Alternative Spring Break

Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize
March 8th-17th 2006
12 students/2 staff: 420 hours

Twelve MCLA students and two MCLA faculty/staff participated in the 2006 Alternative Spring Break (ASB) trip to the Central American country of Belize. The focus of the trip was cultural immersion, community service and environmental education. Everyone participated in a four-night home stay, living with Belizean families in the small island community of Crooked Tree. During this time the group helped refurbish the local hurricane shelter / community center building. The group was based at Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary where the students went on daily cultural and environmental excursions and participated in presentations and lectures.

Navajo Nation, Arizona
March 12th-22nd 2005
8 students/2 staff: 330 hours

Eight MCLA students and two MCLA faculty/staff participated in the 2005 Alternate Spring Break (ASB) trip. The group traveled to the Navajo Nation in northwest Arizona where it engaged in a 10-day community service and cultural immersion program. Students lived with Navajo families. They worked with the community helping to provide literacy support to elementary school students, and they helped to collect wood for an elderly couple. The students were engaged in on going cultural talks and workshops facilitated by local elders and teachers from Dine College, and also visited sights of historical and cultural importance.