SUN, fun, success at Breakaway 2013 in SE Utah
Twenty-four students from USU Eastern opted to spend their spring break in the sun in Southern Utah, doing service rather than basking and playing in the warm weather. Titled Breakaway, the SUN Center’s alternate spring break, was organized and lead by Caitlin Patterson, and was able to reach three different locations during the week.
The SUN Center took a group of four students to Shiprock, N.M., a group of eight students to Navajo Canyon, and 12 students to Navajo Mountain, both by the Utah/Arizona border.
This archived article was written by: Shanna Frame
Twenty-four students from USU Eastern opted to spend their spring break in the sun in Southern Utah, doing service rather than basking and playing in the warm weather. Titled Breakaway, the SUN Center’s alternate spring break, was organized and lead by Caitlin Patterson, and was able to reach three different locations during the week.
The SUN Center took a group of four students to Shiprock, N.M., a group of eight students to Navajo Canyon, and 12 students to Navajo Mountain, both by the Utah/Arizona border.
While at their different destinations students participated in several different service activities. They installed culverts and septic tanks, helped paint, began cement flooring and plumbing of a house, shingled a porch roof and put in porch steps, burned weeds and constructed a wheelchair ramp. The use of power tools and a jackhammer, by some for the first time, helped the volunteers complete their tasks quickly.
Service wasn’t all that was done during spring break. Sunshine, service and students made the perfect climate for a lot of fun.
There were many new friendships made and most even made friends with some of the local animals, namely Snowflake, Booger and Spaz, the local dogs that hung around the camp and dorm areas. Many memorable quotes were said and new “inside” jokes created.
They also came across the discovery that you can indeed catch air in a bus with the right driver, speed and bump in the road.
After spending March 11-13 serving, all the groups met together at Navajo Mountain. On March 14, they were taken to see some of the sights on the Navajo reservation. They were able to see some of the hogans, go on a short hike and see and walk across an amazing arch. They ended the day learning how to make authentic Navajo tacos from Francis and Hank and their family, who live at Navajo Mountain.
The SUN Center leadership would like to thank all those who participated and made Breakaway possible this year, including United Way, Daniel Luke, Hank Stevens, Kevin Hurst and Kent Keele.
Some of SUN Center’s upcoming service opportunities are Kids @ Heart, every Monday through Thursday, from 11:30 a.m-12:45 p.m.; Green Team, every Tuesday at 3 p.m.; Tutors needed to help adults learn basic English; and Castle Heights Art Night, March 21, 5-7p.m.
For information on upcoming events and to sign up, visit the SUN Center on the second floor of the Jennifer Levitt Student Center or call 435-613-5284.
