This year, the Center for Career & Civic Engagement is pleased to offer 3 Alternative Break experiences for Winthrop University students. 

§  Mammoth Cave, KY:  Back by popular demand!  This ASB experience will allow participants to explore the adventures of service in a national park.  The focus of the ASB experience in Mammoth Cave National Park is environmental service.  You will work alongside park rangers on projects such as: preventing trial erosion, repairing damaged bridges, building new bridges, etc.  Many evenings will be spent around the campfire cooking dinner and s’mores for dessert!  There are opportunities for camping on this ASB experience.  This trip also includes a tour of Mammoth Cave and a special wild caving tour given only to volunteers.  Horseback riding, biking, and canoe rentals are available in the park, at the cost of the individual student.  Check out some pictures from ASB 09 in Mammoth Cave!

§  Maryville, TN:  This ASB experience will allow participants to work alongside those suffering from rural poverty.  The focus of the ASB experience to Maryville, TN is rural poverty.  Students will volunteer with Once Upon a Time in Appalachia, a non-profit agency dedicated to making a difference in rural Appalachia.  Service will include: volunteering at the Sequoyah Museum, rural home repairs, and special projects in Cherokee National Forest.  There will additionally be hiking opportunities, a visit to the capital of Cherokee Nation, and Cherokee education, including songs, stories, language, and beading.  This educational service experience will allow students to volunteer with students from 2-3 other colleges and universities.  Whitewater rafting, zip-lining, rappelling/rock climbing, and horseback riding are available, at the cost of the individual student. 

§  New York City: This ASB experience will allow participants to serve in a variety of capacities in Staten Island, NY.  The focus of the ASB experience to New York City is urban poverty.  Students will volunteer at various service sites in New York City with Project Hospitality, a non-profit agency dedicated to fighting poverty in metropolitan New York.  Service projects include: volunteering at soup kitchens, food pantries, emergency homeless shelters, etc.  There will be educational seminars on homelessness, substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS in NYC.  There will also be a casual Positive Living Dinner where volunteers eat and fellowship with those suffering from HIV/AIDS and poverty in NYC while playing games and listening to music.   There will be two days available for sightseeing throughout New York City.  These include visiting the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Times Square, Central Park, etc.  Unlike the other trips, this one will be from March 14-20.  

Please review the ASB 2010 application for more detailed information on the trips including prices, fundraising, etc. 

To learn additional information on any of these experiences, please attend the informational session in Owens G01 on Thursday, November 12 at 11am.

Please be advised that all applications are due prior to Thanksgiving break, on Tuesday, November 24^th.  Applications received after that date will be reviewed according to space availability.

If you have any additional questions, please contact Megan Augustine at augustinem@winthrop.edu