Alternative Spring Break group ventures to 佛罗里达 for environmental work

Sixteen 澳门网上博彩官方网站 students took an alternative approach to their spring break this year by engaging in service projects along the 佛罗里达 coast.

The students comprising the University’s Alternative Spring Break (ASB) organization traveled March 10-15 to Rosemary Beach, 佛罗里达, where they focused on environmental activities in partnership with Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance, including a reef reforestation project and helping to rebuild sealife habitats. Students also helped with a planting project at an elementary school and filled sandbags.

“Quality work over quantity is definitely a big thing,” ASB President Morgan Jaeger said. “而澳门网上博彩官方网站的学生喜欢美好的海滩日和所有这些事情, 很明显，他们有一颗服务的心.”

Northwest's Alternative Spring Break student organization traveled 3月 to Rosemary Beach, 佛罗里达, where their work included bagging oyster shells as part of a reef reforestation project. (提交的图)

ASB is an immersion program that places teams of college students in diverse cultures and communities to engage in community service and experiential learning during Northwest’s annual spring break week. 该组织还探讨了社会正义问题, economic disparity and community outreach while developing critical thinking and leadership skills.

Jaeger, 奥拉西大学商业管理与市场营销专业大二学生, 堪萨斯, was active in service work as a high school student and wanted to continue that when she arrived at Northwest. She joined ASB as a first-year student at Northwest and participated in last year’s spring break trip to Fort Myers, 佛罗里达, where students assisted with Hurricane Ian relief efforts by working at food banks and assisting with construction projects at churches and housing sites.

“Engaging in such service activities helped to create a positive impact on the 佛罗里达 community,耶格说。. “We were able to witness the differences we made through our collective effort. This service trip also encouraged personal growth in each of our members as we were able to grow our cultural and global awareness.”

In addition to providing students with an opportunity to travel and make an impact in different communities, Jaeger said ASB opens students to developing new skills and considering career opportunities they might not have thought about previously.

“Joining Alternative Spring Break offers students a chance to engage in meaningful service, gain hands-on experience and make a positive impact on the community,”她说。. “Students were able to get outside their comfort zone and have the opportunity to partake on a hands-on service project they get to carry with them for the rest of their life.”

在今年的旅行之前, ASB received financial support from Northwest’s Student Senate as well as $9,十方女人500, 致力于…的地方组织 supporting charities, non-profits and other causes in Nodaway and surrounding counties. ASB applied a portion of the funding to subsidize the costs for two students to participate in this year’s experience and will apply the remaining funds to help students join future trips.

“Receiving support from organizations like Ten Squared Women can be incredibly meaningful as they not only provided financial assistance but also validated the importance of the work we were doing,耶格说。. “This helped our organization receive resources that uplifted our mission and further encouraged our members to serve over spring break.”

The student members of Northwest's Alternative Spring Break organization during their visit to Rosemary Beach, 佛罗里达, 3月.

此外，澳门网上博彩官方网站学生事务副校长. Matt Baker recognized Jaeger and ASB for their work during Thursday’s Board of Regents meeting. Baker praised the students for their initiative and relayed feedback from Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance about the high quality of work completed by ASB.

“I’m very confident and comfortable with the work that we do to engage our students and get them connected, 但如果是学生自己领导，那就更好了,贝克说. “这将为子孙后代带来好处.”

他补充说，“澳门网上博彩官方网站谈论职业道德. 澳门网上博彩官方网站谈论连接. 澳门网上博彩官方网站谈论的只是作为熊人做自己. 我认为他们很好地代表了澳门网上博彩官方网站.”

2006年在西北成立, ASB annually gives students opportunities to participate in service-learning and volunteer projects within a different environment than their own. The goal is to provide individuals with service opportunities while positively influencing others’ lives. 近年来, 澳门网上博彩官方网站的学生跟随ASB前往威尔明顿, North Carolina; Washington, D.C.; New Orleans; Jacksonville and Panama City in 佛罗里达; as well as Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

在秋季学期, ASB focuses its activities on local needs and encourages student members to accumulate more than 20 hours of service work each semester. 学生们经常在学校做志愿者 New Nodaway Humane Society and participate in cleanup projects among other activities.