Spring break is quickly approaching, and this year Drury will offer three options for the Alternative Spring Break program, which will occur March 9-16. The deadline for the application is Feb. 3. Students can choose to apply for service trips in Detroit, Mi., Savannah, Tn. or New Orleans, La.

What is an alternative break trip?

The alternative break trips Drury offers are an opportunity to travel to a city, unlike Springfield, in order to raise awareness of social and environmental issues through service.

“This experience is a chance to expose students to new opportunities to serve,” explained Ellen Herbig, who oversees the alternative break trips. “We do a lot of things I think people haven’t done before when we go away for a trip, and then, when we come back to Springfield, we realize there’s a lot of opportunities to do that here.”

Each trip has a different project. Unpacking Urban Poverty in Detroit works with poverty-stricken individuals. Students can expect to work with clothing, in a food pantry or by serving meals.

Animal Welfare in Savannah works with Horse Creek Wildlife Sanctuary and Animal Refuge, maintaining an area of native species. Students will also work with dogs by helping to socialize them for adoption.

Sustainable Community Building in New Orleans is geared around contributing to a sustainable environment. Urban gardening and planting trees are a large part of this service trip. Another aspect of this trip is coastal restoration.

“They have a lot of wetlands and invasive species aren’t helping. As native species disappear, the soil erodes and they lose that land,” Herbig explained. “We would be taking out invasive species or planting native species to help kinda keep everything going.”

Apart from completing service projects, Drury’s Student Government Association funds activities for students while they are in the city. The activities are based on the students’ interests. Students can anticipate “tons of fun stuff,” explained Herbig.

Photo via Drury Leadership and Volunteer Development.

More than just a vacation

By participating in the Alternative Spring Break program, students can gain meaningful skills and outlooks for the future.

Mitchell Greer participated in the 2018 alternative spring break trip to New Orleans.

“The alternative break was one of the most eye-opening things I have ever done. It really has taught me that people live very different lives from us,” he said. “We are such a small part of this huge world.”

Through service, students are able to gain a better understanding of social issues that impact communities.

“We come back with a better understanding of how we can contribute in our own community and what we can do in our free time, in our classwork and in our careers,” Herbig said.

Students who go on this trip are eligible for one engaged learning credit, which is a requirement for graduation.

The student cost for the trip is $50, and it covers housing, travel, service, and free-time activities. In order to maintain affordable trips, students will be staying in volunteer housing, community centers or churches.

Article written by Elaine Choate.