Thirteen alternative breaks will engage Alma College students in building and refurbishing homes, serving meals, interacting with terminally ill children, protecting animals, and more during week-long service opportunities in January and February.

“About 10 percent of our students participated in alternative breaks last year,” says Christie Schichtel, Alma’s AmeriCorps*VISTA in the Center for Responsible Leadership. “This year we have increased the number of alternative breaks, scheduled early January trips because of the later start of the Winter Term, and offered a couple of new experiences, including a service project in Michigan and an animal protection opportunity in Florida.”

Four alternative break trips are planned for Jan. 2-9 while nine excursions are scheduled for Winter Break Feb. 27 through March 6. Alternative breaks offer service opportunities for students during their semester breaks and at other times when classes aren’t in session.

“I encourage students to find a trip that fits their passion, or find a trip that focuses on an issue they are interested in or know nothing about,” says Shepherd junior Alissa Coldwell, who served as a team leader for a faith-based Habitat for Humanity alternative break last February. “We worked on six or seven houses during our experience. It was amazing watching how people from different backgrounds interacted with each other. In our case, our group continued to meet weekly even after we returned because we were so impacted by the experience.”

Each trip of 10 to 12 students includes an Alma College faculty/staff member.

Service Opportunities: Jan. 2-9, 2010

• In Nashville, Tenn., students will work with United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee to build a wheelchair ramp for a specific person or family. The service will include interaction with the client.

• Students will assist the local Habitat for Humanity chapter in new home construction in Punta Gorda, Fla. Manual labor may include dry walling, framing, roofing or anything that goes into building a home.

• At the Peace River Refuge and Ranch in Zolfo Springs, Fla., students will construct landscaping and habitat for exotic animals that have been confiscated, abused or neglected.

• Students will plan activities and entertain terminally ill children at the Ronald McDonald House in Memphis, Tenn.

Winter Break Opportunities: Feb. 27-March 6, 2010

• In El Paso, Texas, students will work with immigrants while learning firsthand about immigration policy and border issues.

• Participants will partner with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance in Texas City, Texas, to construct and renovate homes in an area that was damaged by Hurricane Ike.

• Students will assist the local Habitat for Humanity chapter in new home construction in Hattiesburg, Miss.

• Participants will provide trail maintenance and assist with trail construction at Cumberland Trails Conference, Crossville, Tenn.

• In Knoxville, Tenn., students will assist with trail maintenance and service projects in a local Cherokee community in the Smokey Mountains.

• Participants will partner with the Genesee County Land Bank to gut and refurbish homes in Flint, a city where there has been more than 4,000 home foreclosures.

• Students will mentor impoverished youth in after-school programming in Newark, N.J.

• At the Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center in Greenville, N.H., participants will assist young people and adults who have severe physical, development and emotional challenges.

• In Boston, Mass., students will prepare meals that are delivered to HIV/AIDS clients in their homes.

The cost to students ranges from $75 to $225. The trips are funded by a continuance grant from the Lilly Endowment and participant fees.