October’s Volunteer of the Month

October’s volunteer of the month is Amanda Garrison! Amanda is an MPH/MSW student at the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. She began volunteering this semester, after graduating from Baylor University. We asked her a few questions to highlight her hard work and dedication.

Q: What originally drew you to the organization?

A: My friend thought I would be a good fit with GGO and approached me to volunteer with a field trip. It was so much fun and I have been regularly going on trips since.

Q: Do you have a favorite experience or memory of your time as a volunteer?

A: On the camping trip to Camp Manitowa - watching the kids climb rocks on the hike and have so much fun exploring nature. It was a new experience for almost all of them so it was very cool to watch them grow more confident and curious as the hike progressed.

Q: Why do you like volunteering with GGO?

A:  Outdoor education is really important to me and GGO provides a unique experience that is so developmentally beneficial for the kids. We have so much fun on the trips, but it is also easy to see all the learning it provides for the students. I am very thankful to volunteer with GGO!

Q: Do you have any advice for someone who is considering becoming a volunteer?

A: Go for it! Experience is the best teacher and GGO trips provide so much experience in working with kids. I would recommend jumping in with flexibility and an open mind.