Alternative Spring Break in SoWal

SoWal Expert

Feb 6, '06 · 6:47 PM6,223

Last year, I received the info on UGA's Alternative Spring Break too late to plan anything. Attached is the letter from Volunteer UGA stating the basics on this Alternative Spring Break for the students. It is alcohol free (no jokes please :nono1

and service-focused. The students will be volunteering their time and energy working in the State Parks in SoWal. If you are able to help them in any way by providing meals, food donation, money donation, or with other services, etc (read the letter attached) please contact the peeps in charge noted on the letter. I am planning on hosting a cookout or buying pizza for them at Amore as well as allowing them to use my kayaks for an afternoon or two.

These kids are doing something very different than the kids who will be hanging off the 10th floor balcony of the Panama City Beach Holiday Inn puking their guts out. The people on this Alternative Spring Break could be our leaders of tomorrow. They are giving to our area, so the least we can do is say thank you some small or great way. Please try to find a way to make their trip more memorable.

Please take a moment to read the brief letter attached, and write these kids into your schedule.

Thanks for the consideration.

Replies

margarita brocolia

Feb 6, '06 · 6:53 PM#2

:clap_1: I hope our daughter will be interested in something like this when she is older. It sounds like a great program.

SoWal Guide

Feb 6, '06 · 7:15 PM#3

what a great concept that could be emulated by other universities or even high schools. I love it - I hope they receive support from our community. we will gladly help with food or supplies...

Beach Fanatic

Feb 6, '06 · 7:17 PM#4

I'll send a donation. Thanks for letting us know. I hope this idea catches on throughout the U.S.

SoWal Insider

Feb 6, '06 · 7:19 PM#5

Wow~ Thanks for the info.

Funnkalicious

Feb 6, '06 · 7:22 PM#6

Wow. More power to 'em. A more honest approach to spring break...at least compared to my past spring breaks. Do they do different places every year?

SoWal ExpertAuthor

Feb 6, '06 · 7:28 PM#7

Wow. More power to 'em. A more honest approach to spring break...at least compared to my past spring breaks. Do they do different places every year?

As the letter states, they are going to 13 cities in the SE USA this year. There was a group here at Grayton last year, but that was the first time I heard about it. I bet Cat or Lori, with UGA, could answer that question.

Funnkalicious

Feb 6, '06 · 7:30 PM#8

As the letter states, they are going to 13 cities in the SE USA this year. There was a group here at Grayton last year, but that was the first time I heard about it. I bet Cat or Lori, with UGA, could answer that question.

I didn't read it close enough...just went back through and re-read.
That's cool though. Good idea. Sic 'em dawgs. :clap_1:

SoWal Expert

Feb 6, '06 · 8:50 PM#9

This sounds great! Do you think anyone would notice a 4o-something year old woman in the group? I want to go on spring break!

SoWal ExpertAuthor

Feb 6, '06 · 9:57 PM#10

This sounds great! Do you think anyone would notice a 4o-something year old woman in the group? I want to go on spring break!

According to the reply email I just received from Lori at UGA, they begin their work around 8-9am every morning and end around 4pm. They have Friday off for funn. Still interested in joining?

SoWal Expert

Feb 7, '06 · 5:44 AM#11

According to the reply email I just received from Lori at UGA, they begin their work around 8-9am every morning and end around 4pm. They have Friday off for funn. Still interested in joining?

That's it? Pretty short work day! I'm in!

fishlips

Feb 7, '06 · 7:40 AM#12

poor brainwashed children, spending their school breaks working - quite enough of that after graduation! I would count down the days to the break, saving every penny, getting all the supplies needed for a full-on 6-day taxonomic dive trip to the keys, spending the too-excited-to-sleep nights before checking everything ten times over, taking turns driving all night and into the morning, wallowing in the confirmed identification of every marine invertibrate species encountered, sleeping around the fire right there on the beach, the freezing cold of the porta-potty seat on a midnight visit, the clinking of the blue crabs moving about in the cooler, and the stars, oh the stars - someone supposedly burned their bra one night and I had my very first taste of sushi on that trip - truly great memories that I would not ever deny anyone just because some bananas in their bunch were spoiled rotten - but I'm just weird that way.

Admin

Feb 7, '06 · 9:38 AM#13

I will be glad to help out - I emailed Lori from the letter and I see she just registered - welcome Lori!

:welcome:

Beach Comber

Feb 7, '06 · 9:43 AM#14

Hi everyone, my name is Lori Cruz. I'm a leader with Alternative Spring Break. We've been coming down to Grayton for 4 years now. A friend and I began the trip in 2002. Here's a little info about our trip. There is a no drug/alcohol policy, not just because we're perfect straight A students :razz:

but also because we're on a UGA sponsored trip. Camp Helen hosts us we do work in the state parks during the day. We basically work from 9ish-4/5 every day with about an hour lunch break somwhere in there. If you have any questions or have taken an interest in our trip, my contact info is lorindac@uga.edu The Alternative Spring Break website is http://www.uga.edu/volunteeruga/asb.htm just in case you're interested. Thanks!

Admin

Feb 7, '06 · 9:47 AM#15

Hi everyone, my name is Lori Cruz. I'm a leader with Alternative Spring Break. We've been coming down to Grayton for 4 years now. A friend and I began the trip in 2002. Here's a little info about our trip. There is a no drug/alcohol policy, not just because we're perfect straight A students but also because we're on a UGA sponsored trip. Camp Helen hosts us we do work in the state parks during the day. We basically work from 9ish-4/5 every day with about an hour lunch break somwhere in there. If you have any questions or have taken an interest in our trip, my contact info is lorindac@uga.edu The Alternative Spring Break website is http://www.uga.edu/volunteeruga/asb.htm just in case you're interested. Thanks!

Hi Lori - you will find our members very helpful. Just post here with any needs you have or info you require. Thanks for helping our parks. I bet you have a great and rewarding time. :clap_1:

How many are you expecting to come?

Beach Comber

Feb 7, '06 · 10:49 AM#16

Hi Lori - you will find our members very helpful. Just post here with any needs you have or info you require. Thanks for helping our parks. I bet you have a great and rewarding time. :clap_1:

How many are you expecting to come?

Right now we're still adding/dropping participants but it looks to be right around 9 or ten total. We might even have another boy this year. Generally, we only have one guy and about 10 girls so this year we might actually have two! Guys really change the dynamics of the whole trip.

Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname

Feb 7, '06 · 10:52 AM#17

Hi everyone, my name is Lori Cruz. I'm a leader with Alternative Spring Break. We've been coming down to Grayton for 4 years now. A friend and I began the trip in 2002. Here's a little info about our trip. There is a no drug/alcohol policy, not just because we're perfect straight A students but also because we're on a UGA sponsored trip. Camp Helen hosts us we do work in the state parks during the day. We basically work from 9ish-4/5 every day with about an hour lunch break somwhere in there. If you have any questions or have taken an interest in our trip, my contact info is lorindac@uga.edu The Alternative Spring Break website is http://www.uga.edu/volunteeruga/asb.htm just in case you're interested. Thanks!

Lori, this is a great thing you are doing. I wish I could be there to help.

margarita brocolia

Feb 7, '06 · 2:14 PM#18

Lori!

I love that you're doing this with the students.

Beach Fanatic

Feb 7, '06 · 4:06 PM#19

Lori. I sure hope my children get involved in Alternative Spring Break when they are in college. What a fantastic idea. I did a little google search and saw that many colleges do this and do service in different places. I think SoWal is one of the nicest places to go!

SoWal ExpertAuthor

Feb 7, '06 · 4:45 PM#20

Did Lori say mostly girls would be coming? :wub:

I will definitely have to plan on being present at any event which I host for you guys.

Welcome to SoWal.com, Lori and Cat!

You have my contact info, so let me know how I can help. I will email you with details of plans in the next few days.

Beach Fanatic

Feb 7, '06 · 11:37 PM#21

What are the dates for the Grayton gig? If I am there, will host some kind of dinner for this group. But I will make a $100 donation to the cause whether there or not. Who do I make this check out to and where do I send it? What a wonderful and generous gesture. :clap_1:

SoWal ExpertAuthor

Feb 8, '06 · 6:05 AM#22

What are the dates for the Grayton gig? If I am there, will host some kind of dinner for this group. But I will make a $100 donation to the cause whether there or not. Who do I make this check out to and where do I send it? What a wonderful and generous gesture. :clap_1:

Donna, read the letter attached to my original post and it will give you the contact name and number as well as the dates. If it is too small for you to see, just let me know.;-) (You must click on the attachment to enlarge it for reading)

Beach Comber

Feb 9, '06 · 3:16 PM#23

I'm sorry I didn't respond sooner- my professors have these funny expectations and want me to be in class. I don't get it :cool:

The dates of our spring break are March 11th (the day we arrive) to March 18th, the day we leave. We will be arriving mid/late afternoonish on the 11th and leaving (at the latest, fingers crossed) by 10 on the 18th.

Beach Comber

Feb 9, '06 · 3:19 PM#24

What are the dates for the Grayton gig? If I am there, will host some kind of dinner for this group. But I will make a $100 donation to the cause whether there or not. Who do I make this check out to and where do I send it? What a wonderful and generous gesture. :clap_1:

I'm not ignoring this question- I'm just looking for the exact answer. When I know I'll post it here. Thanks so much for your help!

Beach Comber

Feb 13, '06 · 4:16 PM#25

Here's an ASB update. I've been in contact with the Americorp leader in the state parks and she listed several activities slated for us: beaver dam removal, trail maintenance, exotic plant removal, bench and bridge installation, overlook area maintenance, and several other projects.

In other news, I've found where donations are supposed to go. All checks should be made To: UGA and the For: should say GRAYTON BEACH. Please send checks to

University of Georgia
152 Tate Student Center Attn: ASB
Athens, GA 30602

Thanks for all of your help and tips. We really appreciate it.

SoWal ExpertAuthor

Feb 13, '06 · 4:20 PM#26

Here's an ASB update. I've been in contact with the Americorp leader in the state parks and she listed several activities slated for us: ... exotic plant removal...

Lori, you may have to explain this one to me. :idontno: