Alternative Service Break

The Alternative Service Break in Alaska is a trip sponsored by North Carolina State University's Center for Student Leadership, Ethics and Public Service (CSLEPS) office. This service break trip sends students to Hoonah, Alaska to volunteer in the local community. Activities include helping in Hoonah City Schools classrooms, assisting the local Boys and Girls Club, and visiting the Hoonah Senior Center. In her free time, she will be learning the Tlingit language as well as the local traditions and history. The scholar is interested in the criminal justice system and the poverty cycle, both of which are deeply rooted in youth education. Thus, she wants to understand the education system, specifically focusing on encouraging underprivileged students to stay enrolled in school. Since the scholar will be assisting in subjects like mathematics and robotics in the classrooms, she will be able to perform STEM outreach, which correlates with her interests as a Computer Science major. The scholar feels as though she has had little to no exposure with Native Americans and their issues, so she feels as though she would benefit from this experience and its cultural exchange. She would be able to learn about the history, language, and customs from the residents firsthand. The scholar chose Hoonah, Alaska because there is a large Native American community there.
During the evening hours, a multitude of culturally-enriching activities are available to volunteers. Tlingit language classes will be offered, where volunteers can learn the basics of the local language. There will also be traditional dance classes and a wood carving demonstration. Seminars about the local environment will be offered, and volunteers can also take hikes in the forests and walks on the beach. Through these enrichment activities, volunteers will learn more about Tlingit culture and their