Two new trips to Staten Island and Albuquerque and Abiquiu, New Mexico have been added to the annual Alternative Spring Break program for Spring 2014.
The program is run by the Civic & Community Engagement Center and offers service trips to five domestic locations and two international locations. This is the first year that the program is running trips to New York and New Mexico.
“These services trips are a way for Ramapo students to meet the community where it is, rather than impose ourselves upon them,” said Assistant Director for Civic and Community Engagement Center Karen Booth.
The trip to Staten Island is focused around Hurricane Sandy relief since the area was greatly affected by the hurricane a year ago.
The trip came about after World Cares Center held a flood training program in Ramapo last spring. About 20 people came out, proving to WCC that the students of Ramapo are willing to go out and help with issues like Hurricane Sandy. As a result, WCC reached out to CCEC about creating a mini alternative break to help out those in Staten Island that are still in need of hurricane relief.
Brianne Kennedy, a junior and student worker at CCEC, is very eager about those going to volunteer in Staten Island.
“Although I was not affected by Hurricane Sandy, there was an emotional effect on me because some of my friends were affected by it. This trip will create a personal connection to all of those who will volunteer.”
The Staten Island trip is available to all Ramapo College students and will cost $75, which includes transportation, meals and lodging. The duration of the trip will be from Thursday, March 20 to Saturday, March 22 and there are nine student spots available.
The second trip that was added travels to the Ghost Ranch in Albuquerque and Abiquiu, New Mexico. This trip will give the students a view of American culture on the West Coast that none of the other trips offer.
Both Booth and Brandon Martin, coordinator for civic engagement and student leadership, mentioned that the trip will be a completely different experience from any other domestic trip because there will be a different cultural experience to that of suburban New Jersey.
The trip to the Ghost Ranch in Albuquerque and Abiquiu, New Mexico is available to sophomores, juniors and seniors. The total cost of the trip is $800 including airfare, transportation, most meals, lodging and cultural activities. The duration of this trip will be from Saturday, March 15 to Sunday, March 23, and unlike Staten Island, this trip has only six student spots available.
Applications for Alternative Spring Break went live on Sept. 30 and are to be submitted by Oct. 25.
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dherrera@ramapo.edu
