Alternative Spring Break - Las Vegas

Alternative Spring Break has been a tradition for many years at the University of Utah, helping college students gain meaningful experiences through service-learning during their spring break. This paper looks at an Integrated Service Project of creating a new trip to Las Vegas, Nevada addressing the issues of Youth and Addiction. The trip worked to serve 4 non-profit organizations serving a variety of communities in Clark County, Nevada. These communities were in need of volunteers helping to complete several projects. The week long agenda not only served these community needs but also helped to grow the Alternative Spring Break program providing more options for student participants. I related experiences throughout the trip to models of Leadership and Group Communication. These models are essential for my major in Communication and minor in Leadership Studies. I also address the importance of preparation including meetings and budget analysis in creating a service-learning trip. The project as a whole reiterates the importance of experiential learning and reflection.