Harrisburg students learn, serve during Alternative Spring Break

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - A group of Penn State Harrisburg students recently spent a week in Washington state doing environmental restoration work and learning about Indigenous cultures during an Alternative Spring Break (ASB) - a trip that aims to help students learn about other communities, and themselves, through hands-on service.

RebeccaAnn Wahlgren, events and planning coordinator for Harrisburg's Office of Student Engagement, said the trips are a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many students.

"We aim to connect students with various communities that allow the students to see the world from a different lens for a few days," she said. "We hope students walk away with a newfound appreciation for service work which they can bring back to their own local communities."

This year's trip to Washington, coordinated with the organization GIVE Volunteers, focused on service work in environmental restoration and conservation around the Snoqualmie River and learning about the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe. The trip was also attended by students from Penn State Berks and Penn State Scranton.

Activities included eco-restoration work with the Snoqualmie Tribe's Environmental and Natural Resources Department, supporting the tribe's commitment to habitat health and cultural stewardship; working to plant native trees along local riverbanks to help restore salmon habitat and protect waterways; and working with Seattle's Youth Garden Works, an organization helping young people gain leadership skills through farming, mentoring and other programs.

Adrian Dulgheru, one of the student leaders for the trip and a biology major, said he enjoyed connecting with other like-minded students during eco-restoration activities, which included clearing out invasive plants and planting other species.

"I learned a lot about the Indigenous culture there, especially in regard to the local Snoqualmie tribe, and the ways they care for and respect life on earth," he said. "This was demonstrated clearly to me when learning of their ways of red cedar wood harvesting that enables the trees to continue living, while still supporting the tribe. I thought it was important to take away from their habits in nurturing the environment, especially during the time of habitat loss due to human influence or natural disasters."

Kaleya Rivera-Pena, a student leader for the trip who is majoring in business management and human capital management, said some of her favorite activities included uprooting invasive wild blackberry bushes and group journal time - when students gathered to reflect on their experience.

During the week, students also hiked Rattlesnake Ledge - a trail that includes a view of the Cascade foothills, giving the students a sense of the impact of their work. After the hike, the group discussed how the trails are made and talked about the indigenous people who lived on the land, who did such hikes without trails.

"The conversation was about looking inward to what we've been blessed with, which is the ability to safely take those hikes and explore new places. We talked about ways to preserve the ability to do that by staying on trial, being safe, and land acknowledgments that the indigenous tribes provided for the land," Rivera-Pena said.

The hike was a highlight for her: "It was such a challenge for me physically, but the view at the top was totally worth it," she said.

Dulgheru said he would encourage other students to consider applying for ASB in the future.

"I think it's important for students to be exposed to new experiences that may push them out of their comfort zone," Dulgheru said. "It's also important to learn about what duty we all have to our community, not just to the people on Earth, but the world and its environment itself. Overall, it's a great experience to learn from."

Wahlgren, who coordinated the trip with Sahara McGrath, residential education specialist, said the experience takes students out of their routines and away from the comforts of home - and the experience extends beyond just the week of the trip.

"(The students) will start having meetings in November or December, and by the time they return in March, they've built new relationships with their peers and themselves," she said. "ASB is a selfless experience, and we hope students gain the knowledge and courage to continue to support others in impactful ways - especially when it's messy or uncomfortable."