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This is an Honors University. On your honor, before commenting on this thread, watch the video below. Otherwise you have no position from which to either criticize or approve of this post.

Animal Trip

·         To expose participants to various efforts being made in and around Baltimore to improve the welfare of many different kinds of animals (not just dogs and cats).

·         To encourage participants to think about how their food choices (buying animal products from humane farmers as opposed to from factory farms, etc.) are related to animal welfare.

·         To encourage participants to take part in discussions about animal welfare initiatives and the advantages/disadvantages of methods being used in the area.

To encourage participants to take part in efforts to improve the welfare of animals after the trip and to give them a foot in the door for doing that by having them become trained BARCS volunteers and exposing them to other organizations that they can volunteer with. Also by exposing them to organizations and efforts that they can work with after the trip.

Click on the Media tab to view our video and the document tab to download the trip participant application.

Day in the Life:

The alternative school break, a day in the life is a homelessness immersion experience. Students will be living in a homeless shelter for the week so that they can see for themselves what it’s like to be homeless in the city of Baltimore. Students will get to know a few people who are staying at the shelter and hear their personal stories. Students will also meet with various agencies that specialize in helping the homeless in order to fully understand the daily struggles that the homeless population in Baltimore goes through.  Students will give back to the homeless population through various forms of service during the week. After learning about the political, social, and legal complexities surrounding homelessness, developing personal connections with persons whom are experiencing homelessness, and getting a taste of what it’s like to be homeless themselves; students will collaborate to brainstorm ways  that they can help end homelessness. 

Click on the media tab to view my video and the documents tab to download the trip participant application.

Learn more about this issue at:

http://www.nationalhomeless.org/projects/awareness/awareness.html

Environmental Trip:

This year’s Environmental Trip will have a focus on sustainability – how to live in such a way that you could continue to live in that way for an indefinite amount of time. The goal is to explore many different sides of sustainable living.

We will work with the Great Kids Farm to see how to grow your own food in an urban environment. We will work with Velocipede to learn about bicycle use and maintenance in the city. We will work with Parks and People to explore green spaces in Baltimore and take care of them. We will tour the EPA to see the policy side of green practices. We will also watch sustainable/green movies or documentaries.

It won’t just be work though! We will be hiking in the parks we take care of, enjoying those green spaces. We will go camping in the park too – surrounded by nature, surrounded by Baltimore. We will also play lots of games and build a strong group. We can also watch movies for fun – though the selection may be limited.

Check out the media tab to see my video and documents tab to download the trip participant application.

 http://www.greatkidsfarm.org/

http://parksandpeople.org/

http://velocipedebikeproject.org/

http://www.gwynnsfallstrail.org/

ASB Arc of Carroll County:

At the Arc, students will have the opportunity to create connections with a demographic that is often misunderstood and stigmatized.  Arc clients and students will spend time together at the Arc as well as on day trips to the humane society, the mall, and will participate in several other service projects.  After spending time at the Arc trip members will have group discussions and be able to openly share about their experiences.  This trip will provide students with a meaningful experience and a deeper understand of service. 

Working with people with intellectual and physical disabilities may make some students uncomfortable at first, but the deepest growth happens when boundaries are broken and people live outside of their comfort-zones.  By developing meaningful relationships with the clients at the Arc students will hear first hand accounts and gain a personal understanding of what life is like for someone living with a disability. By the end of the trip, students’ understanding of adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities will be challenged and team members will be able to identify common prejudices, stereotypes and social problems that face this demographic. 

Click on the Media tab to view my video and the documents tab to submit an application.