Description:
Little Bookworms volunteers work under the direction of the Senior Volunteer to run weekly programming for infants to preschool age children including animal themed stories, songs, games and animal meet & greets. Volunteers should ideally be comfortable working with small children and their caregivers, and have good public speaking skills. This opportunity is a good match for volunteers with experience in or pursuing careers in early childhood education.
Responsibilities:
- Set up room prior to arrival of participants
- Check in participants and collect entry fee
- Read animal-related storybooks, sing animal-related songs, lead animal-related games and activities for participants
- Choose and handle appropriate small animals and cats to visit participants, monitoring interactions closely.
- Break down and clean up room when programming ends.
Physical and Mental Requirements:
- Able to sustain moderate activity with variable amounts of standing, walking, bending, reaching, lifting, and stooping.
- Must be able to manage any animal or hay-related allergies with medication.
- Able to multitask, prioritize, and complete tasks independently.
- To ensure the safety of children and animals involved in our programs, applicants should have a history of using excellent judgment.
- Able to work with staff, fellow volunteers, and program participants in an empathetic and supportive manner.
- Receptive to direction and feedback.
Qualities and Skills:
- Applicants should be mature, dependable, and capable of arriving in a timely manner each week.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Comfort interacting with both small children and their caregivers
- An outgoing, friendly personality with the ability to make a range of participants feel welcome.
- Some level of animal handling experience.
- Proficiency in using a computer without assistance. All volunteers digitally log hours and use an online scheduling function.
- Experience in early childhood education a plus!
Other Requirements:
- Applicants will need to pass a Massachusetts CORI
Time Commitment:
- Tuesdays 9:15-11:15am
- Applicants must commit to attending at least 2 sessions a month.
- Sessions may be cancelled if there is not adequate volunteer support, or if Boston Public Schools has declared a snow day.
Apply Now!
