October Alternative Breaks

REBECCA KENNY
PHOTOGRAPHER

KYLE CHOKAS
COPY EDITOR

FILIPPOS MOURIKIS
STAFF WRITER

10/14/2024

Fall Break came and went quickly over the weekend of Oct. 4 to Oct. 8, and with it, the Center for College and Community Engagement supported three different Alternative Break options.

Alternative Breaks are a great way for students to get involved in a local community or a community they may not have been previously exposed to.

“[Alternative Breaks offer] a lot to a student. [It’s] something to go on your resume, something that you can look forward to every break, [and there is a rewarding factor],” said Cara Hofstra (’26), the Secretary and Social Chair of Alternative Breaks.

Over the most recent five-day break, the three options that were offered to students included Environmental Stewardship at Forrest Hill Nature Center, Animal Welfare at the Karma Kat Café and Educational Support at the Children’s Discovery Academy.

Each Alternative Break offered Alma College students the chance to further engage with their community, learn about further volunteer opportunities and work together to complete their volunteering.

“I think this experience helped me to develop important skills like working well with others, engaging with your community and doing what you can to aid those who might need it,” said Courtney McPhail (’25), who volunteered at the Children’s Discovery Academy in Alma during her Fall Break.

The Children’s Discovery Academy trip offered students the opportunity to organize educational and childcare materials in support of the academy as they prepare to move to a new location, soon.

While at the Karma Kat Café, students cleaned and worked on a plethora of maintenance projects in support of the cat rescue. They also spent a lot of time socializing and caring for the many animals located at the Karma Kat Café.

“I would recommend [participating in Alternative Breaks] to other people since it was very fun to work with the team from Alma,” said Wassim Guerfali (’27), who volunteered at the Karma Kat Café in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

Finally, the third option of attending the trip of The Forest Hill Nature Center focused on removing invasive species from the premises, planting trees, creating educational gardens and sorting seeds.

There were many benefits for the students who attended one of the three offered Alternative Breaks this Fall Break. The skill building opportunities picked up and the chance to learn how to communicate with local organizations is truly an invaluable asset associated with Alternative Breaks.

“It can be very satisfying and empowering to see that your actions can make a meaningful difference. Participants also often come to really appreciate the nonprofit agencies that host Alternative Breaks – to learn about what they do for the community and how students can get involved,” said Carla Jensen, Co-Director of the Center of College and Community Engagement.

Students interested in going on a future Alternative Break are encouraged to visit the Alternative Breaks social media pages or scan the QR code on the posters hung around campus.