Alternative Breaks at Grand Valley State University

Friday, December 9, is the deadline to submit Winter and Spring Break applications! Applications submitted after the deadline will be placed on the waiting list. Orientation for Spring Break has been combined with Incredible Journey, so don’t worry about having missed any events. We look forward to meeting AB participants on January 21, 2012!

Also, don’t forget about payment deadlines (December 9 and February 3)! Keep in mind that we have scholarships, fundraisers, and payment plans to help you afford an AB trip, but you have to let Eric Spencer (ab.gv.finance@gmail.com) know if you are delaying a payment for these reasons.

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the December Service Saturday! Feel free to contact Comprenew (www.comprenew.org) if/when you want to volunteer there again. Look out for more information regarding our next Service Saturday on January 14, 2012 (save the date).

Have a safe and happy holiday season!

For COMPRENEW!

Our last Service Saturday for 2011 will be held at the amazing one and only Comprenew. Volunteers will be dismantling and disassembling electronic waste (mostly computers) into individual parts to prevent them from ending up in landfill. It’s a great way to hang out with friendly people, gain some service hours, and take out your aggression on inanimate objects! We will meet in front of the Kirkhof Center Lobby Shop on December 3 at 9:45am, carpool to the site, and volunteer until around 4:00pm. Service will be indoors, and don’t forget to pack a lunch and a reusable water bottle! Register here to attend: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/J9GK5BM. See you there!

ALSO: We are still accepting applications for our breaks! If you or someone you know are interested in joining us for a week-long of fun, fill out the application and turn them in ASAP! Details are in the applications.

We are still accepting Winter Break applications! There are only a few spots left, so get them in as soon as possible! Winter Break applications will be accepted until Thursday, November 17, by 6:00p. The deadline for Spring Break and College of Education applications is Friday, November 18, by 5:00p. Completed applications can be submitted in the Community Service Learning Center in 1110B Kirkhof Center

Reminder for Winter Break applicants: Winter Break Orientation is this Thursday, November 17, 2011, from 9:00p-10:30p in Kirkhof Center, Room 2263. You’ll find out what trip you’re on, where you’re going, and who you’re going with! See you there!

Scholarship applications are now available in the links to the left! If you have already submitted a participant application and are in need of financial support to attend an alternative break, apply for a scholarship! Winter Break scholarship applications are due by November 18 and Spring Break scholarships are due by January 20 to ab.gv.finance@gmail.com.

The second Info Night is also right around the corner! Learn more about Alternative Breaks on Tuesday, November 8, from 8:00-10:00p in Kirkhof Center 2204 (Pere Marquette Room). Stop by whenever you can!

Lastly, participant applications deadlines are quickly approaching! Don’t forget to get them in to the CSLC (Kirkhof Center 1110B) by November 11 for Winter and November 18 for Spring!

November’s Service Saturday registration is available! Participants will be working with Mel Trotter Ministries, an organization that provides food, shelter, and clothing to community members in need. Volunteers looking to do some service and have a good time are encouraged to join. This event is open to all GVSU students, regardless of their AB experience! Sign up is available here.

Applications for our week-long trips are also available! They are available in the navigation links under “Info” to the left. And we are bringing back LGBT Awareness for spring! If you have already submitted an application and would be more interested in this trip for spring break, please send an e-mail to ab.gv.orientation@gmail.com with your name and the break you signed up for (winter/spring). Applications can be submitted in Kirkhof Center, Room 110B (CSLC). Get them in!

Applications are available under “Info” in the navigation bar to the left. Please turn in your completed applications and a $5 application fee to the Community Service Learning Center located in 110B Kirkhof Center.

Deadlines for applications are:
November 11 for Winter Break
November 18 for Spring Break and College of Education

Service Saturdays are back!

Our first Service Saturday will be held on September 24 from 10:00a-3:00p. We will be working with the Hillcrest Community Garden, taking out old plants and doing some garden work. We are hoping to have around 20 people sign up for the event since there is a lot of work to be done. The site is in Downtown Grand Rapids. Register here to sign up for the event, and we’ll give you a confirmation e-mail with the final details. Pack a lunch, bring a water bottle, dress for work, and meet in front of the Lobby Shop in Kirkhof Center at 9:30a. Please let us know if you can drive to the site. As always, contact us if you have any questions!

Join us for a fundraiser at Cedar Point! October 22-23 we will be working at Cedar Point to help raise money for AB. We will have free admission to the park and housing is taken care of! This is a weekend fundraiser and will count as two for site leaders!

There is another fundraising opportunity on October 27! Alternative Breaks will be helping the Jaycees on their haunted trail. Forest of Fear will count as one fundraiser for site leaders!

More details on both will be given later.

Alternative Breaks will be having two info nights for anyone that wants to learn more about what we do. There will be tables of all the trips that will be going out this winter and spring break (College of Education, too!). You will be able to find out details such as trip costs, types of sites, and how to sign up. There will also be an opportunity for Q&A. If you’re interested, be sure to show up on the following dates:

Monday, October 17, from 8-10:30pm
Tuesday, November 8, from 8-10:30pm

We will have a presentation from 8-8:30pm, followed by trip tables for the rest of the night. Feel free to drop by if you can’t stay the whole time. Both nights will take place in Kirkhof Center 2204 (Pere Marquette Room). Hope to see you there!

To learn more about Alternative Breaks, click the link on the left side of the page titled “Q & A’s”. It is right under the Info header!