Eco-Friendly Spring Breaks

Ah, Spring Break. Whether or not you participated in a wild excursion of your own, the mere mention of the phrase conjures up images of bathing-suit clad youth hanging out in some exotic (and warm) location with nothing on their minds but having a good time. Well, get ready for a new vision.

While the traditional spring hot spots like Panama City Beach and Cancun are still drawing the attention of today’s youth, the list now includes such exotic destinations as Puerto Rico, Costa Rica and Appalachia. Sound like an odd combination? Not if you are one of the growing number of eco-conscious students looking to use their time away from studies to lessen their impact on the environment and help preserve the planet. In a recent article for About.com, Sarah-Jane Wilton of STA Travel said, “We are finding that each year, more students are looking beyond the wet t-shirt competitions and beach scene of Cancun, and instead seeking out a different type of experience (and) even volunteering.”

And the trend appears to be moving beyond just spring break adventures. Organizations from the Sierra Club to Habitat for Humanity are organizing more and more “alternative break” programs and brands are finding new and exciting ways to be involved with the movement. The Student Conservation Association (SCA) has partnered with American Eagle Outfitters to host its second annual Alternative Spring Break program in the Grand Canyon. Says Marcie Eberhart, director of the AE Foundation, “The environment is one of the most important issues among AE customers today. We are delighted to provide an opportunity to students who want to give back during their Spring Break vacation, and hopefully inspire others to do in the future.”

In addition to SCA, here are some other organizations that are giving youth the opportunity to do more with their school breaks:

Break Away
Break Away is an organization that trains, assists and connects campuses and communities in promoting quality alternative break programs. As part of the Break Away “alternative break” program, teams of college or high school students perform short-term projects for community agencies and learn about issues such as literacy, poverty, hunger and the environment. Being completely immersed into diverse environments enables participants to experience, discuss and understand social issues in a significant way.

Cross Cultural Solutions
Since 1995, CCS has been a leader in the field of international volunteering giving more than 4,000 volunteers the opportunity to work in the areas of care giving, teaching, healthcare and community development every year. Their Alternative Spring Break program lets college students work side-by-side with local people on community-led initiatives and enjoy the adventure of traveling to and exploring another country in a safe, structured program. Students can choose from a variety of locations such as Brazil, China, Costa Rica and Russia.

Earthwatch
Earthwatch puts teens in the position of being leaders of change by offering them a multitude of opportunities to help the planet. From projects like Climate Change at the Arctic Edge where students collect field samples that shed light on the global warming threat to getting up close and personal with animals like the dolphins and whales of Abaco Island, Earthwatch is known for their unique volunteering expeditions.

Habitat for Humanity
The Collegiate Challenge is Habitat for Humanity’s year-round alternative break program that provides opportunities for students from youth groups, high schools and colleges to spend a week of their school break building a house in partnership with a Habitat for Humanity affiliate in the United States.

In addition to finding possible ways to participate in organized trips, brands can encourage college students to green their spring break travel plans by assisting them with carbon offsets, partnering with a local rent-a-car center to offer discounts on hybrid car rentals or planning a local biking/hiking adventure. Get more ideas on how you “green” your spring break experience at Planet Green.