Clemson students use spring break for service in Atlanta and Virginia Beach

Published: March 9, 2010

By Hope Snipes

CLEMSON — A group of 32 students from Clemson University will spend March 13 through 19 in Atlanta, Ga. and Virginia Beach, Va. performing community service. In Virginia Beach the group will focus on working with children of deployed military parents. Students in Atlanta will help families who were affected by the floods in September.

The Alternative Break Program is a student-led effort that uses the fall and spring breaks for service-learning trips. The trips mix service and recreation. Clemson faculty and staff members will travel with the groups to act as learning-partners to take advantage of teachable moments.

The adviser for the Alternative Break Program, Zarak Khan, said students look at national issues, then pick the destinations for the service-learning trips. Khan said students chose Atlanta to help families who had been affected by winter floods. Students will repair homes and will aid residents by helping with job searches and child care.

The focus of service in Virginia Beach will be with the military population. Students will work at a local homeless shelter and work with children of deployed parents at the local YMCA. Students will help build a victory garden to celebrate their parents' service.

While most of the trips are devoted to service, students are given the opportunity to experience other activities. Students in Virginia Beach will have the chance to visit the aquarium, the beach or a theme park.

“I think that there is a misconception that when you are doing service it isn’t as relaxing as the typical spring break. I think a lot of people enjoy the service aspect of it. It is a chance to explore a new place and the trip is relatively inexpensive,” said Khan.

Students will meet new friends, have new experiences and interact with staff and faculty members outside of the classroom. It is an opportunity for students to learn leadership skills and get work experience, Khan said.

Lauren Bruneau, a sophomore mechanical engineering major from Lakeville, Minn., is a leader for this year’s service-learning trip to Virginia Beach. She also participated in a service-learning trip to Miami, Fla., where she helped out at a food bank, a low-income nursing home and the Miami Rescue Mission.

“Oftentimes college students, including myself, forget about the rest of the world and get wrapped up in their college bubble during the semester.  Alternative break is a way for me to reacquaint myself with the community and help out those in need,” said Bruneau.

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