Alternative Spring Break 2017 March 7 11 Blue Ridge Assembly Black Mountain, NC
Alternative Spring Break 2017 Participant Packet The IMPACT program at USCA encourages students, faculty, staff, and the community to collaborate on meaningful community service projects and promotes responsible active citizenship through involvement in such projects such as alternative break trips. USC Aiken Alternative Breaks is an Associate Member of Break Away, a national nonprofit organization, whose mission is to train, assist, and connect campuses and communities in promoting quality alternative break programs that inspire lifelong active citizenship. Greetings! Join us as we spend time serving the community of Black Mountain, NC and visiting the Blue Ridge Mountains for the USC Aiken Alternative Spring Break 2017 March 7 11 th. Selected Trip Participants must read and acknowledge the information in this packet as well as submit a deposit along with the contract at the end of this packet to officially register for the trip. IMPACT coordinator and Student Trip Leader: Destiny Combs, dcombs@usca.edu Apply in the Student Life Office by Friday, February 10 th Selection process will be announced no later than February 16 th Participant RATE - $225 per trip participant Includes all lodging, transportation, breakfast and lunch on work days, prearranged service projects, trip guide. Costs not included are expenses for evening dinners and activities. Dinner options will be discussed at first group pre trip meeting! Interest meeting on February 2 nd, 3pm in the Palmetto Room at the Student Activities Center.
Tuesday, March 7 th Daily Schedule 11:00 am - Leave USC Aiken Student Activities Center Lot 3:15 pm Arrive at Ingles Grocery Store before checking in. Purchase breakfast (4 days) & Lunch (3 days) items for the week. (550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC 28711) Suggested breakfast items for a quick breakfast - Oatmeal packets, cereal, milk - Granola bars, fruit - Pre packaged Muffins, frozen biscuits, breakfast burritos, etc. Suggested lunch items for brown bag Lunch - Bread and condiments (mayo, mustard, etc.) for sandwiches - Sandwich options (ham, turkey, PB&J, etc.) - Snack items (apple, banana, granola bars, chips, cookie) - Bag to bring it in 4:30 pm - Arrive to check in at YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly (84 Blue Ridge Assembly Dr, Black Mountain, NC 28711) 5:30 pm Leave for dinner somewhere near Black Mountain or Asheville. 9:30 pm arrive back at YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly. Prepare lunches for work and free time before lights out by midnight. Wednesday, March 8 th 8:30 am Meet in Lobby of YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly to depart for work site. Breakfast should already be consumed before departing for work. Remember to bring water bottle, tennis/close toed shoes for work, PACKED lunch, sunscreen, light jacket, etc. 9 am 3:30 pm working on trail maintenance with guide. Leave by 3:30pm to go back to cabin. 6:00 pm Leave for Dinner & activity (TBA) 9:30 pm arrive back at YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly. Prepare lunches for work and free time before lights out by midnight.
Thursday, March 9th 8:30 am Meet in Lobby of YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly to depart for work site. Breakfast should already be consumed before departing for work. Remember to bring water bottle, tennis/close toed shoes for work, PACKED lunch, sunscreen, light jacket, etc. 9 am 3:30 pm working at Black Mountain Children s Home. Leave by 3:30 pm to go back to cabin. 6:00 pm Leave for Dinner & activity (TBA) 9:30 pm arrive back at YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly. Prepare lunches for work and free time before lights out by midnight. Friday, March 10 th 8:30 am Meet in Lobby of YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly to depart for work site. Breakfast should already be consumed before departing for work. Remember to bring water bottle, tennis/close toed shoes for work, PACKED lunch, sunscreen, light jacket, etc. 9 am 12 pm working at Veterans Restoration Quarters. Leave by 3:30pm to go back to cabin. 12 pm 1pm Leave VRQ, eat lunch. Drive to Manna Food Bank 1pm 3pm Work at Manna Food Bank. Leave by 3:30pm for cabin. 6:00 pm Leave for Dinner & activity (TBA) 10:00 pm arrive back at YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly. Prepare lunches for work and free time before lights out by midnight. Saturday, March 11 9:30am- Meet in Lobby, check out. Eat last breakfast meal before departure. 9:45am Last activity before leaving for Aiken. Group will select activity in advance. 12:30 1:00 pm leave for USC Aiken 4:00 4:30 pm Arrive back on campus What to expect? Service Work days will be from 9am 3:30pm with one break in between for lunch. Remember to bring comfortable outdoor attire including closed toed tennis shoes, bug spray (if needed), sunscreen, water bottle, bagged lunch, and a great attitude! Based on registration numbers and availability, our service projects could include and range from working with Veterans Services & Crisis
Services, Black Mountain Home for Children, and trail clearing and maintenance for the Blue Ridge Parkway! Lodging The group will be sharing one large cabin at the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly at Black Mountain, North Carolina. The cabin sleeps 8 people with 6 single beds, 1 bunkbed, 1 shower/bathroom, 1 kitchen, and living room area. Males and females will not be sharing a room but all guests will share the bathroom. Please keep shower/bathroom time at a minimum. Lodging Address YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly 84 Blue Ridge Circle, Black Mountain, NC 28711 Phone: 828.669.8422 The cabin will include a refrigerator, electric range, microwave, coffeemaker, flatware, basic cooking utensils dishes as well as blankets, pillows, and bedlinens. Towels and soap are provided but each guest should bring their own shampoo/conditioners. Packing List In Your Suitcase that will not be accessible during transportation Shampoo, Soap, Lotion, Etc. Extra Bedding (Linens and covers will be provided, bring an extra blanket if you tend to be cold) Hygiene products (Hairbrush, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste) Shower Sandals Loose, comfortable, easy to breathe in (cotton) clothes to wear while volunteering (3 sets) Clothes to wear while out (participants usually bring one pair of jeans, one pair of shorts, additional shirts) Comfortable walking shoes for activities Work clothing (suggest looking at weather in advance. Could possibly need long sleeves, etc.) Work shoes (tennis shoes, no open toe footwear) Plenty of socks (5-7 pairs recommended) Clothes to Sleep in (participants normally sleep in their work clothes for the next day, shorts/tshirt) Cell phone/tablet chargers Something comforting that reminds you of home Roll of toilet paper (just in case!) Umbrella/raincoat possibly Water bottle Gloves (if you have them)
Carry On Items for the vehicle Comfortable Shoes Pillow Hat (some type of head covering, beanie) Cell phone Books, tablets, headphones, etc. Allergy medicine, prescriptions, etc. Money for gas stops, dinner, evening activities, etc. Any additional purchases not included with general trip requirements previously paid for. (USCA is not responsible for keeping up with your personal items) Pre-Trip Meeting All trip participants must attend the pre-trip meeting with the IMPACT student coordinator, Destiny Combs, before departure of the trip to introduce other participants as well as go over minimal trip expectations and general outline. The pre-trip meeting is TBA currently but will be announced to all participants soon. Generally, trip meetings can last 30-45 minutes and are usually late evening on a Monday Thursday on campus. Post Trip Survey As a courtesy, all trip participants are encouraged to complete a trip survey that we will use to evaluate for future purposes. The trip guide will give these surveys out at the completion of the trip upon arrival on March 11 th. Application and Payment Below is the participant application. The application is due to the Student Life Office by February 10 th. All applicants are committed to the final $225 cost and if chosen, must submit a deposit of at least $50 due by February 16 th. Trip participants must attend a pre trip meeting with the trip leader. Final payment of any remaining balance is due no later than April 16 th. A hold may be placed on your student account until payment is received.
USC Aiken Alternative Breaks Participant Application Information Full Name: Major: Phone: USCA Email: Year (First Year, Second Year, Third Year, Fourth Year, Graduate): USCA ID #: Date of Birth: Gender (optional): Ethnicity (optional): Are you proficient in a second language? Yes No Please list any languages in which you are proficient. Campus Involvement (clubs, groups, activities, committees): Have you been on an USCA-AB trip in the past? Yes No If so, which trip(s)? How did you hear about USCA-AB? Please list any service experiences you have had: My signature below authorizes an official check of my university records to ensure I am a student in good academic and disciplinary standing. It also certifies I have read, understood, and agreed to the duties of the USC Aiken Alternative Breaks Site Leader position. I agree to follow all USC Aiken Alternative Breaks policies and code of conduct as a member of this program and understand that failure to follow policies will result in dismissal from the program. Signature: Date:
***Please submit answers to the following questions*** 1. Why do you want to spend your break with USC Aiken Alternative Breaks? 2. Describe a service experience that impacted you. 3. What does active citizenship mean to you?
2017 Alternative Spring Break Contract 1. If selected, I understand that as a representative of the University of South Carolina Aiken, I will stay with the group during 2017 Alternative Spring Break trip and return with it, via transportation provided by the college/university for entire duration of the trip. 2. If selected, I will attend all pre-trip, on-site and post-trip group meetings. 3. If selected, I will attend and participate in all those aspects of the trip which are required by my school. I understand that I am expected to be on time and stay during the entire trip. 4. I realize that I am a representative of the University of South Carolina Aiken. As such a representative, I understand that any actions I take on the Alternative Break trip will positively or negatively affect people s opinions about me and my university. 5. I understand that I am subject to abiding by the USCA Student Code of Conduct and will engage in behaviors that are responsible and mature. Use of alcohol, drugs, or other illegal substances is not permitted. Abusive or inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated and may result in dismissal from the trip as well as going through the USCA judicial process. If I am asked to leave, I understand that I must reimburse the organization and my college/university for any expenses they incurred for my participation in the trip and I will not receive reimbursement for my payment for the trip. I also understand that I will be responsible for paying for my transportation back to USCA. 6. If selected, I understand that by signing this contract I agree to pay the total fee by April 16 th with a minimum deposit/down payment of $50 to pay up front upon registration. I understand that if I do not pay my remaining registration fee (total of $225), my university account will be put on hold and I will not be permitted to register for classes, graduate, or receive a copy of my transcript until I pay my remaining balance. 7. I recognize that if I am selected and cancel my participation before or during the trip, I will still be liable to pay for the total amount of the trip and the deposit is not refundable. 8. I hereby certify that I am a duly enrolled student in good academic standing at the University of South Carolina Aiken, and grant the Student Life Office permission to check my academic status. Participant Signature Print Date USCA Email Phone Number Student ID # (FOR OFFICE USE ONLY)
USC Aiken Representative: Date: