Volunteer Venture

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Volunteer Venture is a one week service-learning pre-orientation program for incoming students. The program introduces students to the contributing factors of poverty in Roanoke, VA, Lexington, VA, Washington, DC, Greensboro, NC and Charleston, WV. Each area provides students with a different understanding of community and service needs, emphasizing the impact of mountain culture, civil rights, housing, and urban infrastructure on citizen well-being. Perhaps most importantly, students will become a part of these communities for a week, living, learning and working with the individuals they serve.

Trip highlights:

• in Roanoke, TAP (Total Action Against Poverty) clients share testimonials of struggle and disadvantaged triumph;
• in Greensboro, students visit the International Civil Rights Museum housed in the original Woolworth building, site of the first sit-ins;
• the Lexington trip enables students the opportunity to gain first hand knowledge of Rockbridge County through hands-on service;
• Washington, D.C. trip participants address the reality of hunger in our nation’s capital and are given the resources and opportunity to affect policy; and
• Charleston, WV trip participants perform direct service work while learning about the history and impact of coal mining in the region.

Volunteer Venture begins Sunday, August 30th, and concludes Friday, September 4th. Participants will move into their residence halls on Sunday, August 30th, and will go through formal check-in with the rest of the class on Saturday, September 5th.

Consistent with the Washington and Lee mission to cultivate a readiness to sacrifice on behalf of others, Volunteer Venture aims to: 

0. Heighten student awareness and interest in community service and 
0. Offer opportunities for students to acquire skills and qualities of character that dispose them to serve communities and disadvantaged individuals.

Volunteer Venture programs are organized by returning students, many of whom participated in the program as first-years and look forward to being a part of this enriching experience each year. Student leaders work with the advisor to Volunteer Venture. 

We look forward to your participation in this venture. We hope to make your introduction to Washington and Lee a memorable and meaningful experience. Questions or comments, please contact Jenny Sproul, Volunteer Venture Advisor, sproulj@wlu.edu or 540-460-7389.