Illinois State University
ER-12: Sustainability Immersive Experience

Alternative Spring Break: This is a week-long service opportunity in which participants travel across the country to help meet needs in various communities. Past participants have helped Hurricane Katrina victims, tutored teenage refugees, served individuals with HIV/AIDS, and more. Since its inception over a decade ago, nearly 1000 students have participated in ASB. Participants examine the root causes of the social issues they address through pre-trip education and reflection during the trip. Students meet with their team approximately five times prior to departure in March and two times after the trip. Participants learn lessons in compassion and service that cannot be taught in the classroom alone, as well as the value of serving suffering families and individuals in need Alternative Winter Break: This program is similar to Alternative Spring Break. However, this trip is international, occurs during the academic winter break, and lasts anywhere from ten days to two weeks due to travel. As a new program at Illinois State, 2009-2010 will be only the second trip of its kind at Illinois State. Students who are selected to serve on the trip participate in bi-weekly pre-trip meetings throughout first semester to help educate themselves on the language and culture of the location they will be serving.