Spring Break Service Trips Tap Volunteer Spirit
Students find ways to give back, have fun and save.
GAINESVILLE, Fla., March 20, 2009 -- Booze, beaches and babes: ah, yes, spring break has come again. But this year, "budget" is another "B" word sneaking into the description for college students.
College students have always looked for good deals for spring break, said Patrick Evans of STA Travel, which bills itself as "the world's largest student, youth and budget travel organization." But value isn't just about money. A growing number have found a different way to squeeze as much value into a weeklong vacation by taking service trips, which focus on volunteer work.
The travel company offers a few packages, such as working to save sea turtles in Costa Rica ($799 for 15 days) or teaching English in Guatemala ($650 plus airfare for one week), which have been more popular this year than in past years, Evans said. Most students looking for a less stereotypical spring break experience find outlets through clubs, schools, churches or non-profit organizations.
Young Americans are already volunteering in droves. According to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 22 percent of 16- to 24-year-old Americans volunteered last year, up 1 percent from the previous year. Spring break is simply another time to combine fun and service.
Jeremy Grossman tried it once and never turned back.
The student director of Florida Alternative Breaks (FAB) at the University of Florida has taken six service trips since his first year of college, three of which were over spring break. This year's trip to Greenville, S.C., was his fourth.
"I got hooked on this my freshman year," Grossman said, "So the whole idea of spring break didn't really exist."
FAB has grown in popularity each year since its beginning at UF in 1992 with a trip to help victims of Hurricane Andrew. This year, the student group offered 15 different service trips, each focused on a different issue. The number of trips has tripled since 2001.
The group also saw more applicants than usual. Grossman said the group has speculated that the election could have hyped students on the issues, which he called "the Obama factor." The group also offered an online application for the first time.
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