CAVE + AO = An Unforgettable Experience!

Three years ago, a student at Community Action Volunteers in Education (CAVE) and a student at Adventure Outings (AO) decided that pairing up the programs for an alternative spring break (ASB) trip would be a perfect match.  After all, CAVE's motto "Life is for Learning" promotes life-long learning through community service, and AO's motto "Leave no Trace" advocates outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship.  Blend the two and you provide students with an ideal opportunity to: 1) enjoy the outdoors 2) provide a much valued service, and 3) learn about the importance of nurturing our environment.

And where can all these elements come together?  In at least three different locations so far!  Three spring break trips hosted by a CAVE and AO leader have taken an average of 10 students per trip to Point Reyes National Seashore, Redwood National Park, and mostly recently, Death Valley National Park. These locales provided three unique environments - marine, redwoods, and desert - all of which are indicative of the magnificent bio-diversity that California has to offer.

Both CAVE and AO bring specific skill sets to the table as pre-trip planning and orientation get underway. CAVE promotes the trips, recruits participants, and organizes fund raisers to help defray costs.  AO provides all necessary equipment and gear, team building activities, and the outdoor expertise to be successful in the field. 

The mission for the spring 2010 ASB trip to Death Valley National Park focused on trail work - maintenance of existing trails and creating new trails.  The week kicked off with an orientation by a park ranger explaining the intricacies of the ecosystem the students would be experiencing .  From there, a  base camp was set up and the AO van took the group to different work locations each day as outlined in the itinerary provided by the park. As the photos convey, Death Valley National Park is a land of extremes.  The various micro-climates experienced by the students all in the course of one week proved to be a vigorous challenge.  Was it worth it???

Here's what some students had to say:
Jake Acosta:  "The trip instilled in each of us a sense of the importance of acting with discretion so as not to compromise the integrity of the land or the environment."

Ellie Oliver: "I had nothing to lose and everything to gain by devoting my spring break to something special. The trip could not have been better and the people I was with, the instant friends I made, played an integral part in my experience and growth.  I realized how in love I am with nature, and how much I truly enjoy giving my time and energy for a cause greater than myself."

Megan Downing: "We definitely did make a difference and I know that the work that we did, particularly on the burn with Ranger Charles, will be seen for generations to come."

Hannah Murphy, a senior International  Relations major from Sacramento was the CAVE trip leader and here's what she has to say about the experience:

 

For information about future ASB trips, contact: CAVE and AO