(Bryan Brenize -- The Beacon)
By Amanda Blas, Staff Writer -- blas13@up.edu
When most people think about spring break, they dream of somewhere fun in the sun. But for some UP students, chilling in Alaska is the way to go.
This spring break, 15 UP students will travel to Sitka and Juneau to take part in the Native Alaskan Plunge through the Moreau Center for Service and Leadership .
"I think it's a very good and positive way to spend spring break: immersed in a different culture and world view," senior Taylor Bergmann, a student coordinator for the plunge, said.
During the plunge, participants will explore the Native Americans' social and cultural aspects by involving themselves in the community.
"It's about immersing ourselves in Native Alaskan culture and just learning about how things are different in a tribal community as compared to a more western community," student coordinator and senior Rachel O'Reilly said. "Overall, it's about just learning more about the Native American community as a whole."
Participants will also address the struggles and issues Natives Americans face. These issues include topics such as healthcare, education, alcoholism and domestic violence.
"We are definitely going to be learning about their education and health systems," sophomore Kylee Green, who will be attending the plunge, said.
They will also have the chance to see how tribes address these issues.
"Not only will we look at the challenges tribes are provided with, but at how tribes work positively to address social problems," Bergmann said.
Because the plunge is a service learning trip, participants will do some volunteer work.
"One service opportunity involves holding three workshops for three high schools in Sitka," Bergmann said. "We're going in to create a dialogue about opportunities after high school."
This service project gives the plunge participants a chance to relate to the Native American youth with whom they will work.
"We have experience dealing with these issues," Bergmann said. "So it gives us common ground."
Plunge members' preparation for their upcoming immersion in Native Alaskan culture also includes fundraising for the plunge. One such fundraiser was their "Love in the Arctic: A Night of Music and Improv" event last Friday night.
"It was a lot of fun," Green said. "The first half of the show was music with singers and instruments, and the second half was improv, a lot like ‘Whose Line is it Anyway?'."
The event also gave them a chance to pull in money outside of ticket sales.
"We sold cookies and brownies," Green said. "And donations were accepted."
The plunge participants were pleased with the success of the show.
"Mago Hunt Recital Hall was completely full," O'Reilly said. "All the chairs were being used and people were even sitting on the floor."
Student coordinators and plunge members did not pull together their successful event alone.
"Plunge members April Vanderkamp and Eleanor Johnson, along with the improv team, were the biggest asset," Bergmann said, "We really appreciated it."
With all the hard work they have put into the plunge, participants are eager for spring break.
"I don't know what to expect, which is exciting," Green said. "I'm keeping an open mind, hoping to take away great memories, meet new people and looking forward to getting immersed in a culture completely different from my own."
