<p>I can't get the search function to work but I'm trying to find a good source for alternative spring breaks. My freshman DD was on a sport and was not going to be able to go on spring break but she's available now. She's missed the application deadline for the community service week at her school. I've goggled to find some sites but I was hoping to find families with experience with an organization. I've told my DD that I wouldn't sponsor a trip to Cancun, etc.. but would do a community service type trip or outdoor adventure thing. Thanks....</p>
<p>bump .........</p>
<p>I would suggest you have her contact the rec center/adventure dept if her school has one - often they run very inexpensive spring break trips - my gal went kayaking in the everglades - her cost was cheap cheap - $100 for the week - they had a blast.</p>
<p>There are a lot of church and synagogue and university sponsored groups that run trips to New Orleans to help Katrina victims, if she wants to fix up houses.</p>
<p>We are looking for a spring break destination to go as a family where my college aged son can have a good time and the rest of us can too...so that rules out those wild places where bedlam ensues. I would love a community service or adventure oriented type experience where other young people would be around, so if you find out anything...please share! </p>
<p>If it's too late for something like that, then let us know if you find other destinations that are just good fun and are geared toward our kids.</p>
<p>Try this site - The</a> Chewonki Foundation - they have many programs - maybe you could find one there - for both individual and family progams.</p>
<p>Just a couple of other ideas - students can usually 'rent' outdoor equipment - camping stuff and such - from school adventure center/rec center - so maybe a camping trip with some friends. Doing volunteering can also be a good thing to do - tho some do not provide housing.</p>
<p>For families - that may depend on your interests - camping would also be fun for some - but not for others - and it also depends on where you live - or where your student will be as well. Doing the National landmarks/parks thing can be fun and interesting too.</p>
<p>One thing that my family has done for a couple years is renting a chartered yacht or sailboat in the Virgin Islands. It is very relaxing because you have a captain aboard to deal with everything. Also, there is so many activities for everyone to do. My brother and I went wakeboarding and scuba diving nearly every day. My mom was able to go snorkeling and go to the islands to go shopping and my dad got the chance to just chill on the boat and fish..his favorite.</p>
<p>Some of the boats are quite pricey, but you would be surprised how affordable some of them are.</p>
<p>PM if you want more info! It has always been the best vacation of the year!</p>
<p>Does jury duty count as an alternative spring break? That's what my D gets to do!</p>
<p>OOO yukkkkk UCSDUCLADAD - poor kid - tho i admire him for fulfilling his public duty.</p>
<p>poor<em>ucsd</em>ucla D! In my state being in college is the only official excuse for getting off jury duty and you must reschedule it for your school vacation!</p>
<p>Thanks for the ideas everyone. My D did check with outdoor rec and they're not doing anything this year. She's also going to see if there's an active Habitat for Humanity club at school. If not, she would need 5 other people for the Collegiate Challenge for spring break. We found some opportunities not far from school, but I think she'd like to go someplace warmer. We're still investigating that.</p>
<p>For jury duty in the state of MA - being a college student is NOT an excuse to get out of jury duty - including out of state students as well. They can reschedule it tho - up to a year in the future - we have a 1 day/1trial system here - and if they can't reschedule it - then they can do a walk in jury duty - but.... for that they have to report daily until the court excuses them - it can be a real problem in MA for college kids.</p>
<p>FRESH - it sounds like your gal will find something good - sometimes other colleges let students from other schools join them for the spring break trips - so maybe check that out as well.</p>
<p>JeepMOM, I am in Massachusetts, and last time I was on jury duty a college student asked the judge to be excused so that he could keep up in his classes, and the judge did indeed excuse him (of course, he still had to show up and wait around for most of the day).</p>
<p>{I've never been able to figure out why I've been on jury duty three times and know plenty of people who have never been called even once. Sigh.}</p>
<p>Since my D is at college in another city and will likely have an out of state internship in the summer that left her with only spring break as a possibility of doing the jury duty. They explicitly state that full time students can't be excused from the duty. My D tried anyway since she won't be around in the summer but they rejected that and said she had to do it anyway. My other D ended up doing jury duty during her spring break as well. She said there were lots of students there who deferred. Sound like not a very representative group for a jury pool. I really think full time students shouldn't be obliged to do jury duty.</p>
<p>Sorry for the thread hijack.</p>
<p>FENDROCK - that is what I am talking about - but for a college student who is hundreds of miles away at school - and having to show up to be excused - can be a huge expense - believe me - been there and done that - uugghhh - you and I must be on that same list LOL.</p>
<p>OOO and Federal jury does not have anything to do with state jury duty - my gal has been called for jury duty 4 times!!! - this last time was for federal court - again she is hundreds of miles away and it is a true hardship - so she has basically had to notify them that she is no longer a state resident. It has been a battle thru out her college years. And yes - some never get called - uugghhh. In MA tho - out of state college students can be called as well - as they spend 9 months of the year within the state.</p>
<p>UCSD - I completely agree with you.</p>