A Different Kind of Spring Break

A new type of volunteer program for college students is taking universities in the U.S. by storm — the alternative spring break. And we're not talking about playing alternative music while you relax at the beach over spring break. We're talking about getting your hands dirty cleaning up city streets, working with the homeless, mentoring children and building schools in foreign countries over spring break. College students across the nation are discovering that the rewards of giving back can be greater than doing something more self-serving for a week in March.

The alternative spring break is emerging as an effective way that universities can get students involved in humanitarian and social justice issues. They accomplish this by whisking students away from their comfort zones to participate in various volunteer efforts over spring break. Here's how it usually works: A limited number of students sign up to take one of a few trips arranged by an alternative spring break coordinator, typically a staff member of the university. Students pay for their own airfare and any other fees associated with the program. They are briefed of their assignment, work on that specific project for an entire week, and meet periodically throughout the week to discuss what they are doing and what it means to society.

Some universities, like Stanford, look at the alternative spring break as a form of experiential learning that exposes students to the major cultural and social issues affecting the U.S. One alternative spring break at Stanford involved traveling to Washington D.C. to speak with lawmakers about veteran's health care and volunteering their time at local outreach centers for veteran and homeless communities in the D.C. area. Another alternative break at Stanford has involved a trip to New Orleans where students explore topics such as climate change, urban development, sustainable living while working with organizations that tackle land, water and energy issues in the Big Easy.

Wartburg College is well-known for the service trips they take over their fall, winter and spring breaks. The small liberal arts college even got together 90 students in 2006 to New Orleans to help out with hurricane relief efforts, particularly re-building homes for displaced families through Habitat for Humanity. The goal of the Service Trip Program at Wartburg is to give students an idea of what a week spent in pure service is like.

Ask your university what kind of community service trips or alternative spring breaks are available. The trips are rewarding and eye-opening and you certainly won't regret doing it. If there's not a program available, maybe you can get the ball rolling and kick one off yourself!