Spring break: a time to grow and make the world a better place

For some students at Fort Lewis College, spring break is more than just a time to travel, party, and relax.

During Fort Lewis College’s spring break in March, six students participated in "Alternative Spring Break," doing service work and improving their professional skills in scenic Moab, Utah.

Organized by the Leadership Center and the Environmental Center, the students volunteered with Plateau Restoration, an educational adventure program, working on environmental restoration and conservation projects on damaged desert and riverside lands, while also learning about the issues associated with invasive plants.

Students also used their experiences to develop leadership skills important for new professionals coming out of college, including project management, collaboration, independent and team work, self-reflection, and social responsibility. Take a look:

Students from FLC with the Plateau Restoration staff. (l-r) Maeselle La Paz, Michael Smith (kneeling), Daniel Amerman, Rachel Giersch, Alysa Griffith (kneeling), Tom Pearce, Veronica Krupnick, Tamsin McCormick, and Yampa (dog)

Restoring a former Canyonlands Field Institute site.

Dead Horse Point State Park.

Licking the  salt rock.

Manually drilling down to the water table to  transplant willow stalks.

At Jackson Bottom worksite in Moab, Utah.

Ready to raft the Colorado River!

Standing under Delicate Arch in Arches National Park.

All photos courtesy of Patrick Fredricks, Leadership Programs Coordinator.