Students from the Alternative Spring Break program are holding fund-raising events to support their travels next semester dedicated to learning new cultures and working with kids.

According to Rebecca Crain, a junior in psychology and Spanish and team leader for the Tuba, Arizona trip, says the trips are “very rewarding — you usually get to work with people you’ve never interacted with before.”

Even though spring break does not start for a while, “they continually raise money [for their trip] until they leave” Leslie Beddingfield, community service coordinator for the Center for Student Leaders, Ethics and Public Service, said.

The group going to Arizona will be tutoring Navajo children on a reservation.

According to Crain, students apply for pre-established trips based on their interests and then a committee selects students to go to the international or domestic destinations. After being selected to go on a trip, the students begin meeting as a team made up of about 16 people.

The CSLEPS committee starts planning the trips during the summer.

Arizona is not the only destination for the Alternative Spring Break trips this year.

Beddingfield said there are 10 groups going to various places around the country and world. Some of these include the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Ecuador, Belize and Philadelphia.

Cort Bray, a sophomore in zoology, said she went on an Alternative Spring Break trip last year to the Dominican Republic because she wanted to try something different.

She chose the Arizona trip this year because she said she doesn’t know much about Navajo culture and wants to learn.

“I went on a trip last year to an orphanage to teach English to the children,” Bray said. “They were just so happy that you were there spending time with them.”

Bray said her favorite things about the trips are experiencing cultures she is unfamiliar with and hanging out with children.

Mary Russell, a freshman in accounting, said she decided to sign up for the trip after her family took a summer vacation to Arizona and met some Navajo.

“I just thought it was a really good culture and I want to learn more about it.” Russell said “[The trips] give you a chance to do something with your spring break that is meaningful.”

Members of the Arizona group will be holding another fundraising event next week on Tuesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Talley Student Center where they are selling coffee, playing cards and coupon books.

Aaron Bare, a senior in communication, said he donated money because “they are going to be donating their vacation time. The least I could do was donate $5.”

Bray said the trips offer a good chance to learn and help people at the same time.

Although registration for this year is closed, students still have an opportunity to help out by donating money or purchasing fund-raising items from the groups.