Spring coincides with the arrival of Alternative Spring Break groups of college students at The Elephant Sanctuary. Rather than spending their spring breaks on a more traditional vacation, these students choose to dedicate their time away to donating service hours and learning about the needs of elephants and The Sanctuary's mission.
In March, 11 students from North Carolina’s Appalachian State University and eight students from Tennessee’s own Vanderbilt University spent a week working alongside The Sanctuary's Staff, gaining insights to share with their campus communities. Both institutions have been sending volunteers to The Sanctuary during spring break for over a decade. "We've had an amazing time volunteering with The Elephant Sanctuary and have learned so much about what The Sanctuary does for elephants and environmental conservation. This week has definitely been a one-of-a-kind experience,” says Angela, Vanderbilt’s Alternative Spring Break Student Leader.
These hard workers did everything from general spring cleaning of The Sanctuary grounds, creating enrichment for the elephants, constructing compost bins, landscaping, and learning about potential career pathways in animal care and conservation education.
In addition, the students dedicated volunteer hours to High Forest Humane Society and Hope Hohenwald Inc., whose mission is to improve the quality of life in their community by providing opportunities for children, youth, and families. Tonya Woodward, HOPE Hohenwald’s CEO, says the organization was honored to host such a wonderful group of students. “Their volunteer work not only helped further our mission in our community but also an orphanage in Liberia. We are grateful for The Elephant Sanctuary for including Hope Hohenwald Inc. in their itinerary.”
The Elephant Sanctuary looks forward to hosting even more student volunteers later this year.