Eye on the Esplanade: Volunteering can be rewarding experience
By Medicine Hat News on June 15, 2018.
When life gives you lemons, volunteer! That’s what the saying should be. You might feel like there is something missing in your life sometimes, or wish that you were more connected to the community. Perhaps you are looking to learn a new skill, to challenge yourself, to build friendship and have conversations. Then look no further than the Esplanade, because volunteering can give you all of that and more. Often people think of volunteering as a replacement for a job. It’s true that a lot of the volunteers are retirees, and definitely dedicated, even in their retirement years. However, at any age, volunteering is so much more than an unpaid position, and it definitely isn’t the regular “9 to 5.” It’s an opportunity to see all the Esplanade has to offer, and to have a fantastically fun time while doing so! Volunteering isn’t necessarily simple and straightforward, but it can be entertaining. Just last week I got together with a group of volunteers and learned a new skill myself! I learned that I need to work harder than most at arts and crafts; it’s really a wonder that they let me help at all. We were given nice and clear instructions from my colleague, Dayna, about how to put together some supplies that were needed for our Cultural Connections programs. About five minutes in, I was out of glue. When I looked over at the other volunteers’ masterpieces and compared it to mine, I realized that Dayna probably wasn’t going for a flattened squirrel motif. Oops. Luckily, we had some resident expert volunteers who gave me the tips and tricks I needed to not make the art projects a hideous mess. I definitely made a lot of progress in that short amount of time, and we were able to prepare 90 batiks to be completed by the students coming in June. It goes to show you that volunteering needs many different skills and many different experiences to be successful. Even as the volunteer coordinator, I continue to learn daily! We are always looking for people who are willing to help us glue crafts, assist with tours, squeeze lemons and above all else, have fun. It might not always be a late night show in the theatre that we need help with. Though, when Thunder from Down Under came by, that might have sent some of our volunteers into early retirement! Whew! Sometimes we just need more hands to prepare art supplies, or to run a successful tour through the Ewart Duggan House. There are so many different, fun and exciting opportunities here at the Esplanade that can suit anyone or any skill level or age. So if you’re looking for some variety, come by the Esplanade and say hello. Please don’t mention the flattened squirrel. Jen Utrera Barrientos is the volunteer coordinator at the Esplanade. 8-7
