Kids Miracle Making Club | Kids Out and About Rochester

Kids Miracle Making Club

Address: 
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Rochester , NY , 14450
Phone: 585-739-2100
43° 4' 28.3944" N, 77° 24' 4.824" W
Contact name: 
Steve Pellow
Business/organization type: 
What our organization offers: 
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Ages for which our activities are most appropriate: 
Service Learning club for kids ages 5-12. "Explore, Develop, Share...Watch Miracles Happen" ™

MISSION STATEMENT

KMMClub celebrates a powerful belief that all children are, by nature, curious, talented, special and unique.

The environment we create provides an opportunity where kids can explore and develop their interests, aspirations, and learn more about who they are as individuals.

Our programs help our kids build self-confidence while providing opportunities to use their talents and self-awareness to enhance the lives of other kids, kids with physical, social/emotional and/or cognitive challenges.

And through our kids’ efforts a community mindset is created, one of awareness, acceptance and understanding of those with physical and developmental challenges.

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What is the Kids Miracle Making Club all about?

The Kids Miracle Making Club (KMMC) is all about learning, hands-on learning. We help kids ages 5 through 12 develop their academic skills and natural talents by taking them out in the real world through projects; projects they come up with that focus on making a different in their community. The approach is called service learning. What makes the club unique in the approach is that all our club members’ projects focus on helping kids with special needs; helping them do what our kids do; helping them be a part of our community; being true friends.

What is project-based learning / service learning?

Project-based learning (PBL) is a dynamic approach to teaching in which students explore real-world problems and challenges; an approach many educators are using and advocating for the classroom of the future (a link highlighting PBL here in Rochester provided by Edutopia, a George Lucas Educational Foundation and strong supporter of the methodology – www.edutopia.org/video/five-keys-rigorous-project-basedlearning ). With this type of active and engaged learning, students are inspired to obtain a deeper knowledge of the subjects they’re studying. Service learning enhances the methodology by focusing on very specific community needs; needs which allow students to see a clear and meaningful connection between their learning and their project results. Using this approach, our club has been very successful in providing those clear and meaningful connections through their projects and unique focus.

What do Club members learn? How?

Service learning projects by design are multi-discipline projects allowing a variety of talents to work together toward a single goal. When joining, new members are asked what they want to be when they grow up. Adults in those professions are then found and asked to act as mentors providing the learning each club member needs to contribute to the project. Facilitators (teachers) then guide the project team through a structure curriculum. Curriculum include workshops with professionals, site visits and other tools that the team can use to complete its project.

How do Club projects help kids in need? What kids are they helping?

Club projects, events and activities created by club members, focus on raising funds, driving awareness and creating inclusion opportunities for kids with special needs. Currently our club members support kids at Golisano Children’s Hospital, Mary Cariola Children’s Center, CP Rochester and Holy Childhood. As the club grows, we hope to support even more kids by partnering with more supporting agencies and community advocates.

Who benefits most from the KMMClub?

 

We all do – the kids the club supports through projects, special events and activities; club members who take their interest and learning and turn it into a community service; our community as club members develop a service learning habit they will take and use throughout their teen and adult years.

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