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Students Learn New Skills on Alternative Spring Break

Lisa Watson McCarty
Publisher

Since 1990, students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have abandoned the luxury of sandy beaches to travel across the country and volunteer during their precious week of spring break.

According to the campus' news service, Alternative Breaks, a program sponsored by the Morgridge Center for Public Service at the University of Wisconsin, challenges hundreds of students every year to step outside their comfort zones, pick up a shovel, hammer or kitchen apron and experience hands-on volunteer experiences in environments drastically different from their home.

This spring break, Alternative Breaks scheduled 12 trips ranging from a wet shelter in Boston to the devastation in New Orleans to the Everglades in Florida. The leadership program at the university has always been a program organized by students for students.

This year 10 students from the University of Wisconsin-Madison elected to help some construction projects at a Scott County attraction that most had never heard.

Natural Tunnel State Park hosted a college volunteer group working in the park from the University of Wisconsin last week and the students learned much about history and even more about a rewarding experience.

"Most college students spend their spring break on vacation at some place warm or going back home to work," explained Megan Krager, Education Specialist at Natural Tunnel State Park. "These students are using their time to help make a difference in the park and for the community. These students have worked very hard all week and will be taking more then just memories home. They will be taking home with them new skills they have never thought about before from using an air nailer for construction to landscaping and much more." The group arrived March 15 and headed to their respective "job sites" on Monday morning, March 17. They worked from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday before returning to Madison early Saturday morning (March 22). When the rain forced them to abandon their respective duties, the volunteers went on a field trip of sorts to Lee County-based Old Virginia Log Homes to see first-hand log home construction.

Krager explained the students would be constructing an 18th century spring house near the Wilderness Road Blockhouse, working in resource management around the playground area and building an addition to the barn for a future educational programs.

Students helping with the springhouse project explained the Alternative Breaks process at their college.

"I thought we would be picking up trash when I found out I was going to a state park but this is so much better," said Caitlin Shanahan, a 19-year-old biochemistry major from Milwaukee.

Although Scott County weather has been somewhat unpredictable this year, the Wisconsin students loved the "warmer" climate and a change to pitch in and help.

"I only applied to programs that were nature-related," explained Eleanor Johnson of Madison, a 20-year-old anthropology major.  "I wanted to volunteer in a place a bit warmer than Madison and this weather has been a nice change." The springhouse group was close to finishing their project but still had the chinking and roofing yet to go by mid-morning on Friday. By the day's end, they had finished the historic replica construction.

Nearby at the playground, Amanda Strandt, a 22-year-old mathematics major from Greendale, Wis. spread mulch over a new protective covering. The oldest of the U.W.-Madison volunteers, she wanted to do something different this spring break after a disappointing cancellation of her plans last year.

"I signed up because I wanted to have a guaranteed location for this year's spring break," Strandt said. "And I have to tell you it's really pretty here with the rolling hills and all these views are just beautiful." She also liked the small town atmosphere of Scott County.

"I see the appeal of the area and I really like that everyone knows everyone else and is nice to them," Strandt added.

At the Stock Creek Interpretive Center barn, four students have built an addition on the existing barn that will allow the facility more flexibility as an educational center.

"I decided I wanted to go somewhere new and different than what we have at home," stated Lauren Nicholl, a 21-year-old animal science major from Grosse Pointe, Mich. "This has been a great experience and I am really glad I came." The lone male member of the group, James Dorrian, said he wanted to do something useful during his spring break.

"I thought I would use this week off to be more productive rather than just sitting around for seven days," added Dorrian, who is 21 years old and a molecular biology major from Edina, Minn.

Dorrian and Nicholl said the process of getting a trip through Alternative Breaks was extremely competitive and signing up didn't guarantee students a spot. In fact, one of the students at Natural Tunnel, Julia Kohberg, a 19-year-old engineering student from Wauwatosa, Wis., was placed on the wait list. She was notified of her acceptance, less than two weeks before their departure.

"It has been nice seeing this kind of scenery including the tunnel and the mountains," she added.

According to Krager, the projects constructed by the Wisconsin volunteers, the springhouse and addition to the barn will be used by park official to educate the community about the history of the area and to lead well-developed programs.

Other students volunteering as part of the University of Wisconsin-Madison include: Maggie Malesytcki, a 20-year-old art history major from Madison; Alex Mehls, a 19-year-old psychology major from Milwaukee; Annabelle Yeoh, a 21-year-old journalism/business major from Malaysia; and Amanda Duchon, a 20-year-old biology major from Chanhassen, Minn.

It's a long way from the 42,000-plus campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison but it was a rewarding trip for the entire group. Although most weren't acquainted with each other prior to their trip, they are planning a reunion gathering shortly after they return home.

"We're going to rock this and get it done before nightfall," said Mehls about the construction of the log spring house.

It's a sentiment that the volunteers clearly followed through for all their projects.

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