Parallel Session Proceedings »
2.3.2 Camp Give: Possibilities through Philanthropy
In this interactive presentation, the presenter will share the outcomes and lessons learned from teaching philanthropy to gifted and talented middle school students from challenging backgrounds. Students had the opportunity to learn philanthropy first-hand by being grant makers in the classroom. The students researched, wrote about, discussed and ultimately selected a local nonprofit organization in which to invest funds. Students experienced interactive activities to assist them in growing their leadership skills and instill the value of learning. Student leadership, initiative and philanthropy were the central focus of the experience. Student experiences included: Be Your Own Brand—students learned about self-worth, negative stereotypes, and how to overcome them. This included a focus on skills such as professionalism, best practices in communication, and how to stand out from the competition. Next, students learned about financial fitness--how to manage money, create wealth, and make wise financial decisions. The third focus was leadership where students learned about the qualities of leaders, examined their leadership profiles, and discovered ways they can increase their resiliency. Students aimed to unlock their full potential learning how to set formal goals by creating a vision board which helped them identify what means the most for their success now and in the future. This included skills such as visualization, work ethic, preparation, persistence, discipline, resilience, and compassion. The fourth pillar was a non-profit analysis where students learned from non-profit representatives about philanthropy and the work of non-profits in our region. Participating students researched local non-profits and ultimately selected a local nonprofit organization in which to invest $1,000 in funds. Finally, students learned about profiles of philanthropy—the T’s of philanthropy (time, treasure, and talent) while looking at ways they can invest in and positively impact our community.