Service Trips

Service trips immerse students and staff in communities throughout the US and abroad to empower others to see their circumstances and help meet their needs without imposing our ideas and methods on others. Students will confront underlying societal needs by asking questions and seeking connections locally, within Carlisle, and from their hometowns. Before, during and after service trips students engage in intentional reflection to clarify values, seek connection to academic work, and enhance their identities as engaged citizens.

At Dickinson three student groups organize multiple service trip opportunities annually. These trips include a weekend of service in the fall, an international trip, several options over spring break, and a summer trip. The number of students on each trip is limited due to funding, team dynamics, and the host site arrangements. Dickinson faculty and administrators also participate in each trip, serving side by side students and strengthening the Dickinson community through service. If you have any questions, please contact the Service Trips Intern at servicetrips@dickinson.edu or volunteer@dickinson.edu (during the summer months).

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Service Trip to Philadelphia

2012-2013 Service Trips

Winter Break Trip- New Orleans, LA (January 11th-19th)

Spring Break Trips:

- Upper Sand Mountain, Pisgah, Alabama (March 8th-16th)

- Greenwood, South Carolina (March 9th-16th)

Service Trip Applications

The application deadline for spring break service trips has passed. Thank you to everyone who applied. Selected trip participants will be working to build homes for families living below the poverty line in Greenwood, SC, and help the people of Alabama recover from devastating tornadoes in May 2011 and March 2012 in Pisgah, AL. Unable to apply but still interested in supporting the spring break trips? Look for upcoming team fundraisers this spring, especially grilled cheese nights.

Questions? Contact servicetrips@dickinson.edu

Service Trip Outcomes

Why go on a service trip? Why take your vacation and help others? Why pay and raise all this money?

Each year an annual survey is completed by trip participants to gather comments, suggestions and reflections. Service trips help one to:

enhance cultural understandings
build stronger relationships with team members, administrators, and new communities
increase self realization of strengths and growing edges
increase ability to articulate personal values and life priorities
see areas of need in home community in a new life after experienced in another culture
becoming engaged in community service at Dickinson deeper upon returning

Past Service Trips

Focusing on Alleviating POverty

New York City (weekend), Wheeling WV (fall pause)
Miami Florida (spring break),

Focusing on diaster relief

New Orleans LA (spring break), Pisgah Alabama (summer), Nashville TN (January break)

focusing on education and empowerment

Black River Jamaica (January break), San Pedro Guatemala (January break), Puerto Plato Dominican Republic (January break)

focusing on community development

Philadelphia (weekend), Washington DC (weekend), Pisgah Alabama (spring break)

Guidebooks

Every student and administrator applying for a Dickinson service trip must read the appropriate service trip guidebook. These guidebooks cover everything from expectations to meals to team dynamics. These guidebooks also share quotes from past participants, thoughts on the trip process, and aim to answer all your questions about a service trip at Dickinson. While these are not specific to each trip, the basic format and outline is used in every service trip at Dickinson.

This must be read by every service trip participant before participating in any service trip.