2013 Summer Service Sites
Baha'i Community of Rancho Cucamonga
Location of the Baha'i Center:10213 Foothill Blvd. Ste. 100,Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
Website:http://www.rcbahai.org
The Baha'i community was founded in 19th century Persia, and is one of the newest world religions, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. Many of the members in Rancho Cucamonga are Persian, so you will get the great opportunity to learn about Persian culture and food. The Baha'i have a peaceful approach to politics and relationships. They are deeply committed to serving the community and the volunteer will be joining them in some of their service work, including children's programming, teen girl's empowerment, and work with older adults. In addition, the volunteer may also work with other religious communities to assist with their service to the community. A central part of the summer experience will be learning about the Baha'i tradition. You will have a chance to study with some of the Baha'i members so that the volunteer can understand why they do what they do. The learning is not for the purpose of conversion but to build appreciative knowledge and understanding of this tradition. Volunteers will live on La Verne’s campus for the summer.
Camp Koinonia
Location:850 Camp Koinonia Lane, Cle Elum, Washington 98922
Website: http://www.campkoinonia.org/
Camp Koinonia is a full-service camp. Volunteers will be working "behind-the-scenes" to cook, clean and do maintenance during the summer camps. All Summer Service volunteers will share a room, and live with the Camp Managers in their house. There are weekly camps (mostly children and youth, and some adult and intergenerational camps). No experience is required. All staff are trained. Typically, volunteers are scheduled for 6 days per week. The camp is in a beautiful setting in northern Washington, and is a camp associated with the Church of the Brethren.
Camp Myrtlewood
Location: 49658 Myrtle Creek Road, Myrtle Point, Oregon 97458.
Website: http://campmyrtlewood.org/
Camp Myrtlewood is a full-service camp in the costal mountains of Oregon. Volunteers live in cabins and work “behind-the-scenes” doing cooking, cleaning and maintenance. There are weekly camps (mostly children and youth, and some adult and intergenerational camps). The camp is in a beautiful setting in Oregon, and is a camp associated with the Church of the Brethren. No experience is required. All staff are trained. As stated by the Camp Directors, it is important that camp staff be responsible, flexible, have a positive attitude, a good work ethic, a willingness to serve, and a tolerance and open mind toward different people. The challenges of working at Camp Myrtlewood include long hours of hard physical work cooking and cleaning, in a rural mountain setting. It is helpful to be capable of working long hours on your feet, and to work well in a team, getting along with others. You will not be a camp counselor, but a member of the "hosting team." You clean cabins, bathrooms, dining hall, and kitchen. You will prepare meals from scratch, feed campers, clean up and start over!!! Attention to detail is important and a willingness to take constructive criticism. The overall goal is to create a clean and welcoming space so that the campers may relax and enjoy their event.
The camp staff works as a team to get the work done and at the end of the day you may be tired, but you will feel a sense of accomplishment, especially after hearing all the complements from campers about how great the food is! One very important part of the job is the positive interaction with campers, especially children. It is important to know that everything you do and say is teaching them about how to live in harmony with the environment and with each other. Some of the activities available for workers on their days off include hiking, swimming, or reading a book under a tree. It is a good opportunity to develop a relationship with nature and take advantage of time for personal or spiritual growth. Cell phone reception is available but you may have to walk to a high point for it to work. Also, internet access is limited, but available.
CLUE-LA
Location:464 Lucas Avenue, Suite 202, Los Angeles, CA 90017 (main office, although campaigns and work may be throughout LA)
Website:http://cluela.org/
Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE-LA) educates, organizes, and mobilizes the faith community to walk with workers and their families in their struggle for respect and dignity in the workplace and beyond. You are being placed in their CLUE-LA Young Religious Leaders Summer Fellowship Program. This is an opportunity to have an instructional summer experience to learn the practice of Faith Rooted Community Organizing. You will join other interns in an interfaith context, and together you will support key worker organizing campaigns (car wash workers, hotel workers, food service workers, etc.). The summer emphasizes team-work, community organizing, deep training, shadowing, hands-on practical work, developing strong relationships with local religious communities and work leaders, and a thirst to change the world. The summer includes a five-day initial training session and regular weekly training and reflection sessions. Work often includes nights and weekends, and attendance at various religious services. The volunteer will live in downtown LA for the summer.
David and Margaret Youth and Family Services
Location: 1350 Third Street, La Verne, CA 91750
Website:http://www.davidandmargaret.org/
David and Margaret is about a ¼ mile from the University of La Verne and provides a residentially-based program and shelter care for adolescent girls, a foster family agency, adoption assistance, mental health services, family preservation and support, treatment for learning disabilities, a transitional living program, and school- and community-based education and programs. They offer shelter care for adolescent boys and girls who are in the country without legal documentation and without an accompanying parent/guardian. Additionally, they also have a chemical dependency program that is certified by the State of California for residents who are recovering from substance abuse. As a volunteer, you will work with either their residential program or their transitional living program. Volunteers live at David and Margaret or at La Verne’s residence hall.
Hillcrest
Location: 2705 Mountain View Drive, La Verne, CA 91750
Website:http://www.livingathillcrest.org/
Hillcrest is a retirement community about a ¼ mile from the University of La Verne, a retirement community that was begun by the Church of the Brethren. The facility includes independent living, assisted living, and nursing care for older adults. You will be working with the Activities Directors. One of the volunteers will work with the activities director in the nursing home and the other will work with the activities director for assisted living. Assisted living means that you will be working with residents who live in their own apartment, but need some assistance. The nursing home residents receive 24 hour care. This is a great opportunity to learn from older adults! Volunteers live at Hillcrest for the summer.
La Verne Church of the Brethren/Habitat for Humanity/Inland Valley Hope Partners
2425 "E" Street, La Verne, CA 91750
The La Verne Church of the Brethren is the host community for the summer. The Summer Service Volunteer will do a mixture of service throughout the summer, including helping with church-sponsored programs, as well as helping out at agencies supported by the church, such as Habitat for Humanity and Inland Valley Hope Partners. For three weeks of the summer (in July), the volunteer will help prepare for and assist with the community-wide children's Peace Camp that is held annually at the La Verne Church of the Brethren. You will also work at Habitat for Humanity which is located next door to the church, as well as Habitat's Restore (located in Montclair). Habitat for Humanity provides and builds housing for low income families. The volunteer will help out at the office, ReStore, and possibly work at a build site. The volunteer will also work with Inland Valley Hope Partners, the largest agency in Pomona Valley serving the needs of the hungy and homeless. The volunteer will live on La Verne’s campus for the summer.
La Verne Church of the Brethren:http://www.lavernecob.org/
Habitat:http://www.habitatpv.org/
Inland Valley Hope Partners: http://www.inlandvalleyhopepartners.org
Portland Peace Church of the Brethren/SnowCap
Location:12727 SE Market St Portland, OR 97233
Websites
Portland Peace Church: http://www.peacecob.org/
SnowCap:WWW.SnowCap.org
The Portland Peace Church of the Brethren will be your host for the summer. It is a small congregation located on the eastside of Portland, Oregon.The Portland Church is a progressive community that is open, affirming and welcoming of all people. The church members have been housing La Verne students in their homes for more than 20 years. They are kind and gentle people, who love to support this program. They will take care of your meals, as well. You will change homes every 1-2 weeks.
The Portland Peace Church was one of 27 area churches which assisted in the establishment of SnowCap Community Charities over 40 years ago.SnowCap is a philanthropic organization created to provide emergency food, clothing and advocacy and other services to the poor of the community.
You will be working full time with SnowCap during the summer. SnowCap depends upon their volunteers. With only 10 staff and 1100 volunteers, most of the work is done by volunteers. Opportunities are varied and flexible. Volunteers drive trucks, operate computers, interview people, pack food boxes, do food drives, do public speaking, write newsletter articles, serve on committees, and work special events like the annual auction.
SnowCap is located about 2 miles east of the church, however, volunteers live with families of the church for the 10 weeks here in Portland.Therefore, the volunteer will go to work from different locations throughout the summer.The volunteer will work a7–8 hour shift,Monday – Friday.
While you will be working with SnowCap during the week, the church likes the volunteer to participate in Sunday worship and other activities throughout the summer.They want to include you as part of their community, and it’s a great opportunity to learn about a tradition that is different from your own. Peace Church is a progressive, welcoming congregation whichcelebrates and affirms the image of God in persons of every age, gender, race, ability, ethnicity and sexual orientation.
YMCA Camp Oaks
Location: 47400 Monte Vista Dr. Big Bear City, 92314
Here is the website for YMCA Camp Oaks: http://www.lbymca.org/campoakes/
This is a YMCA Camp in the San Bernardino Mountains near Big Bear. Volunteers will be working on the program staff, and will be responsible for running various activities such as Archery, Canoes, Low and High Ropes Courses, Climbing Wall, Nature Hikes, and Arts and Crafts. No experience is required. All staff are trained. All camps are for children or youth.