Lauren Hunter ’14

For many UVA students spring break is time spent in tropical destinations, but 3rd year Lauren Hunter chose to spend her spring break a little differently. She went on an Alternative Spring Break (ASB) trip, an organization that conducts service projects during spring break for University students; her trip was to Portland, Oregon. 

Year: 3rd Year

Major: Civil and Environmental Engineering

What motivated you to go on this particular service trip?

I have always wanted to participate in a service trip.  I have done service at home in Richmond and around Charlottesville, but I have never traveled with a group to do service work in a community outside of my own.  Many of my friends who have, encouraged me to look into Alternative Spring Break.  As a third year, I realized that my opportunities to go on an ASB trip would become fewer and fewer, so I decided to apply!  One of my best friends, Audrey Bierly, was a site leader to Portland, Oregon last spring break.  Considering my passion for the environment and curiosity about the West Coast, Audrey convinced me that the Portland trip would be perfect for me. 

What was your daily schedule like?

Every morning we ate breakfast at the hostel and packed lunch for the day. I think I can speak for the entire group when I say that we overindulged in coffee and espresso all week.  After a large cup of “World Cup” coffee, we were all set for the day.  Portland has over 200 parks and natural areas.  Each day we worked in a different park with a park leader from Portland Parks and Recreation.  The park leaders were so passionate about their work, which made it impossible to not enjoy working with them.  We helped remove invasive blackberry, English ivy and planted over 1000 trees over the course of the week.  I found the work really relaxing and rewarding to see the improved natural areas at the end of each day.  After a full day of work, we would venture into the city to explore. We went on a bike tour, we went to a famous bookstore called Powell’s, we had dinner with a group of UVA alums, we attended a “Poetry Slam,” we tried out “thrifting” one night and we even cured our sweet tooth at a chocolate café and various local ice cream parlors.  After our afternoon activities, we would cook dinner at the hostel and end by reflecting about the day. 

What was the most memorable part of the trip?

My favorite part about of the trip was the group of 12 UVA students that I got to know and appreciate so much in just seven days.  We are all so different and bonded through the work that we were doing and our shared desire to be on the Portland trip.  The last day was the most memorable experience I shared with them. It was a perfect day.  We went on a hike in Washington that over looked the “Gorge,” where the Columbia and Willamette rivers meet.  It was such breathtaking view.  The entire hike was so picturesque and I enjoyed all of the conversations and time spent with the Porlandi group that day.

Lauren gives a special thanks to the UVA students she spent the week with: site leaders-Evan Behrle and Josh Myers, and group members Stephanie Fushetti, Kristen Whalen, Olivia Bona, Jane Hur, Alex Shannon, Hannah Patrick, Kevin Chung, Rachel Laurilliard, Kelly Mill, Patrick McQuade, and a special thanks to Steve Pixley and the park leaders they worked with at the Portland Parks and Recreation. 

If Alternative Spring Break interests you, read more about it here. 

• alternative spring break
• service