Cambridge School Volunteers offers myriad opportunities for learners in retirements. Explore the opportunities on their website here.

Two learners in retirement are currently participating in Art and Science in One. Here’s what Jane Hilburt-

Davis has to say about it:

When Mary Jo Bane posted this notice on the Learners-in-Retirement Listserv “Cambridge School Volunteers has openings for volunteers in the Art & Science in One, an outdoor learning program”, I was intrigued, checked it out, and signed up. For 5 Thursday mornings, we, as ‘volunteer partners’, accompanied our student (or students) on walks in the Cambridge neighborhood near the students’ Tobin Montessori School, including local gardens and the Squirrel Brand Park. Julie, the director, and Erica, the artist-in- residence, presented a useful orientation to start and provided just the right amount of structure and support for each day. For example, for the 4th Thursday’s session with students “will include approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes of outdoor nature journaling, followed by a poetry module, a short presentation on poetry and nature observation, with an opportunity for students to build poems from their nature observations.” 

 If you want to be a student’s mentor, contribute to an innovative school program, and enjoy the out-of-doors, please check out the Art & Science in One program at https://www.csvinc.org/elementary    (PS You do not need to have a scientific or arts background, just bring curiosity, enthusiasm, and an appreciation of the natural world.)

My ‘student partner’, a 4th grader, quiet at first, grew in confidence over the weeks and, by the last session, said proudly, “I’m getting better at this.”  And, soon after this, she pointed out the three birds singing in the garden. I thoroughly enjoyed our time together and felt that I received at least as much or more than I contributed.