Other Trips
There are lots of groups in Ames that take college students (and sometime community members) on community service trips. These trips are not directly affiliated with Iowa State University, the Memorial Union or the Student Activities Center. Check out the options!
Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU)
http://www.cru.stuorg.iastate.edu/
Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU) periodically takes students on service trips around the country. For more information, contact Adam Koehler at Adam.Koehler@uscm.org.
Collegiate United Methodist Church/Wesley Foundation
http://www.faithwebsites.com/cumcwf/
The Wesley Foundation organizes a Winter Break and a Spring Break trip each year. Some of the past trips include working with women and homelessness in San Francisco, helping with hurricane relief in Mississippi, and working on the Heifer Project ranch near Perryville, Arkansas. The cost is subsidized by fundraisers and donations from the church and local community. Contact Jim Shirbourn for more information. Check their website for details as the date gets closer.
Habitat for Humanity at Iowa State University
http://sites.google.com/site/isuhabitatforhumanity/
During spring break ISU Habitat for Humanity will be taking two Collegiate Challenge spring break trips. We will be taking 11 people to Ocala, Fl and 11 people to Charleston, SC. We will leave on Friday, March 12 and getting back to Ames on Sunday, March 21, 2010.
On the trips we will be working from Monday-Friday and then have free time at night and on the other days to do fun activities. For more information, please contact Tawnee at trebhuhn@iastate.edu for the Charleston, SC trip or email Ashley at abuchman@iastate.edu for the Ocala, FL trip.
Living Lands & Waters (LL&W)
www.livinglandsandwaters.org/AlternativeSpringBreak/default.htm
Alternative Spring Break (ASB) is a great opportunity for students to assist with cleaning debris along the Ohio River. This year we will be working in Louisville, KY. During ASB, students will focus their efforts on removing trash and sorting out recyclable materials. Students will traverse the Ohio River both on foot and in boats while working with the Living Lands & Waters (LL&W) crew and other college students to remove debris (tires, appliances, barrels, etc.) that is polluting the Ohio River and impairing the habitat of indigenous fish, birds, and wildlife. LL&W will provide volunteers with all the necessary equipment for the cleanups including shovels, gloves, trash bags and life jackets. There is also a possibility that we will be removing Bush Honeysuckle (an invasive species) and replanting the cleared area with native hardwood trees.
Students will work with the crew Monday through Thursday from 9am to 4pm. The dates are Sunday, March 14th to Friday, March 19th. For details please check the website or contact the Programs Coordinator, Shanon Reineke, at (309) 236-5627 or shanon@livinglandsandwaters.org.
Pay It Forward Tour - Students Today Leaders Forever (STLF)
The 2010 Pay It Forward Tour will consist of a total of 38 buses and over 1,500 students from college campus across the Midwest! Collectively, the Tours will serve over 200 communities during March 2010. The Pay It Forward Tour offers a unique opportunity for students to travel and volunteer in multiple communities across the country all over Spring Break. While on the Tour, participants have the chance to learn about different social issues that are affecting different communities across the country. Each Tour takes a separate cross-country route to five different cities en route to a joint end destination. This year, from March 12-20, there will be 23 uniquely different cross-country Tours taking place, all organized by students from several Midwestern universities, with final destination choices of Dallas, Washington D.C., or New Orleans. Join hundreds of other students as they embark on an amazing adventure of service over their spring breaks! The nearest departure location to Iowa State will be two Tours from the STLF chapter at the University of Iowa heading for Dallas, Texas. All Tours are open to all students from any University.
All Are Welcome – Registration Online! For more information or register for a Tour online, please visit www.stlf.net! If you would like to visit more, email info@STLF.net or call Brian Peterson at 612-968-5757.
SHARE- Students Supporting Health and Recovery Efforts
http://www.stuorg.iastate.edu/share/homepage.html
Interested in helping victims of disaster, specifically hurricane Katrina victims? SHARE will be taking a service trip to the Gulf Coast over spring break to help with the recovery effort from the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. If you are interested in going on the trip and/or learning more about us, please contact Ashley Hackler at ahackler@iastate.edu.
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church
http://www.staparish.net/cjp/immersions.shtml
For 2009, a trip to Appalachia is being planned that focuses on rural poverty. A second trip to our sister diocese in Santa Rosa de Copan, Honduras will be available. Other trips may include but are not limited to: Washington, DC - homeless awareness and advocacy, and an inner-Iowa trip for flood/tornado relief. Other trips will be planned as interest arises. The cost varies by trip and members of the church are given first priority in selection. Check their website for more details.
Student Conservation Association Alternative Spring Break
http://www.thesca.org/alternative-spring-break/
Student Conservation Association (SCA) is planning two environmental service projects for Spring Break. Join students from all over the country in a week-long service adventure in two of the country's most spectacular parks. Visit their website for more information about these opportunities.
Volunteer in El Salvador
In 2004 the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus opened up a volunteer house in San Salvador, El Salvador. The poverty and frequent natural disasters that plagued El Salvador prompted the sisters to initiate Project FIAT International. The sisters offer alternative winter and spring break opportunities, summer trips and will accept groups of 12 or more at any time throughout the year. The groups stay in a two story residence built specifically for volunteers. They collaborate with the local villagers as they rebuild homes and roads. The volunteers tutor and provide recreational activities for children, feed malnourished babies, and offer literacy and computer training. These experiences open the volunteers' minds and hearts to new realities and bring into sharp perspective what is truly essential. In addition to the service projects, volunteers participate in various historical, cultural and recreational activities. The cost of the trip is $1,300 which includes airfare, room and board, transportation, and donations to the various service projects. If you have any questions, please contact Lynette Kyle at lkyle62@comcast.net or 215-468-6368.
