<p>I've got a question. I was looking at the calendar and I know about Christmas break and spring break, but could a current student or parent comment on what OOS kids do for the short breaks like Thanksgiving and the fall break? Are meal plans still in effect or are there options for meals on campus?</p>
<p>At least for Thanksgiving break, I think that the meal plan is still in effect. For fall break, I believe the same is true. If not, when I visited over spring break this year, the dining halls operated as usual, but meals weren’t covered under meal plans and were more expensive, and I’d assume the same would hold true if the short breaks weren’t under the meal plan.</p>
<p>I visited over spring break and there was not a campus option open for lunch at 12:30 pm on a Friday, BUT we did walk to the nearby Claremont Village (less than a ten minute stroll) and there were a ton of options there.</p>
<p>My son is a short, and until recently, a cheap flight away so this has not been an issue for me. In the past the dean of students has had students over to her house for Thanksgiving. [Southland</a> college students celebrate Thanksgiving | 89.3 KPCC](<a href=“http://66.226.4.226/news/2011/11/24/30039/home-and-abroad-how-two-la-campuses-give-thanks/]Southland”>http://66.226.4.226/news/2011/11/24/30039/home-and-abroad-how-two-la-campuses-give-thanks/) My son was at Pomona for part of spring break, his team had a game, and a dining hall was open limited hours although meals there were not covered by the meal plan you had to pay separately.</p>
<p>My D is a sophomore and we live very far away. She came home for the first Thanksgiving break, I think most kids do that first year just to “touch base with home” after the first time away. We all realized that the trip was kind of silly with the time change and short stay - after all 3 weeks later you are home for a month. Fall Break both years she went on OTL (on the loose) trips and had a BLAST. She had never camped before and is now hooked. Spring break both years she participated in Alternabreak - a week long volunteer community service program which takes place either San Fran, LA or San Diego.</p>
<p>Fall break and Thanksgiving are only two days off, so it may not be worth going home if that involves half a day of traveling both ways. During those two breaks, Caesar Chavez day, and every weekend, the dining halls serve only brunch and dinner under the meal plan. During spring break, the dining hall is open but meals cost 6.75 for brunch and 8.75 for dinner (went up a quarter from last year). </p>
<p>OTL makes funding easily available for students to run their own hiking/climbing/etc trips. You can borrow equipment and even cars. These trips are extremely popular during breaks.</p>
<p>Here’s what happened this year in terms of dining halls over breaks:</p>
<p>Fall Break (2 days off in October): Most of the dining halls were closed from Saturday-Tuesday, but Frary and McConnell (the Pitzer Dining Hall) remained opened for Brunch and Dinner, though for shortened times. All the other dining halls opened up for Tuesday dinner.</p>
<p>Thanksgiving: All Dining halls closed on Wednesday after dinner. Collins (CMC Dining Hall) was open on Thanksgiving from 11-3 for Thanksgiving brunch/dinner. For Thanksgiving dinner, Dean Feldblum cooks a huge feast and invites all Pomona students staying on campus to join her at her house! Then Collins was open Friday - Sunday for brunch and dinner (weekend hours). All the dining halls opened up for Sunday dinner.</p>
<p>Spring Break: As mentioned earlier, the dining halls (well, Frary) was open for lunch and dinner. Your meal plan wouldn’t work, but you could use Flex money or real money to pay to swipe in.</p>
<p>Cesar Chavez Day: Dining halls open regular hours (Except for Oldenborg)</p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
<p>That helps a lot and it sounds like those breaks are a non issue practically speaking. The chance to do some trips is I’m sure fun. I’d think for my D - coming home at Christmas and Spring would be enough… maybe one other time if really homesick, but I doubt she would be.</p>
<p>D came home for only winter break and the summer. She spent Thanksgiving with her aunt and brother in LA; her classmates often were invited to friends’ homes that were nearby. For spring break, lots of kids go on trips around the area - there’s so much to do and enjoy!</p>
<p>Freshman year my D came home only at the winter break. We visited her for Thanksgiving, which we enjoyed immensely 
Sophomore year she came home for Thanksgiving and Winter. Spring break was spent both years with friends, and fall break she had to stay on campus for her sport. Never was a problem getting food.</p>