Volunteering at Austin Trail of Lights

This year I got to enjoy a quintessential Austin holiday tradition from a new perspective as a volunteer for Creative Action at the Austin Trail of Lights. As one of 23 non-profit partners participating in this year’s Austin Trail of Lights, Creative Action offered families a fun, hands-on craft project right there on the trail: origami peace crane ornaments to decorate your tree for free!

Surrounded by glittering holiday lights, I got to teach visitors at our table how to fold their own unique origami peace crane or origami puppy. Since stepping into my new role as an AmeriCorps VISTA at Creative Action, I have missed working directly with youth teaching art, and this was the perfect opportunity to share a creative skill with others while promoting Creative Action in the community. I was so impressed by the determination and enthusiasm of all the kids who persevered through the many steps to folding an origami crane.

The look of excitement and joy on their faces when they got to the final folds and their crane emerged like magic from a piece of paper reminded me how rewarding it is to inspire others through the arts.

With a craft as simple as folding a paper crane, Creative Action transformed each visitor into a creative artist, empowered and inspired by their own beautiful origami creation. Seeing Creative Action’s mission to spark the academic, social and emotional development of young people in action on the Trail of Lights while promoting peace through art made for the perfect holiday volunteer experience.

What was the best part of volunteering with Creative Action at the Austin Trail of Lights? Sharing this experience with my mom!