Center of Community Service: Alternative Spring Break

Center of Community Service

Alternative Spring Break

What Is an Alternative Break? & Why Should You Go On One?
(PDF)

Interested In Going On The Next ASB Trip?
Contact Zandra Kambysellis
at the Center of Community Service at 373-5809
for more information on how to get involved!

2004 ASB Trip to NJ
The Center of Community Service sponsored the trip for and accompanied six students on the second annual Alternative Spring Break Trip. Similar to the first trip, students chose to serve with Habitat for Humanity as part of the Collegiate Challenge program. However, this group chose to serve in Paterson, NJ where the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate is purchasing from the city as much of the abandoned property as possible so that they can build or renovate homes and revitalize the community through increasing homeownership.

This group, ranging from freshman to senior year, spent the week landscaping backyards, installing floor boards and siding, and meeting new homeowners and community members. These contributions paved the way for the kids to play in their yards which were previously filled with rocks and trash, and for other homes to move closer to completion.

Participants in this trip stayed overnight in the headquarters and multi-purpose space of Paterson's Habitat for Humanity. After most days of rigorous, yet rewarding, service the group pitched in to make a family style dinner before play games or chat as a group for the rest of the night. On the last night the group took a trip into New York City where we had a great dinner before site seeing around Time Square.

2003 ASB Trip to PA
The Center of Community Service took six students on its first ever alternative spring break to serve through the Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge program in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Collegiate Challenge is a year-round program, coordinated through Habitat for Humanity International where students from more than 700 colleges, universities and high schools will work at more than 175 sites nationwide during the 2003 spring break months. The hours of labor worked and the money donated by volunteers, help contribute to Habitat's success in providing low-income families with the opportunity for home ownership.

A diverse group of Northeastern students traveled to a community outside of Philadelphia called Coatesville, PA to work on six different houses in the process of being built. We worked from March 19 through the 22nd on projects that included painting, insulation, foundation work, garbage removal, siding, and building storage space.

What goes into Planning an Alternative Break?
Alternative Break Checklist

Form a Steering Committee

Develop a Mission

Set Goals & Timeline

Find Worksite

Begin Fundraising

Begin Recruitment

General Information Session

Pass Applications Out

Select Participants

Keep Contact with Site

Educate/Train Participants

Continue Fundraising

Finalize Itinerary

Go on Break!

Group Reorientation Session

Evaluate Program

Steering Committees

Logistics
• Place to sleep/eat/shower
• Transportation to and from the site
• On-site transportation
• Group dietary concerns (veg/low salt/etc)
• Tentative food menu
• “To Bring” list
• City, state, and regional maps
• Separate on-site logistics committees (cooking, cleaning, etc)
• Purchase any needed materials (gloves, masks, etc)
• Distribute name/address list of all participants
• Emergency contact liability

Outreach/Applications
• Flyers, chalkings, newspaper ads, word-of-mouth, etc
• Help with application process (distribute, collect, etc)
• Press releases for NU, Boston, and site papers

Fundraising (for)
• Transportation (rental, gas, maps, etc)
• Food
• Housing/affiliation fee/donation
• Photocopies and training supplies

Outreach materials
• Needed materials (gloves, masks, etc)
• Training/Reflections
• Any required training for actual project
• Other leadership training
• Group/Individual reflections
• Scheduling
• Entertainment (on-site night time activities)
(Bowling · Mini-golf · Beach · Site seeing, etc.)

For more information on Habitat for Humanity visit: http://www.habitat.org or, for more information on other alternative break trips visit: http://www.alternativebreaks.org

Center Contact
Zandra Kambysellis
Assistant Director & Program Coordinator
z.kambysellis@neu.edu
617-373-5809

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THE CENTER PROGRAMS & SERVICES Volunteer Clearinghouse NU Community Connections Volunteer Fairs E-Newsletter Service Days Alternative Spring Break Stride Rite Community Scholars Program Service-Learning Work-Study & Co-op Opportunities Calendar Links SPECIAL PARTNERSHIPS FOR STUDENTS FOR FACULTY & STAFF FOR NON-PROFITS	Center of Community Service Alternative Spring Break What Is an Alternative Break? & Why Should You Go On One? (PDF) Interested In Going On The Next ASB Trip? Contact Zandra Kambysellis at the Center of Community Service at 373-5809 for more information on how to get involved! 2004 ASB Trip to NJ The Center of Community Service sponsored the trip for and accompanied six students on the second annual Alternative Spring Break Trip. Similar to the first trip, students chose to serve with Habitat for Humanity as part of the Collegiate Challenge program. However, this group chose to serve in Paterson, NJ where the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate is purchasing from the city as much of the abandoned property as possible so that they can build or renovate homes and revitalize the community through increasing homeownership. This group, ranging from freshman to senior year, spent the week landscaping backyards, installing floor boards and siding, and meeting new homeowners and community members. These contributions paved the way for the kids to play in their yards which were previously filled with rocks and trash, and for other homes to move closer to completion. Participants in this trip stayed overnight in the headquarters and multi-purpose space of Paterson's Habitat for Humanity. After most days of rigorous, yet rewarding, service the group pitched in to make a family style dinner before play games or chat as a group for the rest of the night. On the last night the group took a trip into New York City where we had a great dinner before site seeing around Time Square. 2003 ASB Trip to PA The Center of Community Service took six students on its first ever alternative spring break to serve through the Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge program in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Collegiate Challenge is a year-round program, coordinated through Habitat for Humanity International where students from more than 700 colleges, universities and high schools will work at more than 175 sites nationwide during the 2003 spring break months. The hours of labor worked and the money donated by volunteers, help contribute to Habitat's success in providing low-income families with the opportunity for home ownership. A diverse group of Northeastern students traveled to a community outside of Philadelphia called Coatesville, PA to work on six different houses in the process of being built. We worked from March 19 through the 22nd on projects that included painting, insulation, foundation work, garbage removal, siding, and building storage space. What goes into Planning an Alternative Break? Alternative Break Checklist Form a Steering Committee Develop a Mission Set Goals & Timeline Find Worksite Begin Fundraising Begin Recruitment General Information Session Pass Applications Out Select Participants Keep Contact with Site Educate/Train Participants Continue Fundraising Finalize Itinerary Go on Break! Group Reorientation Session Evaluate Program Steering Committees Logistics • Place to sleep/eat/shower • Transportation to and from the site • On-site transportation • Group dietary concerns (veg/low salt/etc) • Tentative food menu • “To Bring” list • City, state, and regional maps • Separate on-site logistics committees (cooking, cleaning, etc) • Purchase any needed materials (gloves, masks, etc) • Distribute name/address list of all participants • Emergency contact liability Outreach/Applications • Flyers, chalkings, newspaper ads, word-of-mouth, etc • Help with application process (distribute, collect, etc) • Press releases for NU, Boston, and site papers Fundraising (for) • Transportation (rental, gas, maps, etc) • Food • Housing/affiliation fee/donation • Photocopies and training supplies Outreach materials • Needed materials (gloves, masks, etc) • Training/Reflections • Any required training for actual project • Other leadership training • Group/Individual reflections • Scheduling • Entertainment (on-site night time activities) (Bowling · Mini-golf · Beach · Site seeing, etc.) For more information on Habitat for Humanity visit: http://www.habitat.org or, for more information on other alternative break trips visit: http://www.alternativebreaks.org Center Contact Zandra Kambysellis Assistant Director & Program Coordinator z.kambysellis@neu.edu 617-373-5809
172 Curry Student Center \| Boston, MA 02115 \| Phone: (617) 373-5809 \| E-mail: communityservice@neu.edu