Alternative Breaks
What are you doing for YOUR Break?
What?
The Alternative Break program is an immersion experience into different cultural, environmental and socioeconomic communities across the nation. Students provide service in exchange for education about current social and cultural issues facing the host communities. Past trips have focused on such social/cultural issues as hunger, AIDS/HIV, housing, homelessness, Native American issues, and the environment, education, economic sustainability, and women’s issues.
Who?
Annually, approximately 160 Colorado State University students, ranging in age, major, upbringing, background, and interest, participate in an Alternative Break experience! This year, it could be YOU!
When?
Trips occur during winter, spring, and summer breaks at CSU.Below is a schedule for the 2008 - 2009 academic school year:
- Winter breaks (various dates), January 2009
- Spring break, March 14 - 21, 2009
- Summer breaks (various dates), May 2009
Where?
2008 Alternative Winter Break Locations
Atlanta, Georgia
CSU volunteers headed to Atlanta will work with Essential 2 Life, a nonprofit organization whose mission it is "to see a generation of urban youth move beyond poverty to discover a direction in their lives." The organization seeks to achieve its vision by continually and responsibly stewarding their mission "to create life-change for urban youth through mentoring and educational/career opportunity programs." CSU volunteers will do hands-on service with urban youth in Atlanta including working at a Boys and Girls club, and helping out at a local elementary school. If you are looking for an urban immersion experience, then this is a trip you do not want to miss! This is a new, flying trip.
Eustis Florida
Venture back to your camp days as you volunteer at Camp Boggy Creek, a year-round camp for seriously ill children. Camp Boggy Creek is a member of The Association of Hole In The Wall Camps, founded by actor Paul Newman, and offers weeklong summer sessions for the children and family retreat weekends for the whole family. During their time at Boggy Creek, CSU volunteers will be working with children and their families to provide a fun and nourishing experience. Participants on this trip must be at least 19 years old, have lots of energy, and an enthusiasm for working with children! This is a flying trip.
New York City, New York
New York Partnering with the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), the first and oldest organization in New York City committed to the fight against AIDS, this trip centers on HIV/AIDS and GLBT awareness. GMHC’s mission statement is “to reduce the spread of HIV disease, help people with HIV maintain and improve their health and independence, and keep the prevention, treatment and cure of HIV an urgent national and local priority. In fulfilling this mission, we will remain true to our heritage by fighting homophobia and affirming the individual dignity of all gay men and lesbians.” Participants on this trip can anticipate volunteering as a client library assistant, kitchen and pantry assistant and interacting with the diverse GMHC clients all in the great city that never sleeps! This is a flying trip.
How?
There are two ways to participate!
- As a trip participant. For more information contact Kate at 491-3922, or email kquillin@silma.colostate.edu
- As a Site Leader - Alternative Break Site Leaders coordinate trip logistics, site development, participant recruitment, and program planning. Site Leaders commit to a full year with the program, beginning in early fall, and attend a fifteen week Site Leader School. Site leaders for the 2008-2009 school year have been selected. Site leader applications for the 2009-2010 school year will be available in April 2009.
More Information
For more information on Alternative Breaks at Colorado State University call 491-1682.