- About CEL:
- Resources For:
- Center for Experiential Learning
- Tomson Hall, 270
- 1520 St. Olaf Avenue
- Northfield, MN 55057
- 507-786-3268
- 507-786-3626 FAX
- cel@stolaf.edu
Walk-in Hours
Monday-Friday
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Interview questions for Northfield Reads & Counts and
the Off-Campus Work Study Program Participants
Name: Whitney Waters ’09
Hometown: Plymouth, MN
I work for Camp Edenwood. I work as a counselor at this campus in Eden Prairie as a part of a weekend respite care. I work one-on-one with different campers each weekend. I help with personal care and leading group games and activities. I was inspired to work off campus because the experience is in an area that I am interested in. In addition, searching for an off-campus job gives you more opportunities for work and students can find work that directly relates to their career and future goals.
There are many benefits to community based work-study. In my experience, the work has been hands-on, and has offered me personal contact with patients with developmental disabilities. The one true challenge that I have faced is finding transportation to the site.
I have an excellent working relationship with my supervisor. Melissa is great! She is very friendly and answers any questions I have. She isn’t always at the camp on weekends but there is always a weekend supervisor who is very helpful.
One of the things I appreciate most about my work-study is that it is a vital service and it pertains to my future goals. I want to be a physician so it has been great to work with campers with disabilities. My time at the camp helps me to connect with more people and develop an ability to communicate with different people.
The way my work-study is set up, I work one weekend each month. Each weekend I work equates to forty hours of work. It’s nice to have all of my student work hours compressed into one weekend, but at the same time it means that I need to be very efficient about time-management. I try to choose to work weekends that will have less homework.
I recommend that you look into working for Camp Edwood because they always need new and friendly staff! There’s no reason not to, St. Olaf made it possible for me to get this job. It’s very easy to be paid.