 Alternative Spring Break 2010
Congratulations to the recipients of our Alternative Spring Break Scholarships! We look forward to working with all of you in March!
Nathan Speagle, Anne Krippenstapel and Elise Walker
What is it?
Alternative Spring Break (ASB) is a great opportunity for students to assist with cleaning debris along the Ohio River. This year we will be working in Louisville, KY. During ASB, students will focus their efforts on removing trash and sorting out recyclable materials. Students will traverse the Ohio River both on foot and in boats while working with the Living Lands & Waters (LL&W) crew and other college students to remove debris (tires, appliances, barrels, etc.) that is polluting the Ohio River and impairing the habitat of indigenous fish, birds, and wildlife. LL&W will provide volunteers with all the necessary equipment for the cleanups including shovels, gloves, trash bags and life jackets. There is also a possibility that we will be removing Bush Honeysuckle (an invasive species) and replanting the cleared area with native hardwood trees.
WHERE & WHEN:
There are two separate ASB events, both taking place in Louisville, KY. Each one runs from Sunday to Friday. Students should expect to be in Louisville before 6pm on Sunday, in order to attend a delicious, complimentary dinner; at which time they will have a chance to meet the infamous Chad Pregracke and his boisterous crew of river rats. Dinner will be followed by a short informational meeting. Students will work with the crew Monday through Thursday from 9am to 4pm. On Friday morning they head home with memories of a fabulous week and a great sense of charitable satisfaction. The dates of ASB events are as follows:
Sunday, March 7th to Friday, March 12th
Sunday, March 14th to Friday, March 19th - CLOSED
WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
 Clothing: Wear warm clothes and bring rain gear! March is chilly and wet on the water, so be sure to dress appropriately. You are strongly encouraged to bring a few pairs of long underwear and other base layers, as well as warm hats, ear muffs, sweatshirts, etc. Remember you can always take layers off. Keep in mind there’s nothing worse than being underdressed and cold; better to over pack! Bring clothes that can get dirty, stained or ripped and shoes that can get wet & muddy (rubber boots are best!). You are strongly recommended to bring a lot of extra socks as it is going to be cold and you may want to double up. You’ll have the evenings free so remember nice clothes and a clean pair of shoes. You may want to bring an additional pair of work shoes, so you won’t have to work in a wet pair.
- Waiver: Please print the “general liability form” above. Read, sign and bring it to the dinner on Sunday evening; give completed form to LL&W’s Programs Coordinator, Shanon Reineke. To avoid extra paperwork, please date the waivers for your registered dates. (3/7/2010 – 3/12/2010 or 3/14/2010 – 3/19/2010.) If any students are under the age of 18, they will need their parents to sign the waiver.
- Utensils: Please help us reduce the waste we generate during our ASB events by bringing the following:
- Refillable Water Bottle
- Washable plate, knife, fork and spoon
We will have drinking water available during the work days. We will use the washable dishes for lunch each day and provide wash stations to clean them.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
 Food: Students will be responsible for dinner Monday through Thursday. Sunday dinner will be at 6:00pm (location TBA) and complimentary. Lunch will be provided Monday through Thursday by LL&W. Vegetarian options are available upon request. The hotel will provide complimentary breakfast.- Transportation: Students are expected to provide their own transportation to and from Louisville, KY as well as to and from the work sites each day. All students will receive directions to and from work sites on Sunday evening after dinner. The following website, http://www.ridetarc.org/default.asp, provides information on the Louisville bus schedule for those students interested in public transportation. Students will be responsible for their expenses associated with travel.
 Lodging: LL&W has worked out a contract with a local hotel, Inn Place Hotel Louisville located at 9700 Bluegrass Parkway, Louisville, KY 40299. In order to save on costs, 4 students will share a room; all rooms will have 2 beds. Students may be rooming with others from another school, and we do not have a policy against co-ed rooming. Students that register as a group need to provide Programs Coordinator, Shanon Reineke (contact information listed below), with a rooming list by Monday, February 22. Any vacant spots in rooming lists will be filled by other participants (if possible please leave only 1 room with vacant spots). Students that sign up individually will be assigned to a room. Rooming requests will be accepted if they are in by the previously mentioned deadline. This will ensure that all rooms are filled—thereby cutting down on costs. Although LL&W will do its best to comply with all rooming requests, we cannot guarantee your request will be fulfilled. Students will also have the option to request their own bed or room at an additional cost.
 Students may check into the hotel after 2pm on Sunday and must check out by 11am on Friday. Inn Place has many amenities to offer the students that participate in our trash filled adventure including:
- Free Continental breakfast
- Free wireless internet
- Indoor pool
- Exercise room
- Coin operated laundry facilities
- Lounge & restaurant on location
- Free parking
- Hospitality room with microwave & fridge
- Game arcade
Students must pay for their hotel when they register to participate in ASB. They will be held responsible for their room and any incidental charges.
- Budget: At an estimated $10 per meal, students should expect to spend around $40 for food during the week, not including travel days. Breakfast will be provided by the hotel Monday through Friday and lunch will be supplied by LL&W Monday through Friday. Leaving the cost of dinner Monday through Thursday to be covered by the student. The total cost of lodging will be $80 for 5 nights, (Sunday through Thursday). Students may want to bring extra money for souvenirs or night life expenditures during their trip. At most, the trip will cost $170 for the basics.
- 5 nights of lodging = $80
- Food for Sun. – Fri. = $40
- Chip in on Fuel = $50
- ASB experience = PRICELESS
Scholarships are available to attend LL&W’s Alternative Spring Break.
Please click here for details and an application.
HOW DO I SIGN UP?
It’s easy! Just click on the “Register Online” button below to access the on-line registration form. There you will need to enter your name, contact information, and select your desired Alternative Spring Break event from the menu. You will also have the option to sign up as a group if you choose to organize volunteers from your school. Once you fill out the registration page click “Submit,” this will bring you to the confirm registration and payment page. The first page will allow you to select the number of people you are paying for, the accommodations you would like and the corresponding payment. There are 3 levels of accommodations: share a bed (Level 1), have your own bed (Level 2) or have your own room (Level 3), each at a different rate. Please contact Shanon Reineke, if you have a group larger than 4 that would like to pay for Level 2 or Level 3. After you have selected the appropriate number of participants and cost, click on “Confirm Registration.” This will bring you to a secure online credit card payment page to pay for your registration. Once you complete this page and click “Submit” you’re signed up for an experience of a lifetime! Registration for ASB is ONLY COMPLETE after payment is made to LL&W which reserves your room at Inn Place Hotel. If you are unable to pay by credit card, please contact Shanon Reineke to arrange another form of payment. For questions related to the event, or if you do not have access to email, please feel free to email or call Shanon Reineke of Living Lands & Waters at:
Shanon Reineke
shanon@livinglandsandwaters.org
(309) 236-5627
FYI... There is a limit of 50 students per event so please sign up before it’s too late! This event is only open to college students.
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