History
Initially utilizing thirty student volunteers/chaperones and thirty children in it's first year, the program was designed to pair college students with Boys and Girls Club youth on a one-on-one developmental basis. Since then, the organization has grown tremendously. In the past 11 years, Project MASCOT has taken over 1,000 Gainesville Youth to Sea World. This year, we are excited to branch out to another Central Florida theme park, Disney's Animal. Kingdom. We will be teaming up with Duval Elementary's 3rd grade classes for an amazing year!
Last year, this group took 120 children ages 6 to 14, in conjunction with the C.H.A.M.P.S. (Collegiates Helping as Mentors in Public Schools) program of School Board of Alachua County, to Sea World for the day in late February. This service project benefits a population of financially and emotionally disadvantaged youths from the Alachua county area of Florida. The selected youths have the opportunity to visit Sea World for a day of fun and exposure to the marine environment and collegiate role models as well as establish a semester long mentoring relationship. These students work with the C.H.A.M.P.S. program, which has located a population of individuals whose financial background and parental support status is such that an opportunity like this would not otherwise exist for the children. With the support of the Alachua County school system these students have established mentoring programs at four area elementary and secondary schools.
Additionally, it has created a meaningful experience for the University of Florida students as they increase their commitment to citizenship and their adopted community. Many of our chaperones have agreed to continue the mentoring relationship and become C.H.A.M.P.S members for the years to come. These students have brought much joy and pride to the university and the community.