Instead of spending spring break lounging on the beach or working for extra cash, some UD students have decided to devote their free time giving back to communities throughout the world.

Over the years, the Center for Social Concern has created opportunities for students to sign up for programs where instead of taking time off during fall break, spring break or right when school ends, students can volunteer in multiple locations. The possibilities for volunteering include restoring houses and buildings, working in soup kitchens, helping out with education and mentoring at risk children.

BreakOut trip locations range from within the U.S. to overseas. Junior Ashley Gerdeman went on a Spring BreakOut last year to Julian, Calif. where she helped the community with preventing wildfires. Although California may not be thought of as one of the states most in need, Gerdeman saw just how much they needed the group because of past forest fire issues.

"We hiked through the woods while clearing the path of debris to prevent the spread of wildfires," she said. "We helped plant a garden of organic vegetables which are used in the kitchen of the camp. We helped host a benefit dinner where the camp raises money for the town to help restore destruction due to forest fires."

For Gerdeman, the best part was learning extensive information about the environment and coming home and sharing that knowledge with others, she said.

This Spring BreakOut will also give students participating the opportunities to individually and as a group learn about important issues worldwide. The goal of the trips is to combine service, education and cultural immersion, according to the CSC Web site. Junior Chris Doyle who will be participating in the 2010 Spring BreakOut to Belize, South America, is eager and excited to start the process for those reasons.

"I chose to do a BreakOut for two main reasons: first it's a great way to do service over the break and because it's a unique way to learn about another culture and see the world," he said.

Doyle and his group traveling to Belize will be working in a Mayan village called Dolores, where they will assist on the construction of a Catholic church in the village. During their free time they also will get a look into Belize's cultural and natural side by going to Blue Hole, a cave for swimming, visiting a waterfall and touring the Nim Li Punit Mayan Ruins.

Each trip has a different setting, environment and culture. Trips within the U.S. this spring include Chicago, New Orleans, East St. Louis, Kentucky, California, Indiana and Trenton, NJ. International trips include El Paso, El Salvador, Ecuador, Tijuana and Belize.

Students will be leaving for their journeys at end of February and returning with a new, invaluable knowledge of the world by March 7. To apply and learn about May BreakOut trips which are taking applications until April 7 go to the CSC Web site at http://www.udayton.edu/ministry/csc/May_BreakOuts.php.