What is it?
Alternative Spring Break (ASB) is a great opportunity for students to assist with cleaning debris along the Mississippi River. This year we will be working in Memphis, TN. During ASB, students will focus their efforts on removing trash and sorting out recyclable materials. Students will traverse the Mississippi 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 rivers 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.
WHERE & WHEN:
There are three separate ASB events, all taking place in Memphis, TN. Each one runs from Sunday to Friday. Students should expect to be in Memphis 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:
Week 1: Sunday, February 26th to Friday, March 2nd
Week 2: Sunday, March 4th to Friday, March 9th
Week 3: Sunday, March 11th to Friday, March 16th
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”. Read, sign and bring it to the dinner on Sunday evening; give completed form to LL&W's Programs Coordinator, Nora Coyne-Logan. To avoid extra paperwork, please date the waivers for your registered dates. (2/26/2012 – 3/2/2012 or 3/4/2012 – 3/9/2012 or 3/11/2012 – 3/16/2012.) 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 Memphis, TN 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 phone number for Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA), 901-274-6282, provides information on the Memphis 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 Comfort Inn Downtown, 100 N. Front St., Memphis, TN 38103. 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, Nora Coyne-Logan (contact information listed below), with a rooming list by Friday, January 27. If this deadline creates a problem for you, please let me know in advance and we can work something out. 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 will be staying at Comfort Inn Downtown 100 N. Front St., Memphis, TN 38103. Students must pay for their hotel when they register to participate in ASB. This reserves the students' spot. 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 Thursday. Leaving the cost of dinner Monday through Thursday to be covered by the student. The total cost of lodging will be approximately $110 for 5 nights, (Sunday through Thursday if you share a room). Parking will be $8 per day, per vehicle. This parking is located in a secure lot within the hotel's parking structure. Students may want to bring extra money for souvenirs or night life expenditures during their trip. At most, the trip will cost $205 for the basics.
For questions related to the event, or if you do not have access to email, please feel free to email or call Nora Coyne-Logan of Living Lands & Waters at:
Alternative Spring Break 2012
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.
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. 
Lodging: LL&W has worked out a contract with Comfort Inn Downtown, 100 N. Front St., Memphis, TN 38103. 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, Nora Coyne-Logan (contact information listed below), with a rooming list by Friday, January 27. If this deadline creates a problem for you, please let me know in advance and we can work something out. 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 will be staying at Comfort Inn Downtown 100 N. Front St., Memphis, TN 38103. Students must pay for their hotel when they register to participate in ASB. This reserves the students' spot. They will be held responsible for their room and any incidental charges. 
