Breaking Good: Alternative Fall Break

By: Lana Mehiar '15

Published: October 2014

This fall break is like no other!      
    

Fall break! It is that time of the year when students a time for relaxation, sleeping, and for a few a time to join a fun program and gain a new experience. You can now participate in an exciting experience: the alternative fall break program.    

The alternative fall break program is a ten day program for Randolph College students, who are interested in embarking on a new experience and giving back to the community. The program is organized by Director of Leadership and Engagement Amanda Denny and focuses on various aspects of volunteer work including but not limited to poverty, education reform, refugee resettlement, and the environment. 

What makes this program special is that students get the chance to help others in need, and also carry the learning outcomes of this experience back with them to their own communities. Denny explains, “the intensity of the experience usually increases the likelihood that students will apply the learning outcomes from the trip to their own campus communities once they return. Some of the positive outcomes of this program for students include friendship and bonding with classmates, giving back to the community, and developing leaderships skills and exploring new interests.”

They also get the chance to grow as individuals, develop their skills, and connect with others. One of the student leaders of the program, Evan Smith ‘15, participated in the alternative fall break program in 2013. Smith went to Camp Friendship in Palmyra, Virginia where he, with the rest of his classmates, participated in a camp-wide clean up as well as the creation of banners for the camp. Some of the activities included removing old fire wood from fire pits, weeding the volleyball court, cleaning cabins, and preparing and serving breakfast to campers. His favorite part of this experience was being with all the people on this trip and bonding with the community. He also recommends incoming students to try this exciting experience, he says “it is a great way to meet people, go somewhere new and help others.”

Another student who participated in the alternative break program is Abigail Smith ‘15.  This trip took place in the spring, in Wilmington, North Carolina and included various service projects such as volunteering at the NC Aquarium. Abigail participated with her classmates in a beach sweep, removing marine debris from the coast and recycling some debris. She describes the trip as a rewarding experience that enabled her and her fellow classmates to go beyond themselves for others, she comments "All students expressed some sort of gratitude about their standard of living, and some became more aware of social issues that occur in the U.S.”

If you are interested in applying for the upcoming alternative fall break program, you should apply for it quickly, because spots fill up fast! There are no specific requirements for participating in the program, but students who sign up first have the priority considering the limited space. Priority is also for new students, but returning students are welcome to apply.

Previous programs were offered for free so students were only responsible for personal expenses. As the supervisor of the program, Denny strongly advises students to participate, she says, “Give a trip a try!  You never know how it could change your life or your perspective of how you view the world.”