Civic Engagement Clubs are student led initiatives supported by the Office of Civic Engagement. The following clubs work with local community partners to deliver programs and serve in roles that support the organization and address local needs. Interested students can contact the program leadership directly using the names and email addresses listed below.
Students can always contact the Office of Civic Engagement with questions or assistance at civicengagement@colby.edu
Best Buddies
Best Buddies is a group of Colby students who work with "buddies" from Skills Inc. Buddies are typically adults with physical and developmental disabilities. Colby students plan and host monthly gatherings for the Buddies. These gatherings usually involve coming to campus for dining hall dinners, meeting at a local apple farm or having a picnic in Waterville.
25-26 leaders: Emma Greene (ebgree26@colby.edu) & Zac London (zwland26@colby.edu)
Coding Club
The Coding Club creates a coding-based curriculum and delivers it weekly to students at Waterville High School, in partnership with the school's computer science teacher, during class time.
25-26 leaders: Sam Polyakov (sjpoly26@colby.edu) & Addie Hyde (alhyde26@colby.edu)
Outdoor Outreach
Outdoor Outreach is a collaboration among the Office of Civic Engagement, Colby's Outing Club, and the Alfond Youth & Community Centre (AYCC). Colby students are recruited as volunteers to support the AYCC after-school program. During the semester, groups of up to 10 volunteers go to the AYCC once a week and provide opportunities for youth to engage with the outdoors; these include learning to set up tents, identifying plants along a nature trail, and more! The goal of the club is to allow youth to explore the outdoors and empower Colby students to share their love of the outdoors.
25-26 leaders: Marin Heberlig (mvhebe26@colby.edu) & Sophia Schubnel (srschu26@colby.edu)
Hardy Girls
Hardy Girls is a Maine-based, research-driven nonprofit. Established in 2000, we partner with girls and nonbinary youth to ignite curiosity, promote critical thinking, build coalitions, and challenge the status quo. We believe in changing the culture, not fixing the young person. Hardy Girls works with 1,200+ girls and nonbinary youth annually through year-round, statewide programs. The Muse volunteer program is for undergraduate students at our partner colleges who identify as women or nonbinary people. The Muses are trained by the Hardy Girls staff to guide and facilitate Coalition Groups. The college students who volunteer as Muses come from a wide range of academic disciplines, and all share a commitment to gender equity. Their commitment to the program includes guiding a group for six weeks and reserving availability for additional check-ins or trainings each semester.
25-26 leaders: Maya Welland (mawell27@colby.edu)
Math Mules
Colby's Math Department recruits math majors or students enrolled in math classes at Colby to volunteer as tutors in elementary classrooms in Waterville Public Schools. The schools work directly with the math department. OCECP provides training about working with youth.
Faculty leader: Scott Taylor (sataylor@colby.edu)
IDEAS In Music
IDEAs in Music is an organization at Colby College that is focused on supporting inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility in Music across the state of Maine and beyond. In the fall of 2023, IDEAs in Music established a cross-campus partnership with the Office of Civic Engagement at Colby College to further expand the organization's reach and deepen its engagement with the Waterville community. Since then, the organization has expanded to incorporate diverse perspectives, established a student leadership team, and collaborated with Crescendo for a Cause to expand music education opportunities in Central Maine.
Email Dr Brendon Wilkins at bwilkins@colby.edu
Colby Community Health Program
CCHP is a student-led public health initiative dedicated to addressing local health disparities and building connections between Colby students and the Waterville community. Each semester, we partner with the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter to host interactive wellness sessions on topics like stress, sleep, and substance use. Sessions begin with snacks to create a welcoming atmosphere, followed by student-led presentations, open discussion, and activities that encourage sharing and connection. Student volunteers plan the content of these sessions in collaboration with each other and a member of the CCHP leadership team. Printed brochures give residents something to take away, and volunteers stay afterwards to chat informally with residents.
Volunteer Commitment
Selected volunteers will join one clinic session this semester (out of 3–4 offered) and will receive about 5 hours of community service credit for their involvement, including orientation, preparation, and the session itself. This is a focused but meaningful way to contribute without an overwhelming time commitment.
Volunteer Responsibilities
Work in a small team to research and prepare your CCHP session presentation. Lead an interactive session tailored to the experiences of shelter residents. This role requires and helps build strong public speaking and presentation skills.
Participate in the clinic event, including discussion and informal connections with residents.
Contact student leader Matthew Herrick, mdherr27@colby.edu
Little Lego Club
The Little Lego Project at the George J. Mitchell Elementary School works with first-grade students to help enhance critical problem-solving skills through Lego challenges. Student volunteers create a fun, educational space that promotes learning and teamwork!
Contact student leaders ebravi28@colby.edu or nrdema28@colby.edu
