Learning Partners play a key role in the Service Trip program. Learning Partners work with student trip leaders to create the meaningful service-learning experiences of Service Trips, including co-designing and facilitating pre-trip workshops, facilitating and participating in reflection activities during the trip, engaging in hands-on volunteer projects, and creating lasting relationships with students. Using CCLA’s learning outcomes model, Learning Partners encourage students use a critical lens as they consider the issue or issues related to their service projects, understand the local community context, and identify opportunities for post-trip engagement. Learning Partners also serve key roles in trip administration, like driving vans and serving as the emergency contact for the group. This page includes an overview of the Service Trip process for Learning Partners – any questions can be directed to Laura Megivern, Director of Community Engagement.
Who’s Who in the Service Trip Program?
Trip Participants are students attending the service trip. Service Trips are open to all Dickinson students regardless of class year, major, or other status. Service Trip Participant students must be responsible—ethically, morally and physically— when preparing for and participating in a Service Trip. They must be willing to work with their trip leaders and Learning Partner.
Trip Leaders are student leaders who make Service Trips possible. They are responsible for organizing trip itineraries with support from the CCLA staff, planning group activities for the full Service Trip experience with their Learning Partner, serving as group facilitators, and providing on-site leadership during the Trip experience.
Learning Partners are Dickinson faculty or staff members who support the learning experience during a Service Trip. Learning Partners participate in all group activities and serve as the point of contact for campus during trips. Learning Partners serve as mentors to Trip Leaders and participants, and assist in drawing connections between the service experience, cultural explorations, and students’ academic experiences. Learning Partners also provide support around health and safety issues on trips. Training is provided.
CCLA Staff: Service Trip Coordinators & the Director of Community Engagement are members of the CCLA team who create the Service Trip experiences. The Service Trip Coordinators are members of the CCLA student staff who work together with the Director of Community Engagement (Laura Megivern) to identify host communities and community partner organizations for the trips each year. They provide support for the trips and their leaders, especially prior to the trips. Laura is also the primary contact for financial aid and payments as well as any required paperwork for participants.
Community Partners & Host Sites: Community Partners and Host Sites are the organizations that host Service Trips in their local communities. These organizations may include nonprofit or government organizations filling community needs who host us as volunteers, as well as organizations that provide housing. Some trips may have a single host site for housing and service projects; others may have multiple partner organizations. CCLA strives to create long-term, sustainable, and mutually beneficial partnerships with these organizations, so that we may assist with ongoing community defined needs, learn about the community and its history, and engage in meaningful and ethical relationships.
What to Expect
Matching Learning Partners to Trips
Learning Partners are accepted on a rolling basis, typically at least 4-6 months in advance (sometimes longer for international trips). We are always excited to talk individually about topics of interest and upcoming trips. In our initial discussion we will discuss upcoming trips, topics, and partner organizations; we will also ask for information about your availability. CCLA is currently offering trips over Fall Pause, Winter Break (usually in January), Spring Break, and after commencement (usually ending in early June). Upcoming trip topics are listed on our Service Trips page. Once Learning Partners are matched to a trip, the program process begins by connecting with trip leaders and CCLA program staff – depending on the time of year this may be at our trip leader retreat or through separate meetings. More information on the trip timelines and what to expect at each stage is below. Depending on the timing of upcoming trips, CCLA will also host group or individual training meetings with Learning Partners.
What to Expect – Pre-Trip
Prior to departure, each trip cohort (participants, trip leaders, and Learning Partners) participate in 5-6 group meetings or workshops. These meetings, scheduled based on group members’ schedules (often in evenings or on weekends), provide an opportunity to get to know each other, learn about the project, discuss travel logistics, and begin to explore the issues and context of the trip based on the trip’s learning outcomes.
For Learning Partners, this includes meeting with trip leaders to design the pre-trip meeting schedule around the trip’s learning outcomes. Further work or involvement can vary – for example, the Learning Partner may design and facilitate one or more pre-trip meetings.
In the week or two prior to the trip, Learning Partners also meet with the Director of Community Engagement to review trip itineraries, emergency information, and final trip details.
What to Expect – On the Trip
Trip itineraries vary – this information should be considered a general guide and reflective of a typical 7-14 day trip within the United States. Please review the participant information about the overall experience. Here are two sample itineraries from past trips: Nashville January 2020 and Baltimore May 2022.
On the trip, Learning Partners work with student trip leaders to support the learning experience – prior to departure, the leaders and Learning Partners design a plan for reflection and education activities and discussions for each day; usually, Learning Partners are assigned facilitation or co-facilitation of several of these activities and discussions. Additionally, Learning Partners participate in all group activities – service projects, cultural experiences, and reflection discussions. Learning Partners serve as important mentors and supports for all students on the trip – whether it is checking in with a student who might be having a tough time, addressing issues of bias in a group discussion, or even helping with cooking meals (usually done by all members of the group together in teams).
Learning Partners also play an important role in supporting trip logistics and student health and safety. This can look like driving vans, handling funds (usually via purchasing card), and managing emergencies on site in coordination with campus should they arise.
What to Expect – After the Trip
Learning Partners are responsible for any needed logistical or emergency follow-up – this might include submitting and reconciling receipts or filing incident reports. After the trip, Learning Partners will assist in the program evaluation – this can include debriefing conversations with CCLA staff, completing a written survey, and assisting in distributing student evaluations. Learning Partners are also encouraged to participate in group follow-up activities such as group social events where appropriate, and program-wide events such as CCLA’s end of year banquet.