from the Addison Central Teens center, and painting at Beeman Elementary School.
A trip leader and participant at the
Financial Stability Outreach Day.
Environment
One of our community’s greatest assets is our beautiful natural surroundings. The mountains, streams, lakes, and forests are maintained by many non-profit and state organizations. These agencies need a strong network of volunteers to give the landscape the time and attention required to keep this special defining characteristic of our state in tact. These year's orientation trips included gardening at the Willowell Foundation's Community Teaching Garden, doing trail maintenance at Spirit in Nature, and building a section of the Cross Vermont Trail.
Social Justice
Middlebury students work passionately on many issues of social justice. Poverty, hunger and homelessness, domestic violence, the needs of elders living in our community, mental illness, and substance abuse are among the many causes students work to address. This year's orientation trips sorted food at the Vermont Foodbank, spent time with Butch Varno and the Helen Porter Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, and assisted with a Financial Stability Outreach Day.
Students working with community members in the Ripton Garden.