Geneseo’s Young Children’s Council is a School of Education student organization that works together to help both children and their families. The club meets every other Monday and promotes education through interactions between kids and Geneseo students.
As a community service group, the YCC executive board members reach out to the Geneseo and Rochester communities to promote education in the area. YCC secretary sophomore Erica Doherty said that the group is trying to get “the Geneseo community more involved” through organizing a myriad of activities both on and off campus.
According to Doherty, the group hosts “Story Time,” every month at Milne Library. Members of the club read to children ages two through five while also sharing snacks. Doherty noted that this event is typically holiday-themed. Puppetry and dramatization of storytelling are encouraged when reading. “Each member of the club signs up to bring something to contribute – snacks, games and they sign up to read to the children,” Doherty said. Their next “Story Time” will be held on Feb. 13.
President junior Meaghan Trevvett coordinates the club’s Ronald McDonald events in Rochester, where the club hosts and cooks a dinner for families with kids in the hospital. The club also participates in a pen pal project with a local elementary school where members are matched with kids. The project helps to foster student appreciation of writing and to expand their own personal growth.
Guest speakers from the Ella Cline Shear School of Education are invited to speak with the members about interviewing to become a teacher and what student teaching is like. Along with this, presenters are knowledgeable on New York State’s new Common Core standards for teaching. The club also hosts Project WILD and Project Aquatic, where a presenter comes in to teach members how to create and promote science-oriented lesson plans.
Among these events, one of the visits to Rochester includes helping kids with their homework at Maplewood Library. Treasurer junior Dan Staton said that because of his frequent visits to the library as coordinator of these events, he has been able to bond with the children.
“Every time I go to Maplewood Library, there are these two boys––we end up playing computer games and sometimes one of them will read a book to me,” Staton said. “The more you go, the more you make a connection with the kids there. Having them read to you helps them a lot—building that sense of trust with the children will help them grow.”
Trevvett also mentioned that during one of her experiences at the library, “There was this little girl playing checkers and she wanted to challenge me and it was great to see all her interests.”
In order to receive a certificate at the end of each semester, members must attend at least half of the club meetings and three events. Although the club is geared towards education majors, Trevvett encourages students to “come and volunteer no matter what your major.”