Summers at Westview: A Volunteer's Experience

BY: ELLA SCHOLL

Ella is a junior at Memorial High School and a member of NCL Bayou Villages. Ella has volunteered at Westview Summer Camp during the summers of 2022 and 2023 and has plans to participate again this upcoming summer.

I was motivated to volunteer at The Westview School by my National Charity League (NCL) chapter. Every year, we have a philanthropy fair to introduce the members to the different organizations they can work with. I was immediately intrigued when I saw Westview at one of these fairs. I love working with kids, and it seemed fitting for me. My grandmother used to work with children with autism.

I have many unforgettable memories from my time at Westview, but one that sticks out is when I was playing with one young camper who had very little language. They made eye contact with me and said my name. Even though this only happened once, it holds a special place in my heart as I know this sweet gesture was out of the ordinary for them.

Time spent volunteering at Westview is very rewarding. I think volunteers make a huge difference for the Westview campers. Volunteers add a new element to the students' usual routines which opens them up to meeting and interacting with new people.

We all work to put smiles on the campers’ faces, whether it's splash day, their favorite book, or a fun game. And, we love every second of it!

Westview has positively affected me by exposing me to many different types of people. When you volunteer at Westview, you experience so many different personalities, and the more time you spend there, the more you learn to read people and understand them, even if they don't express what they need or feel in typical ways.

My advice to people considering volunteering at Westview would be to do it and to keep an open mind. You will be amazed at how much you learn and what a rewarding an experience it is.