UI students serve in Northwest communities
Several University of Idaho students served in nine Northwest communities over spring break through the Center for Volunteerism and Social Action’s Alternative Service Break (ASB) program.
According to Natalie Magnus, the center’s coordinator, the spring ASB trips are weeklong domestic service trips open to all students. This year, she said the program focused on communities in the Northwest region of the United States.
The 2015 spring ASB trips were to Lima, Montana; Tillamook and Eugene, Oregon; Jackson, Wyoming; Cathlamet, Washington; and Lenore, Boise, Ririe and Idaho Falls, Idaho.
“I’ve never been, so I didn’t know what to expect, but it was a really wonderful experience,” said MaryAnn Roman, ASB student leader for the trip to Ascending Gardens Farm in Lenore.
Dave Sheldon | Courtesy
The Idaho Falls Alternative Spring Break (ASB) team worked on three Habitat for Humanity builds within the community. The team finished the house, laid the edging, placed the gravel, placed sod for the lawn and stained the deck of the house depicted. Nine ASB teams worked in Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Wyoming communities over spring break.
“Hans and Louise have this big dream to provide a program for people to come and learn to be self-sustainable,” Roman said. “It was really wonderful to be a part of helping them fulfill that dream.”
The main project the group worked on was constructing two high-tunnel, metal-framed greenhouses, Roman said. They also did a lot of minor projects, such as clearing pastures of branches and thistles to prepare for future tilling, finishing roofing and siding a small herb garden greenhouse and cleaning stables.
Not only did the group do a lot of labor work, but members also learned about different organic farming techniques and how to care for animals.
Roman said usually the day ended around 4 p.m. and her group made dinner every night. A few students brought along instruments, she said — a guitar, a ukulele and a fiddle — and they had sing-a-longs and played games. The group also did a daily reflection each evening to talk about the work they did.
“It was very fulfilling and it was nice to see that we made a difference,” Roman said.
Romy Halpern, a UI senior on the trip to Jackson, said her group stayed at the Presbyterian Church in the city. She said her group worked with the local Habitat for Humanity to build a three-bedroom house for a single family.
Halpern said going on the trip gave her the opportunity to learn new skills and connect with the Jackson community in a unique way.
Another student on the Jackson trip, Kelly Christensen, said the trip inspired teamwork and personal growth.
“What I like most about it is you’re actually able to see what good you’re doing,” Christensen said.
Natalie Magnus | Courtesy
Cailin Bary, Viviane de Oliveiva Chaves and Luke Shaw, members
of the Idaho Falls team, dig out an area to lay edging to create a garden for a Habitat for Humanity build.
Magnus said three ASB student coordinators created the trips — Brady Fuller, Courtney Stoker and Jessica Darney. They chose the locations and searched out the community partners, and Magnus served as their advisor and financial manager. They all worked together on recruiting student leaders and participants.
The trips cost $150 for undergraduate students to attend and $250 for graduates. Magnus said the reason there’s a difference in cost is because the trips are subsidized by the undergraduate fees, and although they’re open to graduates, they have to pay for their trip in full.
The UI ASB trips started in 2001, and there have now been more than 100 trips. Over winter breaks, the center runs both national and international trips at the same time, but does not do international trips during the spring.
There were nine trips this year, each composed of approximately nine students and at least one staff advisor, Magnus said. She said it was the first time students have been able to decide where they wanted to go. Before this spring, students were placed based on what they listed as the issues they wanted to work with in, among other factors.
Magnus said she received positive feedback on the trip signup changes, and said it was a great success.
Magnus said the university has yet to hold ASB trips in the summer, although they’re hoping to expand and the center is looking into the possibility of doing summer trips in the future. The next ASB trips will be held during winter break 2015.
Natalie Magnus | Courtesy
Breanne Pickens places sod at a home for Habitat for Humanity on Saturday, March 21. The team placing the sod also fenced the yard for a dog.
“There are lots of reasons students should participate,” Magnus said. “A big thing is challenging yourself, putting yourself in a new situation. It’s a great way to learn about yourself, to grow and develop and it’s just so much fun. You meet a lot of new people, and regardless of where you go you see a different culture and a population that you don’t interact with on a daily basis. It’s a blast and you learn a lot.”
Jamie Lunders can be reached at [email protected]