Grand Canyon to Host Alternative Break Citizenship School 2013

Date: July 11, 2013
Contact: Vanya Pryputniewicz, 928-638-7628

On Tuesday, July 16,  42 college students, from 27 colleges and universities around the country will descend on Grand Canyon National Park to learn the art of facilitating an alternative break experience.

 They will be attending an Alternative Break Citizenship School (ABCs). These "schools" are the signature leadership training sessions of Break Away: The Alternative Break Connection, Inc. (Break Away), a national non-profit organization that supports the development of quality alternative break programs that inspire active lifelong citizenship. The ABCs have been offered since 1993 and combine interactive workshops and activities with an intensive 5-day alternative break experience.

 While at the Grand Canyon, the future alternative break leaders will provide up to 1400 volunteer hours to the park, learn how their project will benefit the park and its resources and experience for themselves the personal rewards of participating in an alternative break experience. At the same time, workshop sessions and discussion will address such planning issues as site selection and development, diversity, recruitment, finances and fundraising, liability, team building, conflict resolution, and facilitation and leadership skills. All of this is intended to prepare the participants to lead their own alternative breaks during the 2013/2014 school year.

 This ABC focuses on restoration and conservation in National Parks. It is anticipated that these 42 future leaders will provide alternative break opportunities around the county that are related to the environment; and that they will impact the lives of up to 4,200 students in the coming year.

 For additional information on this event, please contact, Volunteer Coordinator Todd Nelson at 928-638-7307. For more on Break Away and their ABCs, please visit http://alternativebreaks.org/About_Break_Away.asp. To learn more about visiting Grand Canyon National Park, visit the park's web site at www.nps.gov/grca.

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