Elementary and middle school students from Geneva spent two days on the campus of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, engaging in storytelling, collaboration, and a celebration of community as part of an annual education initiative.
The visits on May 27 and June 2 were organized through Geneva 2030, a partnership that brings every second, sixth, and ninth-grader in the Geneva City School District to the HWS campus to envision their educational future.
Second-graders focused on the theme “The Art of Storytelling,” exploring creativity through puppetry with Emmy-nominated performers Dusty and Dott. Known for their PBS program Reading Buddies, Dusty and Dott have previously performed at the Geneva Public Library and during Geneva 2030’s Read Across America event.
Sixth-graders participated in activities under the theme “Nurturing Your Community – Grow and Connect!” The visit was the culmination of a months-long collaboration that began with a book club on Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman. Students reflected on community-building in Geneva by writing personal chapters and capturing images of meaningful spaces with digital cameras. Their writing and photography were exhibited in the Provenzano Student Art Gallery, with a public opening on the evening of June 2.
“These campus visits are a message to every student that they matter and we believe in them,” said Peter Budmen ’15, associate director of the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning. “Our Hobart and William Smith students gain so much from engaging with Geneva students, and I hope the experience is equally meaningful for them.”
Geneva 2030, launched in 2011, is supported by Hobart and William Smith and numerous local partners. It aims to strengthen education outcomes for Geneva’s youth from birth through high school and beyond.
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