Alternative Break Program >> Spring 2008 Trip Descriptions

Domestic Trips (driving distance less than 1,000 miles from JMU)

Cafe 458, GA: Focus on hunger and homelessness. Participants will be traveling to Atlanta, Georgia to serve the homeless community. The group will serve food in a restaurant style setting creating a sense of dignity and selfworth. Other activities include proofing resumes and helping with mock job interviews. Along with the experiences of serving the homeless population, participants will have the chance to explore sites in Atlanta. Trip leaders are Emily Lipscomb and Jennifer Frey.

Camp Vacamas, NJ: Focus on children and youth. If you love summer camp and kids from Brooklyn and the Bronx, then this is the trip for you. Camp Vacamas is a summer camp for inner city kids that serves local kids year round. We will be doing some maintenance work to get the camp ready for the summer, as well as working with the awesome kids. Leaders are Sarah Midkiff and Brittany Harvey.

Essential 2 Life, GA: Focus on children and youth. Essential 2 Life is an organization completely dedicated to instilling a steadfast hope in the lives of poor urban youth in Atlanta. They do this through primarily establishing personal relationships, play days, personal visitation to the impoverished communities, a hope-centered program called Kids Explosion, random acts of kindness, and much more. While in Atlanta, our team will be able to participate in all of these things in addition to tutoring at the Boys and Girls Club of Atlanta, helping with the Atlanta Food Bank, and getting a genuine feel for the "A-T-L". Trip leaders are Rachel Lafferty and Erika Gramstad.

ESTEEM (name soon to be updated), FL: Focus on youth and children. We will be working with at-risk youth in after school programs that promote sports activities, arts, and academics. This agency focuses on improving conditions for families as a whole.  While the children build up their self-esteem through positive affirmation of talents and skills, employability skills training is provided for the adults. This organization, located in Winter Park, Florida, believes that economic and social redevelopment can most successfully be accomplished by the people who actually live there. Trip leaders are Lynn Brosmer and Kristi Van Sickle.

Gesundheit! Institute, WV: Focus on Health Issues. Participants will travel to the Patch Adam's institute, Gesundheit!, which is located in Hillsboro, West Virginia. We are striving to make holistic healing and health care a reality. Some of our tasks will include community outreach through activities such as "clowning", experiencing the land with grounds work and organic gardening, and continual development of the institute in West Virginia. One of the main visions of Patch Adams is to create a healing community incorporating fun, friendship, and communal living. There will also be opportunities for hiking, yoga, crafting, costumes, and vegetarian meals. For more information, contact the trip leaders and visit the website at www.patchadams.org. Trip leaders are Laura Scheeler and Faith Suzio.

Hands On Atlanta, GA: Focus on intergenerational and homelessness. While working through Hands on Atlanta, participants will volunteer with Second Wind Dreams and Rainbow Village where we will meet, play and learn with elders and kids. Second Wind Dreams focuses on those living in elder care communities. While getting to know the residents, we will find out their dreams and work to make them a reality. At Rainbow Village, a transitional housing program, volunteers will supervise and play with children and youth while their parents attend life skills classes. Trip leaders are Sierra Neal and Elisa Thompson.

Hands On Gulf Coast, MS: Focus on hurricane relief work. The Hands on Base is located in Biloxi Mississippi and works to help the community pick up and start again after Hurricane Katrina. Volunteers in the past have helped in everything from clearing debris, to tutoring kids, to beautifying parks, to building homes. Participants will have the opportunity to be involved in the fulfilling experience of service helping to rebuild and to heal the communities in Mississippi. Trip Leaders are Brandi Mooring and Chantee Brakeville.

Interfaith Shelter, FL: First United is one church in a network of churches dedicated to helping families in need. Serving as both evening and overnight hosts, we will assist with dinner preparations, evening activities, helping the children with their homework, and enjoying general family interaction. We will also assist in the mornings by preparing breakfast, helping families with lunch preparations, and anything else needed to prepare them for work or school. Throughout the remaining portions of the day, students will be immersed in the various cultures in the surrounding areas. Through this experience, students develop new cultural awareness and knowledge regarding the trip themes and issues, while increasing self-awareness, self-understanding and personal responsibility." Trip Leaders are Caitlin Scarano and Cassandra Dayton.

Lifespan, NC: Lifespan is an organization in Charlotte North Carolina that helps children and adults with developmental disabilities by providing them with education, employment and other enrichment activities. Trip participants will get to experience something new every day as we will spend the week volunteering at several different lifespan facilities in Charlotte. This way, participants on this trip will have the opportunity to work closely with both kids and adults that have developmental disabilities. This trip will be lead by Caroline Carter and Audrey Stone

Operation Breakthrough, MO: Focus on Children and Youth. Spend a week enriching your abilities working with young children and helping out in the classroom environment. This trip incorporates classroom activities as well as interacting with fellow peers and teachers. We will be working with children who live in poverty, helping them reach their fullest potential by providing a safe, fun and educational environment. Operation Breakthrough is located in Kansas City, Missouri. We will be spending a free day touring the sites of St. Louis and surrounding areas! Trip leaders are Alaina Viccano and Nicole Orokos.

PACE Center for Girls, FL: Focus on youth: Our trip includes serving at PACE Center for Girls, in Immokalee, Florida for the week. The PACE Center (Practical Academic Cultural Education), is a non-profit corporation that provides assistance for females ages 12 to 18 who are at-risk and in need of academic skills. PACE provides girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy. The purpose of the program is to prevent school withdrawal, juvenile delinquency, teen pregnancy, substance abuse and welfare dependency. Throughout the week, we will be helping out at the center by tutoring and participating in other after school activities. Also, one of the days we will be participating in a volunteer project with the girls at a local Soup Kitchen. Trip leaders are Jessica Hasbrouck and Amber Roberts.

SAFER, New Orleans, LA: Focus on hurricane relief. Two years after Hurricane Katrina hit, there is still much to be done. Our trip will be traveling to New Orleans to work with SAFER (Student Advocacy For Equitable Recovery). The organization was formed by students from Tulane University who noticed that a large portion of people who lost their homes in Hurricane Katrina were not receiving the assistance they needed. We will be doing construction work in these communities with SAFER to help rebuild homes and contribute to the on-going relief effort. By meeting the families whose homes we are re-building and getting to explore the city of New Orleans, this is guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience! Trip leaders are Jennifer Rowe and Emma Smith.

Sheffield Place, MO: Focus on homelessness and poverty. This agency was established with the mission to empower single mothers with children to break out of the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Many times there is lacking support of a stable male figure in their lives. Educational services are provided which address the symptomatic causes of homelessness including mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, and poverty. Join this trip to serve this agency in it's mission to empower women and children to reach their goals. We will also have the opportunity to explore the Kansas City area. Your crazy/fun/amazing trip leaders are Jen Lifland and Megan Stuart.

Sunshine Shelter, MS: Focus on: Children and Youth. The Sunshine Children's Shelter is a facility that provides childcare to children taken in to protective custody on a temporary basis. They have an emergency shelter for children who have been abused or neglected and their main goal is to "provide as much support to those children as possible." We have many different options of what we will be doing at the shelter, from daycare to helping out around the facility to working in a food bank, and we will decide as a group which area we would like to focus on. We'll be staying in the beautiful Natchez, MS, and having an amazing week! Trip leaders are Sara Bordeaux and Amanda Phillips.

York Place, SC: York Place (York, SC) is a residential treatment center for children and adolescents with psychiatric/emotional impairment. Our purpose as volunteers is to creatively enhance the child's experience and enjoyment while at the same time supporting the structured, therapeutic program of campus life. Service for the week will include tutoring, mentoring, and playing with the kids through activities such as music and sports. Be ready to use your talents and ideas to be a positive and lasting influence in the lives of these youth! Trip leaders are Ellen Porter and Jennifer Schwartz.

Long-Distance Domestic Trips (you will fly to get there)

Catalina Island Camps, CA: Focus on environment. Participants will be working in conjunction with Catalina Island Camps and Catalina Island Environmental Leadership, to better the natural environment of Catalina Island. We will be sleeping in cabins near the beach during our week long stay. While the exact projects have yet to be determined, projects will be based on the principles of good land stewardship. Some projects that are expected to be endeavored include: invasive plant removal, trail building, raking, mulching, working in an organic garden, beach clean-ups, landscaping, and collecting scientific data. If time allows, the camp has set up some exciting activities for us to do during our down time! This will occur on Catalina Island, California, approximately 26 miles off the coast of Los Angeles. Trip leaders are Jacqui Peworchik and Genevieve DeFino.

Cherokee Nation, OK: Focus on Youth. We will be going to Tahlequah, OK, working with the Cherokee Nation Head Start program. We will aid teachers in classrooms with children ages 3 months to 5 years old for half the day. For the other half of the day we will be cleaning up outside the area and inside the classrooms. This could include raking, picking up trash, making props for the classrooms, and hanging classroom materials. Along with the service we will be doing for their community, we will learn a lot about the Cherokee culture. Participants MUST have background check and TB test prior to trip. Trip leaders are Dara Silbert and John Nettles.

Redwoods National Park, CA: Focus on environment. Anyone know where Jurassic Park was filmed? If you guessed where we're going, you are correct! The ASB trip to the California Redwoods is among the most tenured of all the trips. Our service will focus on trail cleanup and maintenance, conservation efforts, and bridge reconstruction. We will be lodged in cabins without heating and will be sleeping on wooden cots, so make sure you pack accordingly. Because this is a long-distance trip, we will be organizing several fundraisers to help lower the cost of the trip. While this trip will be physically demanding because of all the manual labor in the park, it will certainly be equally as rewarding. So get pumped and come join us in "tree hugging" one of the last remaining natural wonders on Earth, THE REDWOODS. The trip leaders are Pete Lester and Blake Hill.

San Diego, CA: Focus on immigration/resettlement. Interested in immigration issues? We will be spending a week in the San Diego area getting multiple perspectives on the issue of immigration and helping out in the Hispanic community. Our main service work will be through the organization Casa Familiar which addresses the unique challenges faced by the border community of San Diego. A day will be spent with the Border Angels refilling water stations along the US-Mexico border. Another day will be spent with the border patrol getting information and possibly getting a border tour with them. So if you are interested in getting a new perspective on our country's border issues, helping out in the San Diego community, and seeing the biggest ocean in the world, this is your trip. Trip leaders are Dan Brennan and Travis Anderson.

Sea Base, FL: Focus on environment. If you're ready to get down and dirty on Big Munson Island off the coast of Florida, then Sea Base is the trip for you! Service work includes hurricane and environmental cleanup and restoration as well as manual labor of building boardwalks and walkways throughout the island. Sea Base is an intense environmental based trip and there is no electricity or running water on location. Sleeping quarters include tents on the sand. Maria Bartz and Dani Goodson are the leaders.

International Trips

CUMI, Jamaica: Focus on Health Issues and Homelessness. This group will work collectively with the local organization CUMI (The Committee for the Upliftment of the Mentally Ill) to assist the homeless mentally ill with utilizing community resources to improve their level of physical and mental health as well as their basic quality of life. Not only will we be building relationships with people at CUMI, but we will also be exploring Jamaica by learning about their unique culture and interacting with native Jamaicans. So come join us in this great experience to BE THE CHANGE, Jamaica style! For more information, please contact trip leaders Treshona Saxton and Robert Bardinas.

Nicaragua: Focus on Community Development. While it is the largest country in Central America, Nicaragua also ranks as one the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Students attending the Alternative Spring Break (ASB) trip in 2008 to Nicaragua will develop their global awareness by immersing themselves in the culture, working side-by-side with Nicaraguan workers and cultivating relationships with those in need. This trip will be dedicated to best serving the poor and may include working with agricultural laborers, teaching in schools, distributing donations and serving food. Students will gain insight into the developing world and will actively participate in facilitating change in Nicaragua, both prior to and during the trip. In light of the difficult circumstances JMU students will observe first-hand, this trip is most appropriate for committed students who are open to new experiences. Students will be challenged to go outside of their comfort zones and will have the incredible opportunity to directly serve Nicaraguan citizens. Trip Leaders are Melissa Noble and Shari Kornblatt.

Orphanage Outreach, Dominican Republic: Focus on Youth. Participants will be teaching English and other elementary educational needs (math, science, reading, art etc.) in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic located on the northwest coast. The mission statement of the orphanage is to provide opportunities to orphaned, abandoned, and disadvantaged children. It is a Peace Corps type of experience and volunteers will live and work on site. This will provide a great opportunity for cultural immersion. A background in Spanish is extremely helpful but not required. While the orphanage itself is a faith-based agency, Orphanage Outreach is committed that volunteers of all faiths will be comfortable volunteering. Trip leaders are Kelly Guinan and Jennifer Lloyd. http://www.orphanage-outreach.org/vip/summary.html

Uriah McPhee Primary School, Bahamas: Co-sponsored with UREC. Make an impact on people this spring break as we travel to New Province Island in the Bahamas. You will receive training on facilitation of teambuilding activities. On the trip, group members will be working with Uriah McPhee Primary School to provide teambuilding programs using a portable low ropes course. You will interact with children, teachers and parents and have the opportunity to experience the real Bahamas!

VIJON, Jamaica: Focus on Youth. Our trip destination is the sunny island of Jamaica at Treasure Beach. VIJON, Volunteer in Jamaica Opportunity Group, focuses its volunteers at the Sandy Bank Primary School to help promote reading. We will lend a hand with on-one-one reading assistance for students who need assistance developing their reading skills. We may also do maintenance at the school - past projects have included mural painting and shelf building, as well as spend some time tending to the organic farm. Trip leaders are Nicole Patterson and Mary Frances Czarsty.