???Spring break, highly anticipated by any stressed out student is finally around the corner.
Although many picture sun and sand as the ideal way to spend their week away, other options can make the week memorable.
???Usually when campus slaves hear the words 'spring break,' their ears perk up and the phrase stirs happy thoughts of warm, sunny beaches. However, in an ongoing effort to stray from this cliche vacation, many students are headed to snow covered mountains and the Big Easy.
???Skiers and snowboarders are packing their winter attire and spending their spring breaks in Colorado for a phenomenal ski trip, courtesy of Schussmeisters Ski Club.
???Winter Park, Colo., is the destination of the trip and will run from March 7 to 13, according to Pat Stahl, a senior marketing major and vice chairman of Schussmeisters Ski Club. There are still open spots left for anyone who is interested in spending his or her spring break speeding down the slopes.
???Although there is a slight difference in prices, the trip is offered to everyone, regardless of whether or not they have membership status, according to Stahl. The trip is $1,019 for members and $1,169 for non-members.
???"In my opinion, [Winter Park] is the best place to go because of the versatility," Stahl said. "They have every aspect of skiing and snowboarding."
???According to Josh Bradley, a senior informatics major, ski towns generally promote a warm, positive atmosphere and the people who reside in such towns are typically welcoming and extremely passionate about their sport.
???"It's a good time," Bradley said. "Schuss has sweet hotel rooms and the rooms are super close to the slopes - about a five minute walk to the first lift."
???With the spring excitement on their minds, not everyone is ready to drive off into deeper snow and colder temperatures. Some students, with a much more common agenda, are choosing to travel to warmer climates.
???Urban Renewal SA is a group with additional goals other than simply escaping the cold. They are planning to volunteer their time and go to New Orleans to help out in areas that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
???There are still spots available to those who may be interested in devoting their time to help those in need, according to Farah Brunache, president of Urban Renewal SA.
???"It's a little different then what you have seen on TV," Brunache said. "The roads are clear and that's it."
???This type of experience can be extremely rewarding, according to Brunache. The feeling of knowing you just helped out a place that is still desperately seeking renovation is something that Urban Renewal SA has found very satisfying.
???"The first trip was a real eye opener," Brunache said. "The area still needs help, still needs rebuilding."
???Going to New Orleans can also tug at a volunteer's heartstrings; the scene of strings of tents lined up where houses used to be can be very saddening.
???"It's hard to bear because they are everyday people just like you and I who, because of the storm, have lost everything," Brunache said. "There's no protection for these people."
???The trip to New Orleans will take place during the entire week of spring break. Students will leave March 7 and return March 15. The cost is only $100 for the full week of room and board.
???"It is your vacation, but you are volunteering time and doing volunteer work," Brunache said. "You are making a difference in people's lives with a small cost on your end."
