Students seeking volunteer hours, a travel experience, a chance to meet new people or a resume builder can apply to participate in one of three of Bowling Green’s Alternative Break opportunities during spring break.
This year, the bGAB opportunities include cave preservation at Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky; water quality protection in Murphy, North Carolina; and refugee resettlement in Richmond, Virginia.
The deadline to apply for these trips is Jan. 17. Students can apply by joining BG Alternative Breaks on OrgSync and completing a participant application found under the forms tab.
The trips cost $275, which includes transportation by van, lodging and meals for the week. There aren’t any specific scholarships available to fund bGAB, but students are encouraged to fundraise individually, including through efforts such as GoFundMe.
Paxton McCartney is the student site leader of the group traveling to Richmond, Virginia, to help with refugee resettlement efforts.
“We will be partnering with the International Rescue Committee,” McCartney said. “While there, we will assist with any needs that the IRC has, which could include cleaning out apartments or putting together homecoming baskets and a variety of other needs.”
The Virginia group will stay in Trinity United Methodist Church.
McCartney participated in the Ypsilanti, Michigan trip this past fall break where students focused on and learned about food insecurity by taking care of community gardens and volunteering with Meals on Wheels.
Student site leader Autumn Newman also took part in the Michigan trip and is leading the group traveling to North Carolina this spring. This will be Newman’s second time participating in the North Carolina project.
“On our trip, students will get the opportunity to explore the beautiful area of Murphy, North Carolina, as they learn the importance of maintaining water quality,” Newman said. “We will be working directly with our community partner, The Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition. The HRWC will have different locations for us to work each day.”
Students traveling to North Carolina will pull and cut out invasive plant species that harm the water’s quality and replace them with plants beneficial to the water’s quality, Newman said.
“I learned so much about invasive species and water quality that I had never known before,” Newman said. “Now, when I buy plants, I am careful to make sure I know how they affect the environment before I plant them.”
Newman’s first bGAB was to Indianapolis, Indiana, where the group focused on the issue of homelessness.
The Mammoth Cave trip will be led by site leader Rachel Boote.
Students traveling to Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky will provide service on the grounds of the park.
“We’re excited to have a part in helping people enjoy the natural beauty the park offers,” Boote said.
Beyond volunteer hours and a resume builder, students partaking in alternative spring breaks often make new friends and become more engaged citizens.
“There’s a lot more to it than showing up and volunteering for a week,” Boote said. “It’s reflections, and critical thinking and problem solving toward a better tomorrow in our society, a world with less injustice and a place where we can help one another become more active individuals in our communities.”
As part of the personal growth opportunity, students are encouraged to go out of their comfort zones by participating in a bGAB.
“I never thought it would be as big of an impact as it was,” co-site leader of the North Carolina trip Hannah Lanfear said. “It really put me out of my comfort zone …. I learned a lot and made a lot of new friends. It also made me more passionate about social issues I have never really thought about before.”
Applications close on Jan. 17 for the trips that all last from March 4 to March 11 or 12. Applications are found online on bGAB’s OrgSync page. Students identify which trip they prefer when applying and can learn more about the trips on the OrgSync page.
“Some of my best friends that I have made at BG are from these alternative break trips,” Newman said. “In addition, don’t let the price scare you … we have two great people on our board who are willing to help you fundraise. Apply, apply, apply!”
