A group of Linfield College students, faculty and staff traded in their spring break vacations for a life-changing week of service.
Linfield organizes Alternative Spring Break trips annually so that students have the opportunity to perform meaningful service in partnership with a nonprofit organization, learn about a specific social issue and develop strong civic leadership skills to learn the importance of being an active citizen.
This year, Linfield hosted teams in three locations – McMinnville, Seattle, Wash., and Ketchikan, Alaska. In McMinnville, a team partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build a home for a family in need, while also learning about ways to alleviate homelessness in the community. A second team in Seattle helped children by focusing on youth literacy. In Ketchikan, another team focused on learning and practicing sustainability.
Among the students on the Ketchikan team, senior Olivia Marovich had the opportunity of a lifetime while she worked for the National Forest Service cleaning up the campgrounds surrounding Balls Lake.
“We had some amazing guest speakers, learned about Alaskan sustainability and saw some unforgettably beautiful sights,” Marovich said. “One of my favorite moments from the trip was when we went whale watching in Craig. We climbed up on some high, steep black rocks and ate our lunches as we watched whales and sea lions swim by. This opportunity broadened my mind to the opportunities for sustainability all around me.”
Alternative Spring Break is in its 11th year at Linfield. Past trips have included New Orleans, La., to help restore wetlands and post-Hurricane Katrina native environments, as well as volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in Honduras and Guatemala. Students have also visited a Wildlife Conservation in Westcliffe, Colo. to work with wolves. For more information about Alternative Spring Break, contact Joni Tonn, director of the office of community engagement and service, at jtonn@linfield.edu.
