{"id":12451,"date":"2019-03-11T08:41:05","date_gmt":"2019-03-11T12:41:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=12451"},"modified":"2019-03-11T08:41:06","modified_gmt":"2019-03-11T12:41:06","slug":"an-alternative-spring-break","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/an-alternative-spring-break\/","title":{"rendered":"An Alternative Spring Break"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

While some college kids will be heading to the beach during\nSpring Break, Mass Audubon has teamed up with UMass Boston to offer its\nconservation-minded students another option. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the first-ever Alternative Spring Break for Aspiring Environmental Leaders, an idea hatched by TerraCorps member Sam Kefferstan<\/a>, six students will spend six days getting a \u201ccrash course\u201d in Mass Audubon, including our work in conservation science and research, advocacy and community engagement, and education. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
\u00a9 Sarah O’Connor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

UMass Boston Connection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

UMass\nBoston\u2019s student population reflects the remarkable diversity of its Boston\nsurrounds, with 57% of the student body being students of color and 56% first\ngeneration college students. As part of our commitment to becoming\nmore inclusive and equitable, Mass Audubon partnered with UMass Boston to\ndevelop the Environmental\nCareer Pathways Program<\/a>. As part of this program, Mass\nAudubon will recruit students to employ in\na variety of internships, work-study placements, and summer jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Alternative Spring Break is just another option to give\nstudents exposure to the environmental field through hands-on programming where\nthey will actively participate in on-going conservation projects. This program will\nalso provide professional development and networking to students who may not be\nable to take summer conservation internships due to financial barriers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Itinerary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

First up is Nantucket where students will conduct deer\ndensity monitoring research at Sesachacha Heathlands Wildlife Sanctuary and\nwater quality monitoring at UMass Boston\u2019s field station. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the time on Nantucket the group will head to\nDrumlin Farm and Mass Audubon\u2019s Headquarters in Lincoln, where students will meet\nwith Mass Audubon\u2019s leadership to determine where their skillset and passions\ncould best be utilized. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last stop is Wildwood, Mass Audubon\u2019s overnight camp in\nRindge, New Hampshire. Here, the students will participate in a Leave No Trace\ntrainer course, in which they\u2019ll learn how to enjoy shared natural spaces while\npreserving their integrity for future generations as well. The course will\nconclude with a winter hike up nearby Mount Monadnock where students can put\ntheir new skills into action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Payoff<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sam\u2019s hope (as well as Mass Audubon\u2019s) is that the students\nwho participate in the Alternative Spring Break will come out of this program\nas more confident, experienced, and qualified job candidates, leaving them\nbetter prepared for future careers in conservation. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While some college kids will be heading to the beach during Spring Break, Mass Audubon has teamed up with UMass Boston to offer its conservation-minded students another option. During the first-ever Alternative Spring Break for Aspiring Environmental Leaders, an idea hatched by TerraCorps member Sam Kefferstan, six students will spend six days getting a \u201ccrash […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":12463,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12451","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-get-outdoors"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/03\/2963Sarah_OConnor10707.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-3eP","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":12731,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/just-graduated-college-give-terracorps-a-try\/","url_meta":{"origin":12451,"position":0},"title":"Just Graduated College? Give TerraCorps a Try","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"May 30, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Nick Tepper on Nantucket as part of the Alternative Spring Break. It had been five minutes since we reached Nantucket\u2019s southern shores, and a beautiful sunset was fading to afterglow over the dunes. All was calm when one of the students pointed and said\u202f\"a\u202fbig bird just landed in that dune!\"\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/IMG_5660.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/IMG_5660.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/IMG_5660.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/IMG_5660.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14417,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/student-ambassador-to-mass-audubon-receives-highest-honors\/","url_meta":{"origin":12451,"position":1},"title":"Student Ambassador to Mass Audubon Receives Highest Honors","author":"Ryan D.","date":"September 10, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Maria Vasco, UMass Boston Campus Ambassador to Mass Audubon As schools are getting back in session, we want to honor recent graduate and Mass Audubon alum Maria Vasco, an environmental studies and sustainability major in the School for the Environment at UMass Boston. Maria received the top two honors a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Get Involved"","block_context":{"text":"Get Involved","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/get-involved\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Maria Vasco, UMass Boston Campus Ambassador to Mass Audubon","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/07\/MariaVasco-KForesto-6213.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/07\/MariaVasco-KForesto-6213.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/07\/MariaVasco-KForesto-6213.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/07\/MariaVasco-KForesto-6213.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12375,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/meet-the-terracorps-crew\/","url_meta":{"origin":12451,"position":2},"title":"Meet the TerraCorps Crew","author":"Hillary T.","date":"February 27, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"This year, Mass Audubon has been fortunate to welcome four members of TerraCorps to our team. TerraCorps partners with AmeriCorps to pair emerging leaders with land-based organizations in Massachusetts. The TerraCorps service members gain valuable, real-world experience, and Mass Audubon benefits from their energy, enthusiasm, ideas, and hard work. Say\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/02\/SamH.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/02\/SamH.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/02\/SamH.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/02\/SamH.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17248,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/meet-the-environmental-fellows\/","url_meta":{"origin":12451,"position":3},"title":"Meet the Environmental Fellows","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"October 26, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Mass Audubon\u2019s Environmental Fellowship Program offers a 14-month position to recent graduates launching their careers. In its inaugural year, Mass Audubon welcomed five fellows. Environmental Fellows 2022-2023 Each fellow in the cohort is based in a different Mass Audubon department, but they still see each other often for fellowship workshops\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Environmental Fellows Program"","block_context":{"text":"Environmental Fellows Program","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/environmental-fellows-program\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Five Environmental Fellows stand in a line smiling with green leaves in the background.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/10\/Group-750-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/10\/Group-750-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/10\/Group-750-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/10\/Group-750-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17172,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/in-your-words-lorna-gibson\/","url_meta":{"origin":12451,"position":4},"title":"In Your Words: Lorna Gibson","author":"Kaylin D.","date":"September 26, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Mass Audubon Board Member and Professor Lorna Gibson My mother always loved walking in nature. I wouldn\u2019t say she was a birdwatcher, but she always fed the birds in the winter. It wasn\u2019t until my older brother became interested in birdwatching that I started paying more attention to birds. 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