Due Monday February 6th by midnight!
The Wake Alternative Break (WAB) program originated approximately 13 years ago and is loosely modeled on the nationwide Break Away program (http://alternativebreaks.org/). The volunteer experiences are not only an excellent way to serve the community, but to meet people, have a fun, and experience a different kind of Spring Break. All WAB trips of student led and while a few trips may have staff participants, most do not. The majority of trips are led by students and all transportation and on-sight leadership is performed by student leaders. Participants should discuss this with their parents in advance of applying to participate.
We are looking for passionate and enthusiastic participants for this year’s WAB trips. Students of all ages are welcome to apply, regardless of past WAB trip experience.
2010 Spring Break Trip Descriptions:
• Atlanta: (Leader: Brantynn Washington) This trip will focus on the needs of urban youth as the group volunteers with the Essentials 2 Life program serving low-income urban young people.
• Birmingham: (Leader: Kelly Chervin) This trip will focus on southern poverty through
the lens of social justice. The group will volunteer with several community agencies and will also engage in a continued exploration of race and poverty in this city that was a center in the Civil Rights Movement. Students will stay in volunteer and/or church housing and will visit the Civil Rights Museum among other sites.
• Campus Kitchen tour: (Leader: Chris Iskander) This trip will focus on hunger and food insecurity by working with 2 other collegiate Campus Kitchens (Washington & Lee and Johns Hopkins) and volunteering at the DC Central Kitchen in Washington, DC where the Campus Kitchens Project originated. Students will stay in hostels and volunteer housing in each location.
• Chicago: (Leaders: Hannah Waddell & Pamela Fazio) This trip will focus on the
needs of urban low-income youth focusing on recent immigrants and children of recent immigrants. The group will stay in a hostel and work at Casa Central, a center for young people in Chicago.
• Everglades (Leader: Stephen Lynch, Staff Leaders: Tiffany and Clay Hassler)
Students will stay at the Everglades Hostel in Florida and work with various conservation groups doing trail restoration and conservation work in several national parks. The Hostel is located in the Everglades so students will live where they are working.
• Florida Wildlife Conservation: (Leaders: Kelsey Wessels & Angie Clauda) Students
will volunteer with the Peace River Wildlife Refuge that rescues and cares for wildlife and exotic animals. The Refuge is preparing to move to another location and students will care for animals as well as prepare the other location for the animals. Students will stay in cabins on a campground near the refuge.
• Habitat West Palm Beach, Fl: (Leader: Kevin Goldsmith) Students will work with the
local Habitat affiliate to construct a house for new homeowners. Students will stay in a Habitat model home in the neighborhood where they are working.
• Mystery Trip: (Leaders Emily Burniston & Brett Kaiser) For the second year in a row
we are sponsoring a Mystery Trip! Students who sign up for this trip must be adventurous because they will not know where they are going until just before they leave. Students will receive hints throughout the semester leading up to the trip from their group leaders that help them to figure out where they might be going.
• NC Mountains: (Leader: Meagan Hoglund, Staff Leader: Shelley Sizemore) Students
will investigate Appalachian Poverty through work on or near the Cherokee Reservation in in rural western NC. They will also stay in a mountain lodge in Franklin, NC and go hiking on their day off.
•Pennsylvania: (Leader: Matthew Johnson) Also known as Spring Break in the Woods, students will experience the beauty of the Pennsylvania Mountains as they work clearing trails and doing construction to prepare Camp Sequanota for the at-risk young men that attend the camp in the Spring and Summer. Past participants have loved the camp so much that they have taken jobs as summer counselors.
Cost: All of the 2012 WAB trips cost $350. This includes transportation, housing and a meal stipend to defray the cost of food for the entire week. Applications will be accepted through February 6th. Accepted participants will be expected to pay a nonrefundable deposit on February 10th at 5pm if they intend to attend. The full payment for the trip will be due no later than Friday February 17th.
Participant Responsibilities
Once participants are accepted to participate on a specific trip, they will meet with the entire trip team 2-3 times before the trip. During these meetings the group will plan details, learn more about their volunteer assignment, and bond with their group members in order to be prepared to be the most effective volunteers possible.
During the trip, students should work hard and have fun! Take lots of pictures and notes about your experiences. Upon return, WAB groups will participate in a WAB celebration where they will creatively share reflection from their trip with VSC, other WAB participants, peers and administrators. In addition, evaluations will be conducted to determine the effectiveness of the trip, and to see if the particular location could be a potential site for future trips.
Application and Contacts
If you have any questions about the applications please feel free to contact us at
volunteer@wfu.edu. Candidates may be contacted for an interview after they submit their application.
** Applications are due by midnight on Monday, February 6th
