Volunteer Fair/Refined Project Idea

Today was the Volunteer/Career fair. I saw some interesting booths, mostly volunteering I'd be more interested in during the summer. Much of the volunteering was after-school tutoring programs (during which I have class). As far as programs I would consider, the Women's Center sounded promising as well as the Black Hawk Girl Scout Camp during the summer (although that's a paid position.) I got the impression that most of the booth volunteers were pretty wiped out from the Fair and were less-than-eager to talk. My other classmates seemed to get the same impression and we had to pry pretty hard to get an actual conversation out of any of the volunteers. Even then, I only had one both really describe the place. Most described how to get more information. Even so, my general observations were:

School Tutoring programs: pictures showed children smiling, laughing and having fun (I dont remember ever having fun while struggling in school?), volunteers also looked thrilled to be there
Girl Scout camp: volunteers described the specific location as being near Wausau and described the payment plan for counslers. No matter what I asked, the conversation was pretty much left at that.
WI Public Radio: volunteers described the various duties volunteers are responsible for (attending booths, pledge drives, etc)

More than likely, I'll contine volunteering at Avalon when I can (should be really easy to get 10-15 hours in...I'll get 40+ over spring break alone!) and the Zoo whenever there are programs. I work as an education volunteer at the zoo, so I'm only needed when school programs come in for presentations. (That's my job)

This, of course, brings me back to this portfolio project. I have no idea what I'm going to talk about, where I'm going to talk about. My best idea as of now is:

*Examing the mental and physical benefits of therapuetic animals possibly including:
-Therapuetic Riding (horses)
-Animal visits to hospitals, hospices, cancer wards
-Seeing eye/Hearing dogs

Mostly I'm planning on focusing on therapuetic riding (that's how Avalon fits in - I can experience it hands-on as well as through research) and animal visits to hospitals, ect. Those two interest me the most.
Questions to consider:
-What are the physical benefits?
-Mental health?
-Mental health affecting physical improvements?

Everybody hears stories about how therapuetic riding has improved lives (hell, I've seen that!), and how animal visits have helped mentally depressed cancer patients to cheer up and fight off the disease. How valid are those claims? Are they common or one in a million? Is there any scientific research behind it?

I know I believe mental health is very intimately attached to physical health (health is 90% mental) and that improving mental health will almost inevitably lead to improving physical health. And, being an animal lover, I also firmly believe that animals, with their ability for unconditional love and acceptance, can offer comfort and company in a way humans can't. This can improve mental health.

Anyway, that's where my project stands as of now. I could be completely and totally off base...but at least it's an idea.

Confusion Part II

So we had class again today and spent the day discussing the proposals, the portfolios, the assignment in general. I can't say I'm any less foggy than I was before class. I just don't understand what "place" means, what we're supposed to write about, what our topic should aim toward. I'm a science major and although in high school I was identified as being talented in "language arts," my heart and mind has always been scientific. My point? I'm used to rubrics. Do this, this, this, and this, to get an A. I need a rubric; I need a definite description of what we're doing, what we're to accomplish. Ah, frustration. For a three credit class with no exams, I can confidently say I'm more frustrated here than I am in second semester ochem, or econ, or any of my other 14 credits. We'll see; I'm sure eventually I'll figure it out. Until then...when I'm frustrated....

My Humps
This is Just Kind of Cool
and...
Kiss a Llama and on the Llama

And I'm out.

Confusion/Project Ideas

I'm very confused about the portfolio project - the requirements, the expectations, the topic. Maybe confused isn't the right word - overwhelmed may be closer to the truth. How will this be graded? What is expected? Are we to analyze a place emotionally, analytically? I think I have my place picked out - that is, unless I've completely misunderstood the assignment. That's entirely possible. Anyway, my ideas as they stand right now are:

The place: Avalon TEC (Ixonia, WI)*
Why: I've volunteered there for a few years and worked there for a year. I currently volunteer and I think there are a few directions I could take.
Possible Portfolio Plans:
-Examining Avalon through time (startup 9 years ago and how it's grown and changed through to the present)
-Examining what Avalon means to different groups (the community, the management, the instructors, the riders, the volunteers)
-Analyzing Avalon as a medical facility (studying the medical benefits of riding through Avalon and other certified centers)
-The process of creating a fund raising event (my own project for this summer - I'd like to set up a pseudo horse show for our riders to perform in)
- My own thoughts/feelings about Avalon

*Website is out of date. Avalon currently has 18 horses. Snow, Nick, Paseo, Lonnie, Casper, Cody are gone (either back to their owners or deceased) . Current pictures will be posted the next time I head home. Betty, Laurie, and Ryan no longer work there. Like I said, everything will be updated later.

Other links in the future:
*Animal Planet - videos of "Animal Miracles" - therapeutic riding?
*Research links - therapeutic riding
*News stories - therapeutic riding
*Videos - Avalon lessons
*Photos - Avalon lessons