Alternative Spring Breaks
By Melanie Chambers • Bankrate.com

Spring break may be coming but not every student dreams of hitting the beach.

"I wanted to do something different from the typical 'go away, party a lot' college vacation," says Wiktoria Kagan of her trip teaching English in Dominican Republic in 2009.

Kagan was part of a group of 25 Western University students who participated in an Alternative Student Break, or ASB, program. Instead of a week's worth of inappropriate Facebook photos and indulgence, Kagan and her peers spent their week helping others -- and, in turn, discovered a new part of themselves.

"I am much more aware of, and personally invested in, global issues. Being interested in these matters and having my own experiences has given me plenty of opportunities to network with other people also involved in such initiatives, and they have been some of the most inspiring people I have ever met," she says.

The benefits of an ASB program extend beyond the week away. Many students also return wanting to expand their studies to include more service learning or change their career paths entirely.

What is ASB?
Alternative Spring Break is a week-long service learning program offered at various universities throughout Canada, though mostly in Ontario and Quebec. During the trip, students have the opportunity to work locally in their community or abroad in places such as Peru, Dominican Republic, Panama or New Orleans. Students' work ranges from career development, affordable housing, education or health care.

After acceptance in early October, students participate in a series of workshops preparing for the experience before their February departure.

The costs
While students are going away to work, the trip itself isn't free. Kagan's trip to Dominican Republic cost about $1,600, which included airfare, accommodation and meals. Students travelling internationally should also factor in about $200 for vaccinations and any spending money they wish to bring.

Whether volunteering locally or internationally, students are expected to pay for their trips entirely. Obviously, the farther you travel, the higher the cost. For example, Western students working locally in London, Ont., spend $300; however, travelling to New Orleans is about $900 while Panama or Costa Rica costs $2,400.

Rich SwamiNathan, coordinator of the ASB program at Concordia University in Montreal, observed that many students living at home and not paying rent often chose the international trips, while it's more accessible for those living on their own to participate in local projects.

At the University of Ottawa, where the program is being launched for the first time this year, the program only includes local volunteer projects.