Alternatives to Mexico for Spring Break Vacation

Volunteering and Activism Worthwhile Ways to Spend Break

Feb 24, 2009

The US State Department has issued warnings against college students traveling to Mexico for spring break this year. There are many great alternative vacations available.

Cancun, Mexico ranked number one choice for American college students to spend spring break again this year. According to the U.S. State Department, more than 100,000 American teens and people in their early twenties travel to resort areas throughout Mexico during spring break every year. There are warnings being issued this year against travel to these areas due to criminal activity. There have been daytime shootouts in public areas in border towns. Criminals have followed and harassed Americans driving.

Alternative Spring Breaks

For those suddenly left without a spring break plan in light of this news, there are plenty of worthwhile alternatives. Instead of sitting in the sun getting wasted and regretting it later, they can put their time to good use and do something worthwhile by volunteering their services or becoming activists for a cause they believe in.

For students who care passionately about wilderness areas, this is the ideal vacation. Help preserve and protect the open wilderness areas. The American Hiking Society has sent hundreds of volunteers into some of America's most sacred areas to revitalize trails. Thousands of vacationers have raked, shoveled, trimmed, lopped and chopped hundreds of trail miles that would otherwise be unsafe for travel.

Now in its third decade, American Hiking Society's Volunteer Vacations sends over 100 trail volunteer teams into America's National Parks, Forests and rangelands each year. Participants enjoy two-week vacations under the stars and communing with nature while restoring deteriorating trails and building new ones.

Volunteers don't have to be in great shape to participate. The work on trips rated "easy" consists of simple trail maintenance requiring no chopping or whacking. The cost is only $95 per week for members of American Hiking Society, $125 if not. Choose from over 100 opportunities. Meet folks from 18 to 80. Volunteers will return home knowing they've done a job well and that they have preserved something precious.

United Way Alternative Spring Break Program

The 2009 United Way Alternative Spring Break Program will bring hundreds of young people volunteers to make a difference in communities across the country.

On the Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coasts, volunteers will assist with reconstruction efforts after the severe hurricanes of the last three years. From Katrina to Ike, families, businesses and communities have been decimated. Volunteers will play pivotal roles in helping communities to rebuild.

United Way Alternative Spring Break spans a three week period from February 28th through March 21st

The cost of the program is $150.00. Participants are also responsible for their own transportation to the site. However, United Way does provide fundraising tools to help individuals raise the money needed to attend.

The ASB application is available at ASB 2009. Get a better sense of what ASB has been and what it is all about, learn more about ASB 2008 at the ASB blog or the 2008 photo gallery. Call if there are any questions or please email ASBquestion@unitedway.org or phone 703-836-7112 Ext.375.

Habitat for Humanity

When storms slammed Gulf Coast states in 2005 , Habitat for Humanity reported that an "extremely generous outpouring of support" from students made a big difference during spring break. Habitat spokeswoman Molly Parrish says that 1,531 students have volunteered to rebuild houses in hurricane-affected communities. Volunteer to build affordable homes with Habitat for Humanity

Anti-Death Penalty 2009 Alternative Spring Break

The purpose of 2009 Alternative Spring Break is to bring students to Chapel Hill, North Carolina for five days of anti-death penalty activism, education and entertainment. Join them March 16-20, 2009 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina for the award-winning Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break

Registration is free. There is a nominal fee of $20 for housing which covers the entire week.

In conclusion

Just because Mexico is out of the picture for this year, doesn't meet that spring break can't be a profitable, worthwhile and fun time.

The copyright of the article Alternatives to Mexico for Spring Break Vacation in Volunteer & Eco Adventures is owned by Maryellen Grady. Permission to republish Alternatives to Mexico for Spring Break Vacation in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Feb 25, 2009 8:59 AM

Guest :

This is a great article. I've always wished that I'd at least thought about an alternative Spring Break...maybe with an organization like Habitat for Humanity. Can't deny that I had fun when I went to Jamaica my senior year, though...here's another article with some really good ideas: http://www.findingdulcinea.com/guides/Travel/Alternative-Spring-Break.html