Rookie Vagabonders

For most people, the month of March marks the beginning of a new season, bringing with it the sunny faces of daffodils as they emerge from the soil and the sweet serenades of returning little birdies refreshed from their southern vacation.

One way to spend your spring break (MTVU)

But for the average overworked, sleep-deprived college student, March means oh so much more. You know what I’m talking about kids, say it with me now: SPRING BREAK! WoOoO! That’s right, time to get CrAzY with thousands of other twenty-somethings looking to get into some good old-fashioned shenanigans. What was that? You think I should dance on the bar with my posse of female friends? SURE, WHY NOT?!

But wait…didn’t I mention in my first post that we Generation Y-ers are more civil-minded and enjoy volunteering? Why, yes I did, and it looks like this trend might actually be true of our spring break choices as well. According to the Student and Youth Travel Association, college students are beginning to forgo their traditional part-ay trips to embark on a number of alternative, socially responsible spring break excursions.

What makes these trips so attractive to college students is the fact that they create a vacation experience out of volunteering. So, for those still looking to get a killer tan and enjoy beautiful beaches, why not go work with sea turtles in Costa Rica or teach kids how to surf in South Africa? If you want to stay more local, there’s always the possibility of working on a Native American reservation or helping with the relief efforts in New Orleans (and you can still let loose on Bourbon Street after you’ve put in a good days’ work!)

There are a ton of organizations out there that are jumping on this trend, but here are some of the best I found:

i-to-i logo

1.) i-to-i Volunteer Vacations: these guys offer a huge variety of international volunteer excursions that range from building homes in Vietnam to animal wildlife rescue in Ecuador. As an added bonus, a lot of these trips allow you to work in your perspective field and you may even be able to receive college credit! The only drawback is that these trips don’t come cheap, but the experience alone may well be worth the cost. To learn more about what i-to-i is all about, check out what Crislip has to say, or you can browse all their righteous trips for yourself.

2.) MTV: yup, the same MTV that promotes wearing whip cream bikinis and singing horrible karaoke in the name of public humiliation (and cash prizes). MTVU, their college channel, has teamed up with United Way in recent years to bring students to New Orleans. If you want to learn more about how to volunteer and possibly live out your dreams of being on MTV, check out here for all the deats.

And of course, there’s always Habitat for Humanity. It’s an oldie but goodie and they are constantly expanding their building destinations to include more international locations. Also, you might want to check out what your college offers in terms of alternative spring break options, because this is a great way to volunteer and make new friends at your school. As I say, people who volunteer together, stay together!

So vagabonders, before you book that all inclusive resort package in Panama City next year, why not try an equally awesome experience that you can also feel good about? And the best part is, you can still bring that sunscreen, new bathing suit and six pack with you, but just make sure you leave room for your passport, bug spray and of course, the knowledge that you’re lending a hand to those who need it most.

Have a great spring break everyone! I’ll be reacquainting myself with winter back home in the burbs of Boston.