In the Spring of 2006 inspired by the vision of students from the American Marketing Association, CSULB students, staff and faculty answered the call to assist with efforts to rebuild the thousands of houses in the Gulf region affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Now in its fifth year, this year’s Alternative Spring Break team will travel to the New Orleans, LA area to continue in the rebuilding efforts. Our trip will be hosted by Habitat for Humanity. Since rebuilding efforts are ongoing, we may not know the specifics of our tasks until we arrive at the Habitat For Humanity volunteer distribution center.
We will depart the Beach for the Bayou on Sunday, March 28th and return on Saturday, April 3rd. The cost to students selected to participate will be $400. This will cover all necessary expenses (i.e. air and ground transportation, meals, and lodging).
All students selected to participate in Alternative Spring Break 2010 will be required to enroll in the Service Learning class EDSE 490 (G.E. Capstone).
The course will examine one of the most important events of our lives: Hurricane Katrina and its impact upon the Gulf Coast and the rest of the nation, with a particular emphasis upon the city of New Orleans. Members of this learning community will acquire a complex understanding of Hurricane Katrina not just as a severe meteorological event but as an event with very real implications for what is arguably the most unique city in America.
Applications for Alternative Spring Break are available in the Office of Student Life and Development, University Student Union room 215 or download the application. The application deadline is Thursday, October 29th at 5 PM. Reference letters may be sent electronically by the recommenders but must be date-stamped by 12 Midnight of the same date. Students will be selected through a competitive process. Those selected will be notified beginning November 2st.
The ASB application is not available for download.
The CSULB Alternative Spring Break 2010 program will work with Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge Program. This provides opportunities for college students to spend a week building a house in partnership with Habitat for Humanity affiliates.
We will start each work day at 7:30AM. We will work until at least 3:00 PM each day. After the safety briefing, you will be assigned to a home/project for the day. You will be working with a Habitat for Humanity member throughout the day. Groups may be separated depending on the project needs at the time. The homes will be in a variety of building stages. Tasks or projects for the day may include: painting, roofing, floor systems, wall raising, siding, caulking, window treatments, among other things. If you have previous experience with a certain skill and wish to utilize it, please inform your Habitat supervisor. However, this does not insure that you will be doing a particular type of work. Volunteers are placed where they are most needed. We recognize that many of our volunteers may have little or no construction experience, and we hope to make this a learning experience for everyone. Experienced Habitat members will guide you in your daily tasks.
We will be housed at the newly renovated Annunciation Mission parish hall located a short distance from the French Quarters. Each room sleeps between 6-12 people in bunk beds. Dormitories and bathrooms are separated by sex but share a common hallway. The mission provides fresh bed linens, blankets, and towels for all volunteers. All meals are prepared fresh daily. Hot breakfast includes eggs, sausage, biscuits or hot and cold cereals seven days a week from 6:30 – 7:30 AM. Lunch is served Monday – Saturday, 12:00 – 1:00 PM. If we are working too far from The Mission, you can pack your lunch in the morning. Dinner follows the New Orleans meal cycle and is served Monday – Friday, from 5:00 – 6:00 PM: A vegetarian option is available each day.
