Alternative Service Experience

Plans for our international programs for spring 2020 are in progress!

March 7-14, 2020

iASE Programs occuring over Spring Break allow you the opportunity to explore and serve alongside an international community. Programs vary in cost but provide the same components of service, learning, and exploration that you find on the other alternative service experience programs.

• All students participating in iASE must read the Appalachian Overseas Education Program Handbook (pdf)
• All iASE Spring programs are 1 credit hour International Service-Learning courses
• 4 pre-travel and 1 post-travel classes required, as well as in-country reflections and assignments

Our 2019 Programs gives you an idea of what to expect in 2020! 

Botanic Gardens: Sustainable Agroforestry and Community Development
San Ignacio, Belize

Students will live on site and learn about the Belize Botanic Gardens and adjacent nature reserve. Service projects will include plant propagation, regenerative soil building and composting, pruning, trail maintenance, planting, nursery management, and preparing goods for market. These activities will support local garden education programs, special collections and community projects. Students will be encourages to take what they have learned in Belize about native plans and ecosystems to apply principles of regenerative practices to their everyday lives and issues in their own community.

• Program Fee: $1,750
• Peer Leaders: Mackenzie Morgan & LuAnna Nesbitt
• Learning Partner: Stacey Garrett

Sustainable Service: Conservation, Organic Farming, and Ecotourism
Mastatal, Costa Rica

Work & stay on a sustainable farm, Villas Mastatal, located in the heart of the Costa Rican forest. Through farm work, volunteerism with locals, & ecotours, participants will learn about the importance of sustainable development and lifestyle and different aspects of Costa Rican culture. Includes a tour of a chocolate farm, La Iguana.

• Program Fee: $1,750
• Peer Leaders: Karoly Majtenyi & Ilya Wang
• Learning Partner: Catherine Fountain

Constructing Connections: Cross-Cultural Connections and Community Development
El Cidral, Dominican Republic

This program will be traveling to El Cidral, Dominican Republic where students will be working with an organization called Service for Peace. While in El Cidral, the group will be working in a local elementary school where students will work alongside the community to further the development of the town. Students will leave Dominican Republic with a first hand experience of the cycle of poverty and how it affects communities.

• Program Fee: $1,900
• Peer Leaders: Vicky Anderson & Ashley Baugh
• Learning Partner: Kendra Souza

Engaging Education: Collaborating with Community to Enhance Educational Experience
Antigua and Guatemala City, Guatemala

Participants will spend the week in Antigua, Guatemala working alongside Safe Passage to serve the community. Safe Passage has educational programs for children ages 3-18 as well as a program for the parents of students. This organization also has a sub-program that works specifically with women in the community to support their education and career goals rather than working in the landfill. Participants will have the opportunity to simultaneously teach and learn from the community that they are immersed in through these various programs. Participants will also spend an entire day serving as a classroom assistant for students in grades first through seventh. This iASE will offer a week of language opportunities and cross-cultural connections for participants. Learning English is a goal for many of Safe Passage students because of the opportunities the language opens up for individuals. Students will also be participating and helping facilitate English classes with students of varying ages and levels.

• Program Fee: $1,900
• Peer Leaders: Megan Aeschleman & Mackenzie Briggs
• Learning Partner: Greg McClure

Environmental Enrichment: Rainforest Management and Sustainable Development
Puerto Rico**

Come join us for an adventure in the beautiful rain forests of Puerto Rico. Las Casas de la Selva Rain Forest Enrichment Project consists of 1000 acres of spectacular rainforest land in the central highlands of Puerto Rico. The project's mission is to research and demonstrate the economic use of rain forest land using methods that do not destroy the forest ecology. Come and learn about sustainable economic development that exists alongside the sustainable management of tropical forests.

• Program Fee: $1,350
• Peer Leaders: Hannah Phillips & Megann Southworth
• Learning Partner: Mike Waters

*Deposits and payments made for programs are non-refundable.

**This program does not receive course credit.

***Appalachian State University reserves the right to cancel or alter the program format or to change costs due to conditions beyond the University’s control.

****Credit hours earned through ASE will count in ASU's tuition surcharge calculation for attempted hours. All credit hours attempted at Appalachian during the fall/spring semesters do count towards the 140 limit for tuition surcharge.