Newsletter

Megan Golson
Magna, Utah
Psychology Major

Leadership Track

 

Leading Canyon Creek Women’s Crisis Center Kids’ Group

 

For my project, I planned activities for the Canyon Creek Women’s Crisis Center Kids’ Group. These activities ranged from crafts to reading to games. Each activity occupied the attending children for about two hours every Wednesday night for twenty weeks. The activities were usually centered on a value like self-expression or kindness. Although I did not implement all of the activities, I led or helped to lead 20 activities. Some of them were my own and others were thought up by other volunteers.

 

After each activity night, I would write a blog entry about the experience. This blog recorded what the activity was and how I felt about it. I also recorded the activities that I did not show to the kids but still planned. Viewers of the blog can use these activities for their own children or other similar groups. In some cases, the blog posting includes pictures of the craft if there was one. However, due to the sensitive population I was working with, I could not photograph activities that included the children.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I chose this project for two primary reasons. One, I wanted to do something meaningful for the community. I love volunteering and I love kids. Two, I wanted a project that would set me apart from my fellow psychology majors and develop my leadership skills. Developing and leading activities is a great way to be a leader. By volunteering at Canyon Creek Women’s Crisis Center, I learned about the Kids’ Group, and I knew that was my perfect opportunity to satisfy both criteria.

 

The greatest challenge in this project was the change in organization early on. After I submitted my proposal and had everything approved by the head volunteer, the crisis center changed management. With that, the head volunteer was replaced with someone who did not know about my project. Additionally, the change also led to different management for Kids’ Group. Now, all volunteers were expected to help create activities. This forced me to change the number of activities I could implement. Other, smaller challenges included travel preventing me from attending some weeks, work conflicts, and sickness.

 

This project benefited the Canyon Creek Women’s Crisis Center clients. I was able to help the kids feel welcome and have fun. They learned to express themselves and be kind to one another. Their mothers also benefitted because it allowed them to attend their therapy group without their children interfering. The project also took some responsibility and stress from the head volunteer.

 

I benefitted from the project in several ways. It taught me how to take charge and also delegate. I learned to manage my time. It improved my creative and reflective skills through the blog. I also became better at interacting with children. Finally, the experience gave me a better understanding of how to accomplish an intentional project from start to finish.

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“Activities at Kids' Group aren't meant to just be fun. The goal, my goal, is to teach them as well as entertain them.” 

 

“I am going to miss these kids. Some of them are downright rude. They have no filter. Some are violent. Some are reclusive and quiet. Some make me want to cry for them, some because of them. But I'm going to miss every single one of them. Hanging out with them is such a great experience. I would recommend that everyone volunteer with kids at some point in their lives.”