As the second week of the term begins, the planning of spring interim getaways is well behind us. From the beaches of Florida to Dartmouth Outing Club trips and weeks spent at home visiting family and high school friends, students spend their week away from the College in a variety of ways. While I do not think that the College should dictate what students do during their free time, I believe the Tucker Foundation’s Alternative Spring Break program is an opportunity that every student should take advantage of at least once during their time at the College.
Each year, Tucker organizes six ASB trips, with frequent destinations including Denver, the Dominican Republic, Washington, D.C., Florida and West Virginia. The program also includes a trip that works alongside Habitat for Humanity in a different location each year. Each trip is centered around issues of community service and social justice, including homelessness and the political discussions surrounding migrant workers. According to Tucker’s website, some of the program’s aims are to “provide opportunities for meaningful service that introduce students to domestic and international social justice issues” and “engage participants in meaningful dialogue and reflection on these experiences.” The trips last for much of the spring interim and attract about 70 participants each after a fall application and selection process. Tucker also offers need-based financial assistance, making the trips affordable for those who wish to participate.
It’s understandable why the programs may not at first seem like the ideal spring break option, as many often feel that all they need after winter-term finals is rest and relaxation. Contrary to what one may think, though, ASB trips are not always typical volunteer experiences that require hours of purely physical tasks — if such is understandably not your cup of tea.
ASB trips offer the opportunity to learn about various issues that many volunteer experiences do not address. Although there are several community service projects in the Upper Valley, students generally participate in them while balancing classes and other commitments, significantly limiting the amount of time they can devote to these projects. Furthermore, volunteer opportunities are more often than not about giving direct service, such as mentoring or cooking. The ASB trip, on the other hand, is an immersive experience. Participants engage in activities throughout the day, and do so with fellow students interested in similar social justice issues. The West Virgina ASB, for example, focuses on environmental justice. Additionally, these trips are not limited to providing direct service. The schedule combines service, education and policy events. On my ASB trip exploring the issue of homelessness in Washington, D.C., we volunteered at various food banks, attended workshops on the rising costs of rent and met with community organizers. The experience was holistic and thorough — I doubt that I would have truly learned about the roots of homelessness had I been engaging in direct service once a week over a term. Of course, direct service can be valuable — but when given alone, it is the “band-aid” solution. Local communities will always require direct service if it is not coupled with greater systemic change. In order to address the problems in a community, education about the existing policies is necessary.
ASB trips also provide a change of pace that I believe we all need between academic terms. Although the trips are busy, they include daily time for discussion and reflection. Students get to engage each other intellectually, through conversations that include discussions on racism in the United States or questions about religion and faith. A faculty or staff advisor accompanies the trip and provides facilitation for these discussions. Participants get a chance to think more deeply about their values, about social justice and perhaps their future plans to create change in the community around them. Tucker’s program manager for service trip Adam Knowlton-Young explained in an email that one of the goals behind the ASB trip is exploration of life’s meaning and personal self-reflection. The trips do not only leave the students with a better understanding of themselves — these trips also guide their goals and purposes before starting a new academic term.
