Calgary Stampede Volunteer Opportunities

The Calgary Stampede Foundation is committed to providing the youth of Alberta with the opportunity to develop strong roots in their culture and heritage through programs that enhance their personal growth, citizenship, and education. The Foundation supports a wide range of youth education programs in Calgary and Southern Alberta, including Journey 2050 at the Calgary Stampede and Stampede School.

The Sam Centre is another opportunity through the Calgary Stampede that supports field trips for K-6 students that are intentionally designed to bring the Alberta Education Program of Studies to life.

Journey 2050 is a full day educational experience for grades 4-12 at the Nutrien Western Event Centre on Stampede Park. Journey 2050 takes students on a virtual simulation exploring world food sustainability, engaging and empowering students to think deeper and understand their impact on the world around them.

Program Details

As Journey 2050 Facilitators, participating pre-service teachers will work with Journey 2050 teachers and staff to support field school activities for groups attending Journey 2050 over an 8-week period. Participants will shadow expert facilitators, learn content, and work with the team to develop educational activities which they will have the opportunity to facilitate.

Who?

All Bachelor of Education students
What?

Sustainable agriculture inquiry-based classroom program for Grades 4-12.
When?

Individual dates and times will vary based on program schedules and participant availability.
Where?

Stampede Park - Nutrien Western Event Centre

What's Involved

Support Journey 2050 activities for 6-8 weeks, providing one-on-one support, leading small group activities, discussions, and leading larger discussions with attending classes.
In their first week, participants will meet with the Journey 2050 team and will be introduced to the program content.
With support from Calgary Stampede Journey 2050 teachers and staff, participants will shadow virtual sessions to acquire an understanding of the flow and planning that goes into the development of each session.
Participants will then begin to develop inquiry activities that utilize Journey 2050 content. Participants will receive feedback from the Journey 2050 team and eventually adapt and focus lessons based on a specific class.
In their final two weeks, participants will attend as many segments as possible before presenting and facilitating the activity that they have developed.
This program is a particularly good fit for participants who are comfortable in virtual environments and are interested in sustainability and food systems.

Timeline and Dates

Program Dates:
- Fall: October to mid-December
- Winter: January to mid-March
Orientation: To be determined based on student and staff availability
Individual dates and times will vary based on program schedules and participant availability. For example, participants may support a consistent half-day each week, or plan a varying schedule aligned with program opportunities, in coordination with the Journey 2050 team
Week 1:
- Journey 2050 Support / Site Orientation
Weeks 2-6:
- Journey 2050 Support
  - Activity Planning Meetings
Week 7 & 8: Journey 2050 Session Leadership & Support

In total, pre-service teachers agree to commit to a minimum of 35-50 hours for their service-learning experience

Requirements

Pre-service teachers need a current Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening (issued after May 1 of the current academic year). Students who do not already have a police check should begin this process online with their local Police station as soon as possible as police checks often take 4-6 weeks to process. Please see the Field Experience Police Information Requirement webpage for more information on how to request a PIC-VS.
In addition, participating pre-service teachers will require a Backcheck record check. Participants will receive more information about this online record check process once they have been matched to the opportunity.

Program Learning Outcomes

Apply a variety of facilitation strategies to encourage discussion, generate ideas, and build consensus
Develop cross-cultural competencies related to language, culture, and place
Gain experience working with youth in a classroom setting
Lead or co-lead the component of at least one project within the program
Share and receive knowledge regarding teacher education and teaching practice

Stampede School is an immersive educational experience for students in grades 1 to 12 that relocates their classroom to Stampede Park. In their new setting, students and teachers experience deep and innovative learning and make connections to history, agriculture, Indigenous traditions and cultures, and western heritage and values. Each class’s week-long experience is customized to fit their particular curriculum and individual needs.

Program Details

As Stampede School Facilitators, participating pre-service teachers will work with Foundation coordinators and facilitators to support weekly activities for groups attending Stampede School over an 8-week period. Participants will develop, plan, and lead activities for the group attending Stampede School in their final week, contributing to the overall program, and enhancing their ability to developing engaging, inquiry-based activities in authentic classroom settings.

Who?

Students taking their EDUC 400 or 500 courses
What?

Support Stampede School activities for 6-8 weeks, providing support with school groups that attend each week.
When?

Individual dates and times will vary based on program schedules and participant availability
Where?

Stampede Park - 1410 Olympic Way SE, Calgary, AB T2G 2W1

What's Involved

Age of Children/Youth: 6-18 Years Old
Inquiry-based alternative classroom program. Volunteers provide one-on-one support, lead small group activities, and lead larger activities with the school groups that attend the program each week.
In their first week, participants will meet with the teachers whose students will be attending in the final two weeks, to better understand those groups' learning goals and to begin developing a series of activities to lead during their final week.
With support from Foundation teachers and staff, Werklund Service-Learning participants will develop inquiry activities that align with the goals of Stampede School and meet the needs of the attending students.
In their final two weeks, participants will attend as many segments as possible before leading their activities, so as to develop a strong rapport with the students and teachers in the classroom.

Timeline and Dates

Program Dates:
- Fall: October to mid-December
- Winter: January to mid-March
Orientation: To be decided based on student and staff availability
Individual dates and times will vary based on program schedules and participant availability. For example, participants may support a consistent half-day each week, or may support different days to see different parts of the program.
Week 1:
- Stampede School Support / Site Orientation
- Meeting with Week 7 and 8 Teachers
Weeks 2-6:
- Stampede School Support
- Activity Planning Meetings
Week 7 & 8: Stampede School Session Leadership & Support

In total, pre-service teachers agree to commit to a minimum of 35-50 hours for their service-learning experience

Requirements

Pre-service teachers need a current Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening (issued after May 1 of the current academic year). Students who do not already have a police check should begin this process online with their local Police station as soon as possible as police checks often take 4-6 weeks to process. Please see the Field Experience Police Information Requirement webpage for more information on how to request a PIC-VS.
In addition, participating pre-service teachers will require a Backcheck record check. Participants will receive more information about this online record check process once they have been matched to the opportunity.

Program Learning Outcomes

Apply a variety of facilitation strategies to encourage discussion, generate ideas, and build consensus
Develop cross-cultural competencies related to language, culture, and place
Gain experience working with youth in a classroom setting
Lead or co-lead the component of at least one project within the program
Share and receive knowledge regarding teacher education and teaching practice

The Sam Centre is an immersive and interactive collection of Calgary’s greatest Stampede stories, as well as a gathering place of story sharing and connection. Sam Centre brings together over 100 years of memories, artifacts, and experiences under one roof. Sam Centre Education field trips provide a valuable educational experience for grades K-6. Captivating imaginations and sparking curiosity, the field trips showcase that history, culture, and community can be as thrilling as the rodeo!

Program Details

Information coming soon!

Who?

Information coming soon!
What?

Information coming soon!
When?

Information coming soon!
Where?

Information coming soon!

What's Involved

Information coming soon!

Timeline and Dates

Information coming soon!

Requirements

Pre-service teachers need a current Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening (issued after May 1 of the current academic year). Students who do not already have a police check should begin this process online with their local Police station as soon as possible as police checks often take 4-6 weeks to process. Please see the Field Experience Police Information Requirement webpage for more information on how to request a PIC-VS.
In addition, participating pre-service teachers will require a Backcheck record check. Participants will receive more information about this online record check process once they have been matched to the opportunity.

Program Learning Outcomes

Apply a variety of facilitation strategies to encourage discussion, generate ideas, and build consensus
Develop cross-cultural competencies related to language, culture, and place
Gain experience working with youth in a classroom setting
Lead or co-lead the component of at least one project within the program
Share and receive knowledge regarding teacher education and teaching practice

Fall Semester Timeline

Fall 2024 Applications Open: August 28, 2024
Werklund Information Sessions:
- Cancelled; please email wse.experiential@ucalgary.ca with any questions about the Service-Learning program or to arrange for a meeting.
Fall 2024 Applications Close: September 17, 2024 for smaller programs, larger placement applications are ongoing.
Fall 2024 Placements Start: early October (program dependent)
Fall 2024 Placements End: mid-December (program dependent)

Winter Semester Timeline

Winter 2025 Applications Open: November 15, 2024
Winter 2025 Information Session: November 26, 5:00 pm (Zoom)
Winter 2025 Applications Close: December 1, 2024 (program dependent)
Winter 2025 Placements Start: early January (program dependent)
Winter 2025 Placements End: mid-March (program dependent)

Experiential Learning Check-In & Reflection Opportunities

All participants in Experiential Learning programs are welcome and encouraged to attend at least two of the check-in & reflection sessions below as part of their program. Reflection is an incredibly important part of experiential learning. It encourages students to consider their experience so far and to adjusted as needed as they go forward through the rest of their program, or into the next step of their career.