Alternative Spring Break Vacations

The common spring break stereotype involves bikinis, beaches and booze. However, more and more college students are choosing alternative spring break options that involve community service. You can choose from local or international destinations, and you can help others while still having a fantastic time and making lifelong friends.

Finding an Alternative Spring Break Destination
One of the most popular destinations for service is New Orleans. While the city has come a long way since the hurricane, many parts of the city are still in need of rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina. To get started finding how you can help, visit Habitat for Humanity.

If you are more inclined toward conservation and spending time in the great outdoors, consider helping parks build hiking trails. You can find locations by state at americanhiking.org. Click on a state on their map, and you can choose locations based on the work level you can handle, ranging from moderate to strenuous.

But you don't have to go far to find organizations that would be grateful for your help. Simply visit volunteermatch.org or usafreedomcorps.gov. Let them know your interest and where you can volunteer, and you will receive a listing of organizations that could use your help.

For international volunteer opportunities, many travel agencies combine sight-seeing with service. Crossculturalsolutions.org offers trips to several nations and has a one-week program, Insights Abroad, which is suitable for alternative spring break students. Destinations include Costa Rica and Morocco. But you don't have to worry about the travel details: They handle the planning, and you handle the volunteering.

What You Might Be Doing
Much of the work during alternative spring break programs is basic. For legal reasons, you may not be able to perform all the work that goes into rebuilding houses. Repainting homes and buildings is a common task, or you may be sorting through clothing and food donations so they can be distributed to those who need it.

When you apply for a trip or arrive at your destination, depending on the situation, let organizers know if you have special skills. Speaking a second language or knowing how to repair a database or computers can come in handy.

What You Get Out of It
While some students are reluctant to try alternative spring break programs because they think they will spend the whole time working, that isn't entirely true. You can become much closer with your fellow volunteers on the trip than you would have if you went to a standard spring break spot, and you will have the chance to make new friends in the community that you serve.

Many college campuses offer Alternative Spring Break programs. If you have decided to perform community service this year, but you don't have one of these programs, you can see how easy it is to arrange your own trip.