Volunteering in Sarnia-Lambton

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‘Big Buddy’ reading volunteers for Summer Reading Buddies program

Help ignite the joy of reading for children

Title: Summer Reading Buddies ‘Big Buddy’ Volunteer Reporting to: Summer Literacy Coordinator
Works With: Program parents/guardians and Grade 1-6 Little Buddy readers
Role Description:
Share your love of reading and make a difference in a child’s summer! Join Literacy Lambton’s Summer Reading Buddies program at the downtown Sarnia Library and help young readers build confidence and fluency in a fun, one-on-one setting. As a Big Buddy, you’ll support children in Grades 1–6 with engaging read-aloud and take turns sessions that boost their skills and ignite their love for reading. Flexible, rewarding, and impactful—this is a volunteer role where every half hour matters!
Primary Responsibilities:
• Greet Little Buddies at the library’s main desk and select engaging books together
• Find a quiet reading spot and guide the child through a 30-minute read-aloud session
• Offer gentle encouragement and reading strategies to support the child’s confidence
• Provide take-home literacy materials when applicable
• Encourage families to sign children up for their own library cards
• Tidy the reading area and return borrowed books after each session
Secondary Responsibilities:
• Help track reading sessions and share any concerns with program staff
• Promote a welcoming, inclusive environment for all young readers
Skills/Qualifications Needed:
• Patience, positivity, enthusiasm, and a genuine interest in supporting children’s literacy
• Ability to work independently in a public space with awareness of surroundings
• Adults 18+ must complete volunteer onboarding, a clear vulnerable sector check
Desired Experience:
Experience working with children or in a library/learning environment is an asset, but not required.
Time Commitment:
• Program runs July 7 – August 29
• Volunteers select one two-hour shift (M/W/F 10am–12noon or Tu/Th 5-7pm)
• Must provide own transportation
Interested? Visit www.literacylambton.org/volunteer to complete the online application or email admin@literacylambton.org for more information.

Standardized Patient / Actor

The Actor Program is a program within the division Academic Excellence and Teaching Innovation, within the Centre for Simulation and Experiential Learning at Lambton College. A Standardized Participant (SP) is an individual who has a willingness to work with students and share their authentic experiences. Volunteers are not required to have a medical condition in order to participate. These volunteers provide faculty and students opportunities to teach, assess, and refine a variety of skills, including communication, interview, diagnostic, and clinical skills.

Students are beginning their learning and use interview skills to examine the health, social, and psychological aspects of a volunteer’s experience with health (either their own or if they have acted as a caregiver). Participants control the depth of information they provide and students, bound by the Health Professional’s Code of Ethics, must keep all video and print information in the strictest of confidence. The use of pseudonyms is required in any written work that the students submit to the supervising faculty.

The Actor Program is a fundamental resource for the curriculum. Our goal is to provide hands-on learning in controlled, simulated environments for our students. Working with standardized participants or SPs allows students to learn and explore a variety of techniques without causing harm.

Duties Include:

For high school students these activities can contribute towards the mandatory community service hours required for graduation.
Post-secondary students at institutions like Lambton College, volunteering can earn credits for their Co-Curricular Record (CCR).

Train Your Brain site volunteers (including teens needing OSSD hours)

Literacy Lambton is always looking for our next team of Train Your Brain site volunteers.

This program is offered in eight-week sessions.
Fall (October-November), Winter (mid-January- March Break), and Spring (post-March break- May long weekend)
It happens one night per week from 6-7:30pm.
Usually Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday nights at various sites that rotate around Lambton County

What will you do?

Your mission: to up the fun and help our young brainiacs to flex their math & reading muscle and gain a confident approach to learning

You will support the program’s Head Coach in a number of ways:

– program set up or tear down and activity preparation
– facilitating drop off/pick up time by welcoming or sending off participants
– working one-to-one or in small groups with children playing games, reading, doing physical activities that reinforce the math and reading skills they are learning in school

Interested?

Apply at www.literacylambton.org/volunteer

Special Events Volunteers

Come join our team!  We are currently seeking volunteers for our special events.