Skip to Content
Skip to Navigation
University of Washington

Alternative Spring Break

ASB 2013

DATES:

March 24-29, 2013

PROJECTS:

WHERE:

Sites will be throughout Washington, ranging from the Olympic Peninsula to Eastern Washington. This includes Forks, La Push, Brewster, Curlew, Harrah, Mattawa, Tonasket, Toppenish, Omak & Oroville.

LODGING:

Students will stay with host families or on-site dormitory housing.

COSTS:

All lodging and transportation costs will be covered for UW students. Food costs will be funded by group fundraising.


Since 2000, the Pipeline Project has facilitated Alternative Spring Break opportunities for UW undergraduates where teams of students spend their spring break in a rural or tribal community of Washington State working with local elementary and middle schools on literacy arts and environmental science projects.

There is no ASB participation fee although participants will engage in fundraising efforts to raise funds for lodging, transportation, and food costs.

For the first Alternative Spring Break in 2000, 22 students headed out to our first four partner sites in Harrah, Forks, La Push and Omak. Hundreds of UW undergraduates have worked with thousands of children in rural areas since then, helping them to write and publish their own book and conduct scientific explorations.

In 2012, 45 UW students worked with 618 elementary, middle and high school students at 11 different sites

“Although many view spring break as a time to relax and recuperate from school, this week turned out to be more of a learning experience than anything.  The generosity of the teachers and staff taught me that even simple acts of kindness can have a profound impact, the high-spirited energy of the students taught me the often forgotten importance of being optimistic and having fun, and the dedication and compassion of the members of our team taught me the value of giving back to the community.”


“I now have a renewed motivation and focus to become a fantastic teacher, great memories of a tight-knit community, and a refreshing new outlook to being more adventurous.”

 

“Your hospitality and genuine care for your community will forever serve as a model for how I will treat strangers and how I will make the ideal community wherever I am.”