Civic Commitment Project
Jordan Sestak
Jennifer Punke
Make a positive impact on the children at
the Boys and Girls Club.
 1.
Increasing the number of students we
bring to volunteer.
 2. Preparing activities that the kids enjoy.
 3. Incorporating physical activity into the
program whenever possible (when the
gym is available, when it is nice enough
to go outside.)
 4. Being a positive influence on the kids
and a helpful contribution to the staff.
To have a hands on
experience in the
community.
 To be positive role
models for children.
 To engage children in
fun, educational games
and also incorporate
physical activity into
their after school
program.
 To use our knowledge
gained in the classroom
in the real world.







Mission: To enable all young people, especially those who
need us most, to reach their full potential as productive,
caring, responsible citizens.
Provide a safe place to learn and grow
Provide ongoing relationships with caring, adult
professionals
Champaign’s BGC serves over 1,400 children a year
Located at 1st Presbyterian Church.
Children aged from kindergarten to 5th grade.
“Positive place for kids”
Volunteered at the club every Monday and
Wednesday from 3 to 5 PM.
 We assisted with power hour from 3-4, which
consisted of helping with homework, reading
assignments, and playing intellectual games.
 From 4-5, we ran the Triple Play Program, which
incorporates physical activity, team work, and
positive relationships.
 Examples: memory games, hangman, board
games, pictionary, “chaboo,” two-hand touch
football, 500, SPUD, relay races, sharks and
minnows, leap frog, jump rope, tag, etc.

 Being
cautious of our role at the club
 Lack of structure
 Cooperation from children, not listening
 Time conflict
for volunteers
 Communication
with the Club
 The


kids LOVE us!
Listened to us better as we gained their
respect
Excited to see us every time we came in
 Interest


10 volunteers the Fall semester
15 volunteers the Spring semester
 Support

from U of I Students
from the staff
Authority to take the children to the gym,
outside, or a different classroom to do
activities

Increasing the number of students we bring to volunteer
with us.


Preparing activities that the kids enjoy.


Evaluation: taking a poll in class asking whether or not the kids
enjoyed the activity and want to do it again.
Incorporating physical activity into the program whenever
possible (when the gym is available, when it is nice enough
to go outside.)


Evaluation: Compare the number of volunteers we had last semester
to the number we have this semester. Also send out a survey to the
volunteers asking if they would participate in the program again next
year and if they have any suggestions for improvement
Evaluation: Tally of days we do a physical activity.
Being a positive influence on the kids and a helpful
contribution to the staff.

Evaluation: Observation and communication with staff and kids.
Goal1: The number of volunteers increased from
10 to 15.
 Results of survey:

 Goal
2: Most children always enjoyed
participating in the activities we planned.
Goal 3: Participated in a physical activity 20
days/ 24 days
 Goal 4: The staff trusted us to be in charge of
the children and appreciated our enthusiasm to
help. The children were excited to see us when
we got there and asked when we were coming
back when we left.

 We
hope that the College of Applied
Health Sciences will always be involved at
the Boys and Girls Club.
 We would like to see students continue to
receive James Scholar credit through
volunteering at the club.
 Gianna Dazzo, a junior, will be taking on
our project with a twist, incorporating
her own ideas.
 Jordan:
I learned how to effectively
handle large groups of kids. I learned to
be assertive, authoritative, and settle
conflicts quickly, but I also realized that
sometimes I just needed to listen.

Jennifer: I learned that many of the kids just
need a friend and that by going there on a
regular basis and being positive and friendly
really brightened the children’s day. I learned
how a smile, a joke, and a hug can go along way.