Alternative Spring Break

Why ASB?

Students often consider ASB as one of the most rewarding experiences of their college careers. Below is a testimonial from a recent participant.

“Volunteering in diverse communities has been very eye-opening. Being exposed to new perspectives and lifestyles has allowed me to grow as an individual. I've also had the opportunity to meet remarkable people from IC and at the sites”

-Jenn Brink '10

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Alternative Spring Break

March 12, 2010 through March 21, 2010

Alternative Spring Break is a departmental program sponsored by the Office of Student Engagement and Multicultural Affairs that provides service opportunities for students who successfully apply for participation at a variety of sites across the eastern United States.

Alternative Spring Break Mission and Goals:
Alternative Spring Break is a weeklong, substance-free program centered on community service and civic engagement, and held during the college’s Spring break. The mission of the Alternative Spring Break program is to provide students with a challenging and fun opportunity to lead and learn through direct service experiences.

Student participants will:
• learn the importance of reflection, social justice, and civic engagement
• gain new perspectives through working in diverse environments
• meet community needs, build on community assets, and bring these experiences back to campus
• create new and lasting friendships while participating in a shared experience

Applications are now available online.

Five trips are planned for March 2010:

• REBUILD NOLA, New Orleans, Louisiana. Hurricane Katrina was a devastating disaster that affected thousands of people. Since the storm, Ithaca College has provided much support to the affected area by planning a Spring Break Trip each year. For March 2010, we will continue to work with Pastor Bruce Davenport and the Seventh Ward of New Orleans to rebuild a community center and homes of parishioner’s of St. John’s church. The city of Ithaca has adopted the Seventh Ward as a sister city and Ithaca College partnered with a local Ithaca organization, Love Knows Know Bounds, to plan and execute the trip.

•  RURAL POVERTY AND GROWTH, Booneville , Kentucky. While volunteering in one of the poorest counties in the nation, students will work on various projects around the community. Past projects have included painting a thrift store, compiling personal items for local senior citizens, and renovating a building, which has since become a halfway house for recovering drug addicts. Students interact with local residents and will be heavily exposed to the culture of rural Kentucky.

• URBAN EXPERIENCE, Washington, D.C. The Washington, D.C. trip is being reorganized this year to include opportunities to interact with DC alums, students participating in the DC semester program, and local non-profits.  In addition to serving on the issue or homelessness and poverty in a urban setting, volunteers will benefit from exploring our nation's capital from a social justice perspective.

• SCOTTIE'S PLACE, Peterstown, West Virginia. Scottie's Place is a wilderness based summer camp for youth whose lives have been disrupted by homelessness and domestic violence.  Students will be working at the camp and the surrounding community located in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. 

• EARTHAVEN ECO-VILLAGE, Asheville, North Carolina. Earthaven is an aspiring ecovillage in a mountain forest setting near Asheville, North Carolina. Student volunteers will experience life a a resident of an eco-village while volunteer with the gardens, grounds, and facilities.

How do I apply?
Applications are available online HERE. All applications must be submitted no later than 5pm on November 6th. Participants will be notified of their accepted trip no later than November 13th. 

What is the cost?
When accepted into the program, a $75 deposit will be due by December 11th.  The remaining balance of $325 will be due by February 15th.  All trip drivers will get a $100 discount. (Drivers must be 21 years of age and approved per the college's risk management department.)