Alternative Breaks
Where are the 2012-2013 AB Trips going?
You'll find out soon enough! See the 21 trip descriptions below for an idea of what you could be doing.
1. Elderly Living in America
Through home visits, direct service at a nursing home, and direct service at an assisted living center, participants will spend spring break investigating the strengths and weaknesses of elderly living in the United States through the eyes of those who live it everyday.
Through home visits, direct service at a nursing home, and direct service at an assisted living center, participants will spend spring break investigating the strengths and weaknesses of elderly living in the United States through the eyes of those who live it everyday.
2. Refugees: The Invisible American
Through outreach runs, direct service with refugees, and educational exposure participants will spend spring break learning the difficulties of immigrating to the United States.
Through outreach runs, direct service with refugees, and educational exposure participants will spend spring break learning the difficulties of immigrating to the United States.
3. Hunger & Homelessness
Through outreach runs, a panel of individuals who are homeless, lobbying homelessness issues, and direct service at a day center for individuals who are homeless, participants will spend spring break immersed in the modern homeless culture of the United States.
Through outreach runs, a panel of individuals who are homeless, lobbying homelessness issues, and direct service at a day center for individuals who are homeless, participants will spend spring break immersed in the modern homeless culture of the United States.
4. Conservation of Our Native Ecosystems
Participants will engage in various ecological projects such as removing invasive plant species, securing the habitat for native animals, and maintaining hiking trails and other conservatory-operated facilities. During the trip participants will learn firsthand about protecting their environment by living on a volunteer camp.
Participants will engage in various ecological projects such as removing invasive plant species, securing the habitat for native animals, and maintaining hiking trails and other conservatory-operated facilities. During the trip participants will learn firsthand about protecting their environment by living on a volunteer camp.
5. The Rights and Welfare of Animals
Participants will work at a farm sanctuary dedicated to providing rescued animals with lives free from suffering and abuse. Participants will help with animal care, as well as work which supports their environment. This trip will also feature several educational programs dealing with animal rights, energy work, and animal behavior. The sanctuary also functions as a youth correction facility, so participants will be immersed in an interconnectedness between all beings.
Participants will work at a farm sanctuary dedicated to providing rescued animals with lives free from suffering and abuse. Participants will help with animal care, as well as work which supports their environment. This trip will also feature several educational programs dealing with animal rights, energy work, and animal behavior. The sanctuary also functions as a youth correction facility, so participants will be immersed in an interconnectedness between all beings.
6. Community Development
Participants will work with an organization dedicated to providing medical care and basic services to the community. Participants will be immersed in the community’s culture by working with local schools, clinics, and sustainability groups. This trip places a strong emphasis on community interaction, and participants will have the opportunity to stay and eat with local families.
Participants will work with an organization dedicated to providing medical care and basic services to the community. Participants will be immersed in the community’s culture by working with local schools, clinics, and sustainability groups. This trip places a strong emphasis on community interaction, and participants will have the opportunity to stay and eat with local families.
7. Restoration and Conservation in Our National Parks
Service will include working on several projects including park clean up, invasive species removal, and other ecological restoration work within various National Parks. Participants will also be involved in the preservation of diverse wildlife and other animal care duties.
Service will include working on several projects including park clean up, invasive species removal, and other ecological restoration work within various National Parks. Participants will also be involved in the preservation of diverse wildlife and other animal care duties.
8. Finding Justice in the Prison System
Participants will learn about the prison justice system alongside men in a halfway house. Additionally, the group will work with an after school composed of inner city youth trying to stay out of the system. Lastly, the group will receive a tour of a prison as well as meet and greets with various prison system staff.
Participants will learn about the prison justice system alongside men in a halfway house. Additionally, the group will work with an after school composed of inner city youth trying to stay out of the system. Lastly, the group will receive a tour of a prison as well as meet and greets with various prison system staff.
9. The Contrast of Inner- and Outer-City Education
Participants will gain a better understanding of the public school system by working hands-on in the classrooms and having personal interaction with the students. Participants will see a brand new side of a familiar city that will make them feel like they are miles away!
Participants will gain a better understanding of the public school system by working hands-on in the classrooms and having personal interaction with the students. Participants will see a brand new side of a familiar city that will make them feel like they are miles away!
10. Substance Abuse: Prevention and Treatment Education
Participants will explore the issue of substance abuse and the effect that it has on communities and families. Participants will labor on a rehabilitation farm, performing tasks with the men that live there. Harvest Farm focuses on community outreach, prevention, and treatments (both long-term and short-term).
Participants will explore the issue of substance abuse and the effect that it has on communities and families. Participants will labor on a rehabilitation farm, performing tasks with the men that live there. Harvest Farm focuses on community outreach, prevention, and treatments (both long-term and short-term).
11. Going Green in the City
Participants will work on an urban farm dedicated to providing community-supported agriculture. In addition to daily farm work, participants will have the opportunity to learn about other green initiatives, such as urban beekeeping, learning about recycling system and learn the food issues within our world and how it effects our environment.
Participants will work on an urban farm dedicated to providing community-supported agriculture. In addition to daily farm work, participants will have the opportunity to learn about other green initiatives, such as urban beekeeping, learning about recycling system and learn the food issues within our world and how it effects our environment.
12. HIV/AIDS
Participants will be doing work that involves the HIV/AIDs community. Participants will help provide services to people with AIDS who can no longer live independently, or whose family can no longer take care of them. They will be helping enhance the quality of life for those living with HIV/AIDS.
Participants will be doing work that involves the HIV/AIDs community. Participants will help provide services to people with AIDS who can no longer live independently, or whose family can no longer take care of them. They will be helping enhance the quality of life for those living with HIV/AIDS.
13. Building a Sustainable Community
Participants will get the opportunity to experience a community in poverty and the reality of their lifestyles. They will interact with members of the lowest class and meet leaders and representatives who have impacted the community a great deal, such as economic analysts, union workers, labor rights activists, etc. While there, they will also get the opportunity to visit rural areas and meet with local developmental agencies, USAID, environmental organizations, and other organizations engaged in addressing the issues facing rural communities.
Participants will get the opportunity to experience a community in poverty and the reality of their lifestyles. They will interact with members of the lowest class and meet leaders and representatives who have impacted the community a great deal, such as economic analysts, union workers, labor rights activists, etc. While there, they will also get the opportunity to visit rural areas and meet with local developmental agencies, USAID, environmental organizations, and other organizations engaged in addressing the issues facing rural communities.
14. Mountain Top Removal: An Inside Look at Appalachian Cultures and Coal Mining
Participants will get the opportunity to learn about coal mining and mountaintop removal and its effects on the
Appalachian region. They will learn about both sides of the issue, meeting coal miners and community members. Service includes helping low-income Appalachians weatherize their homes.
Participants will get the opportunity to learn about coal mining and mountaintop removal and its effects on the
Appalachian region. They will learn about both sides of the issue, meeting coal miners and community members. Service includes helping low-income Appalachians weatherize their homes.
15. Orphanage Outreach and Youth Education
Participants will spend their time teaching the youth, including orphans, literacy education at local community centers. They will experience what it is like to grow up in a disadvantaged area with limited access to education. Participants will also get the opportunity to explore the community and learn about the rich culture it has to offer.
Participants will spend their time teaching the youth, including orphans, literacy education at local community centers. They will experience what it is like to grow up in a disadvantaged area with limited access to education. Participants will also get the opportunity to explore the community and learn about the rich culture it has to offer.
16. Exploring the Roots of our Nation
Participants will gain insight into the lives of the Oglala Lakota people by learning about their history, culture, and living conditions on the reservation. Also, participants will have the opportunity to meet, interact, and build relationships with members of the tribe. Service will focus on construction, maintenance, and building projects throughout the poverty stricken reservation.
Participants will gain insight into the lives of the Oglala Lakota people by learning about their history, culture, and living conditions on the reservation. Also, participants will have the opportunity to meet, interact, and build relationships with members of the tribe. Service will focus on construction, maintenance, and building projects throughout the poverty stricken reservation.
17. Adults with Disabilities
Through service work, attending educational gatherings, and interaction with the “core members”, which is another name for adults with intellectual disabilities, participants will experience the community of L’Arche. They will discover how the core members are teachers that can enhance, challenge, and create an impact on society.
Through service work, attending educational gatherings, and interaction with the “core members”, which is another name for adults with intellectual disabilities, participants will experience the community of L’Arche. They will discover how the core members are teachers that can enhance, challenge, and create an impact on society.
18. The Inaccessibility of Communities: United Cerebral Palsy
Participants will have the opportunity to work in different communities constructing wheelchair ramps at various homes. Along with this service, the group will explore the issues of accessibility in communities as well as learn about how disabilities affect individuals in their day-to-day activities.
Participants will have the opportunity to work in different communities constructing wheelchair ramps at various homes. Along with this service, the group will explore the issues of accessibility in communities as well as learn about how disabilities affect individuals in their day-to-day activities.
19. What Life is Like When You’re in a Gang: The Affects of Gangs
Participants will work with state Gang Prevention to learn about gang violence issues with an inner city population. Projects will include hands-on work such as remodeling community centers, working with youth centers, and educational opportunities with city police and leading gang specialists.
Participants will work with state Gang Prevention to learn about gang violence issues with an inner city population. Projects will include hands-on work such as remodeling community centers, working with youth centers, and educational opportunities with city police and leading gang specialists.
20. Sustainable Living and Appalachian Culture
Participants will engage in hands-on physical labor: building structures, yard work, farming, chopping wood, etc. As well as real life education about what it takes to live in Appalachia. Participants will learn about the many environmental and societal causes of this region’s poverty and wealth.
Participants will engage in hands-on physical labor: building structures, yard work, farming, chopping wood, etc. As well as real life education about what it takes to live in Appalachia. Participants will learn about the many environmental and societal causes of this region’s poverty and wealth.
21. Mystery Trip: A View of the Unknown
Participants will be working hands-on with families of children with terminal illnesses and serious injuries. By providing meals, nights of entertainment and support, participants will get a first hand view of the uncertainty of tomorrow.
Participants will be working hands-on with families of children with terminal illnesses and serious injuries. By providing meals, nights of entertainment and support, participants will get a first hand view of the uncertainty of tomorrow.