For college students, spring break usually means fun in the sun, lying on a beach in Florida or Mexico, hanging out on the deck of a cruise ship somewhere in the Caribbean, or skiing on the slopes in Colorado. But there is a growing national movement to provide students with an alternative to the wild and fun break tradition. This alternative is comparatively low cost and gives students the opportunity to participate in service at a time when school commitments do not conflict.
In conjunction with the national Breakaway program, which helps connect campuses and communities, SMU’s Alternative Spring Break sends teams of students across the country to participate in service projects. Students work on short-term projects that range from literacy, poverty, hunger, homelessness and the environment.
SMU senior Mitchell London participated in an alternative spring break trip to New Orleans three years ago. He said, “I went into the trip with no expectations and found inspiration that has had a long-ranging impact.” His group worked alongside the national program, Teach for America, in an effort to educate low-income children. In the fall, London plans to work for Teach for America in Mississippi.
The program is a week-long trip that takes place during the university’s spring break. SMU’s break is March 12 -16. Trips will leave on Friday, March 9, and return to campus the following Sunday evening, March 18.
A community service group called SPARC, Students Promoting Awareness, Responsibility and Citizenship, sponsors the alternative break. “It is a great opportunity for students to have an educational spring break as well as some fun,” says SPARC President Katie White.
Each team works four or five days on location. One day is for students to enjoy the community. On days off in the past, groups have visited nearby attractions such as parks and museums and, of course, made time to enjoy local cuisine.
Celebrating its 20th year at SMU, Alternative Spring Break is offering six sites to choose from including projects in California, South Carolina, Arizona, Mississippi and Florida. Students who choose to go out west to California will work with a local church, GLIDE Memorial Church, to feed and clothe the low-income community of San Francisco. In Arizona, volunteers will be given the opportunity to educate Navajo children about economic development and cultural identity.
Students who travel to South Carolina will build houses with Habitat for Humanity in an effort to provide shelter for the homeless living around Sea Island. Building and rebuilding houses will also be the task for the students who journey to Mississippi to help the Gulf Coast recover from Hurricane Katrina.
Sites in Florida offer two unusual service programs. Camp Boggy Creek in Eustis, Fla. serves as a place for children suffering from chronic illness to to have a normal camp experience. Peace River Refuge and Ranch, located in southern Florida, is a sanctuary for exotic animals that cares for abused and neglected wildlife. Students at either Florida location will help keep the facilities running and make any necessary improvements.
The cost of each trip is $385, which includes all meals, transportation, housing, education materials, site supplies and fun activities. SMU Student Senate funds a portion of the program in an effort to keep the cost to a minimum. Financial aid and fundraising opportunities are available.
Each site includes at least eight students, a student leader and a staff leader. Nationally, more than 12,000 students were involved in an alternative spring break program in 2006.
SMU faculty, staff and grad students are welcome to participate as leaders. Community Involvement Coordinator Ali Scoufield describes her alternative trip to Chicago last year as a “week of giving back and an experience I’ll treasure forever. And I made lasting friendships on my trip, so that’s an added bonus.”
Applications are available in the Student Activities Center in Hughes-Trigg. Completed forms should be turned in to the Leadership and Community Involvement Office by Feb. 14.
