MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — For some Penn State Harrisburg students, spring break meant doing light construction work in Cleveland, Ohio. Building outdoor learning spaces and teaching leadership skills in schools in the Dominican Republic. You can also learn to care for crops on a sustainable farm in Costa Rica.
Alternative spring break trips organized by the Office of Student Engagement provide students with an opportunity to learn about social issues while also participating in hands-on service activities. This year, Penn State Harrisburg students, along with their faculty advisors, participated in an alternative spring break trip to her three locations: the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Cleveland, Ohio.
Costa Rica
On a trip to Costa Rica coordinated by the university’s Latino Club, students learned about wildlife rehabilitation and care for animals at a conservation reserve, helped on a sustainable family farm, and learned about crops, farm systems, and family cheese. I learned about business.
They also spent a day in the cloud forest, Bosque Eterno de los Niños, completing trail maintenance, cleanup, and other small construction projects. The guide provided information about the forest and its future development.
In addition to working in a variety of locations, students were able to experience whitewater rafting and ziplining.
Maliha Doria, a computer science major, said the group’s activities such as cleaning rainforest trails and learning about local wildlife conservation were all great.
“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to not only contribute to these important efforts, but also to gain a deeper understanding of ecosystems and the impact our actions have on the environment,” she said.
She said working at a wildlife sanctuary and observing animals such as spider monkeys and toucans in their natural environment was eye-opening and educational. She left Costa Rica with a renewed sense of purpose and her determination to continue advocating for environmental conservation.
“I am excited to apply the knowledge and skills I gained on this trip to positively impact my community and beyond,” she said.
Pepe Renteria, a mechanical engineering major, said he became more aware of animals and the environment and learned how the laws and culture are different in Costa Rica.
“This trip also taught me concepts that I learned in my engineering class. We toured a very small, local cheese factory and applied many of the engineering practices that I just learned last semester. ” he said.
Patricia Aguilera, who served as an advisor on the trip, said a highlight for her was seeing students discuss global environmental issues.
“When we serve our country, we help people and make a difference in our communities,” she said. “But when you’re in another country, you realize the importance of comparing things like laws and cultures and understanding other people’s needs and ways of life. You also realize how important it is to understand other people’s needs and ways of life. We also consider the need for global research with ethical and multicultural approaches.”