Baker NERDs

Created by Sarai Vega, Esmeralda Marquez and Carter Yancey

It is not just about the fun. It is about the connections and bonds formed as a result of the activities planned within the Baker NERDs program.

These activities helped those of us in the summer 2016 program to create friendships and reveal our truest colors to each other by enjoying the moments and not always focusing on appearances, work, or school.We went bowling, visited an amazing ice cream parlor, ate at various restaurants in Lawrence, played volleyball, volunteered at Harvesters and Family Promise, and attended a Royals’ game.

Some of the first activities that brought everyone together were volleyball and bowling. The positive outcome of volleyball was that we learned that we had to depend on each other and that the purpose of the game was not to win; it was a great team-building activity. Bowling was a great way to see the way that everyone interacted with one another and it was an experience full of laughter and dancing for several hours. Although these first activities were a ton of fun, we eventually came to the conclusion that what the majority of students enjoyed most was going out eat at a variety of restaurants. If anyone was hungry past dinner hours, we would venture on a short walk to Sonic and enjoy the food.

"I feel like I bonded with people I can be friends with for the rest of my life."

- Mikayla Bradford

Many people see volunteering as hard work, but we saw it as an enjoyable activity that benefited other. The first time volunteer opportunity was with Harvesters, an organization that helps underprivileged families obtain food and clothes. We didn’t know what to expect when we walked into the warehouse, but we soon realized that it was easy work if we all worked continuously and kept a good attitude. We also volunteered at Family Promise, a non-government organization that helps homeless people. NERDs students helped take down cots and set up new ones for families in the program. Some students helped re-vamp the look of the day center by painting the “teenage room” and adding the Family Promise logo. The rest painted the porch of a house that was being rented by one family in the program.

"Having learned all of these lifelong skills, I feel like college and life after college will become easier than I previously thought it was going to be."

-Carter Yancey

When each day ended for the Baker NERDs, we found ourselves feeling a sense of accomplishment with using our time productively, not just from learning in study hours, but also from the contentment of spending quality time with each other throughout the day.