The Career Awareness Program
The Career Awareness Program is designed to help 12- to 14-year-old New York City youngsters understand the importance of education and its relationship to the world of work. This year-round program includes activities in the NYC business community and at The Fresh Air Fund’s Camp Mariah in Fishkill, NY. Volunteers can help in the following ways:
Tutor a Fresh Air Child
Tutor a middle school student in a subject they’re struggling with and introduce them to skill sets that will help them in school and beyond. Each tutor and student spend time on school work, keep a journal together, read a book or current event articles and can develop their own special projects. Volunteers make a fifteen week commitment to attend tutoring sessions on Monday, Tuesday or Thursday evenings from 6:00p.m. to 8:00p.m.
Mentor High School Students
Mentor high school students in the PreOccupations Club. Volunteers help students to gain a better sense of self-confidence and prepare themselves for the world in which we live. Students learn through a series of lessons in areas such as Money Management, Decisions and Consequences, Maintaining Focus and Assessing Priorities, Setting Goals, College Decisions, and Relationships and Ethics. Mentors work in an individual and small group basis. Volunteers make a seven week commitment to attend meetings on Wednesday evenings from 6:00p.m. to 8:00p.m.
Host a Job Shadowing
Invite a group of students to visit you and your colleagues to learn what a typical workday is like in your field. Job shadowings are usually an hour and a half and take place after school (4:45 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.) or during school vacations. The Fund’s staff can help you plan all of the details!
Lead a Career Workshop
Visit Camp Mariah on a weekend or participate in the annual spring Career Fair and introduce the Career Awareness students to your industry by leading a “hands on” activity. Invite a friend or colleague to help you!
We’re always open to new ideas. If you have other ways in which you would like to help, please let us know.
For more information call 212-897-8986 or e-mail volunteer@freshair.org.