From the Shenandoah to South Dakota

Alternative Spring Break is a program sponsored by James Madison University's Office of Community Service Learning. Coinciding with the university's Spring Break, students contribute their own money to attend these drug- and alcohol- free trips, performing service in communities around the globe. Nearly 200 students will be deployed this Saturday - and as is characteristic with the ASB program, many more who wished to go were turned away due to high demand.

Having become a full-time JMU staff member in June*, I learned through a colleague that I was eligible to accompany students on Alternative Spring Break trips as a "Learning Partner." Each trip would have two student leaders assigned with extensive training in leading their groups. Rather than serving as a third trip leader or mother hen, Learning Partners instead act as a mature voice to help guide the students as they make their own decisions, learn and grow throughout the week. As it was explained to me during an interest meeting for potential Learning Partners, my job would be to allow the students to walk to the edge of the cliff - but not jump off.

After an application and interview process, I was selected by trip leaders Kristina Snader and Liz Toms to accompany them on their trip to a Native American reservation in South Dakota. Liz and Kristina are amazing individuals whose infectious enthusiasm can turn the heart of the greatest cynic regarding the plight of Native Americans, and I'm honored to be their Learning Partner for the week.

My next post will focus on the background of the Oglala Lakota Nation and our host agency, Re-Member. For now, with two days left to go before the trip, I've got to get back to finishing off some last minute work projects and packing!


*I work as a marketing program coordinator in University Marketing. For the past 3.5 years I have also worked on a part-time basis as a radio announcer on WMRA 90.7, the university-supported NPR station.