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BAY MILLS — The Bay Mills Child Development Center (BMCDC) is seeking volunteers to participate in the Community Reading Challenge Feb. 14 to 25. In conjunction with the Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) book distribution, the Community Reading Challenge aims to get children excited about reading.
The volunteer effort is part of “Read With Me: The 2005 RIF Community Reading Challenge,” a nationwide reading motivation contest that brings the entire community together to participate in two fun-filled weeks of literacy activities.
Each year, thousands of RIF sites across the country — including schools, day care centers, libraries, hospitals, and other locations that serve children — select two weeks in January or February to participate and organize numerous activities that motivate children to read. Every activity, from buddy reading to volunteer guest readers, increases the site's chances to win a state or national award and additional funds to buy books.
Holly Wilkins, team leader for the Community Reading Program and education coordinator at the BMCDC would like to increase the number of volunteers from the community during this year's challenge. Last year the buddy reading with the Ojibwe Charter School was the most successful aspect of the challenge, and the BMCDC will be teaming up with the school again this year. The community can watch for an invitation to come and read to the children.
Although the BMCDC's challenge concludes Feb. 25, Bay Mills Indian Community volunteers are encouraged to continue working with the children to keep them reading. In additional to the annual challenge, the center provides books and motivational reading activities to 70 children each year. This marks the third year the site has been given a RIF grant to purchase books.
To volunteer to participate in the Community Reading Challenge, contact Holly Wilkins at the BMCDC at 906-248-5820.
