Volunteer Reflections: Dr. Alon Eisenstein

Reflecting on my volunteering with Pueblo Science: On this National Volunteer Week, I started thinking about my own volunteering experience with Pueblo Science. Sometimes it’s really hard to believe I’ve been doing this for 5 and 1/2 years now! And so much has changed, evolved, improved, matured.

I can still remember how we got together in the evenings to plan for the very first summer

science camp. Lots of ideas, lots of excitement. And guess what? we’re still doing it. Still excited, still having fun, and the kids and parents share that excitement with us 🙂 They come back year after year, bringing siblings, bringing friends. It’s like an extended family at times.

I’ve had the pleasure of “playing” with science for so long, with small groups and large ones. I’ve “performed” on centre ice both in Toronto and Waterloo, on TV in Toronto, Ottawa and even Montreal, and even live on stage at Yonge-Dundas square. I got to do solo events, and lead groups of 20 volunteers, and now work with a group of amazing coordinators who are absolutely amazing and fun to work with.

So what did I learn over these years? I learned how to plan, how to deliver, how to be responsible and accountable. I’ve learned how to teach and explain, I’ve learn how to communicate and connect. I’ve learned how to recruit, and how to lead, but also to follow and listen, accepting other’s ideas and putting trust into others.

But most of all, I’ve learned to follow my passion, and have FUN. Yes, joy. That feeling that makes us feel so good, that we can’t have enough of. The happiness we feel when things work out, when kids smile and laugh, when parents nod and say “I didn’t know that, now you’ve taught me something new”. Knowing that maybe somewhere, sometime, someone will think back and remember a silly scientist who likes to stick spoons on his nose, and make you laugh while you think.Forever that silly-scientist, happy National Volunteer Week #NVW2017

Dr. Alon Eisenstein
April 27, 2017