MIT Alternative Spring Break

This coming Spring Break we are planning on taking on more trips than we did last year. We're hoping on being able to field 5 trips to locations around the US:

1. San Francisco, CALIFORNIA - $650

Issue: Poverty and at-risk populations (homeless youth, chronically ill, and seniors)

Organizations: Glide Foundation, St. Anthony’s Foundation, Project Open Hand, SF Food Bank, SF Suicide Prevention, Faithful Fools Street Retreat

Project: Volunteer as a group of 8-10 at a number of organizations (work with different organization every day) that focus on helping homeless, chronically ill, and disadvantaged populations. Reflective guided tour (street retreat) of San Francisco and its disadvantaged districts on the last day.

2. New York, NEW YORK - $200

Issue: Energy/Sustainability

Organization: NY Sun Works (http://nysunworks.org/thesciencebarge): A sustainable urban farm and environmental education center on the Hudson river

Project: Build a new roof for the greenhouse, help maintain the solar and wind energy systems and education kids on sustainability and green energy

Volunteering on the Science Barge which is a floating Hydroponic Farm. . We would also help educate kids on sustainibility and green energy.

3. St. Louis, MISSOURI - $350

Issue: Special Education

Organization: Epworth Schools (http://www.epworth.org/programs/school.php): An organization that provides special education services for adolescents diagnosed with severe learning disabilities, emotional disorders and/or behavioral disorders to help them successfully complete their education.

Project: Work with different classrooms throughout the week.

4. Sunrise, FLORIDA - $350

Issue: Healthy Lifestyles

Organization: FLIPANY (http://flipany.org/): An organization that works to combat obesity and promote healthy lifestyles

Project: Healthy Lifestyles Camp for disadvantaged kids (ages 8-14) that involves mountain biking, sports, healthy eating and making healthy snacks, leadership skills, environmental education, and more!

5. Eureka Springs, ARKANSAS - $600

Issue: Wildlife Protection

Organization: Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (http://www.turpentinecreek.org/): An organization that provides a lifetime refuge for abandoned, abused, and neglected "Big Cats"

Project: Working with the wildlife refuge to help take care of the animals and building a new enclosure to protect the big cats.

This coming Spring Break we are planning on at least two trips. One will be to St. Louis, MO working with the Epworth School. We are also planning a trip to New York City, working with POTS in the Bronx. We may also plan a trip to New Orleans. We are right now gauging interest in such a trip, that would probably involve service projects similar to Historic Green from last year.

We worked with with Historic Green to build green homes and public spaces in parts of New Orleans damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

We worked with a few groups in San Francisco, including the Homeless Prenatal Program, Meals on Wheels, San Francisco Food Bank, and the Surfrider Foundation.

We worked with Humane Borders offers humanitarian assistance to those in need through more than 70 emergency water stations on and near the U.S.-Mexican border.

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit housing organization building simple, decent affordable housing in partnership with people in need.