What to Expect
Pre-Trip
Each Service Trip begins prior to the trip with workshops and group building activities to help the group prepare for their experience; typically this is 5-6 group meetings (fewer for weekend trips) in advance of the trip. These group meetings provide an opportunity for group members to get to know each other, learn about the host community and partner organizations, prepare logistically for the trip, and organize group fundraising efforts. Pre-trip meetings often involve expert guest speakers from our local community.
Pre-trip meetings are generally scheduled on a weekly basis to accommodate group members’ schedules. Failure to attend pre-trip meetings can result in a student not being able to attend the service trip as well as forfeiture of deposits.
On The Trip
For trips during the academic year, groups travel together to and from Carlisle, typically by van. For trips during breaks between semesters, students are generally responsible for organizing their own transportation to arrive at a designated time and place (e.g., if you have gone home after the semester ended in December, you might be asked to arrive to an airport by a particular time on the designated day).
During the trip, we generally have packed and fulfilling days that may include early wakeups, a broad range of service projects that may be physically demanding, educational enrichment activities, tours, visits with community members, making and enjoying meals together, and participating in group discussions and reflection activities.
The Service Trip experience can include intellectually, physically, and emotionally challenging experiences – whether in the host community, at a service project, or in the reflection discussion on one’s own values, philosophy, identity, and motivations. Group members, trip leaders, and trip administrators work together to support each other through this challenging, exciting, and important work.
Most trips include time to explore the host community in small groups as well as “free time.” For safety reasons, we encourage group members to stick together in groups of at least two, as well as refrain from bringing expensive items or excessive amounts of money.
Housing is provided on each trip and may be in a place of worship in our host community. Service Trips are open to all students regardless of religious identity. If group members are invited to participate in religious gatherings by our hosts, participation is optional.
All members of the group are expected to contribute to the Service Trip experience; we recognize that Service Trips are not vacations, but that our priority is to engage with and serve the host community. We work to build and maintain a cohesive community, among trip participants and those with whom we work, by creating a culture of respect.
Additionally, all group members are expected to: maintain a clean and safe living environment; refrain from any illegal drug use or use of medications not prescribed by a doctor; follow all laws, curfews, and rules created by host organizations and local communities; refrain from use of alcohol and tobacco; and follow all guidelines regarding dress code and behavior set by host organizations (e.g., clothes that can get dirty, work-appropriate clothing such as long pants).
After The Trip
Group members are encouraged to get involved in their local community upon return from a service trip. This might look like getting connected to a local organization that does similar service work, or connecting with a cultural group similar to the community we visited.
After the trip, students are provided the opportunity to continue their involvement with Service Trips by attending another trip or serving as a trip leader or Service Trip Coordinator.
Who’s Who on a Service Trip?
Trip Participants are students attending the service trip. Service Trips are open to all Dickinson students regardless of class year, major, or other status. Service Trip Participant students must be responsible—ethically, morally and physically— when preparing for and participating in a Service Trip. They must be willing to work with their trip leaders and Learning Partner.
Trip Leaders are student leaders who make Service Trips possible. They are responsible for organizing trip itineraries with support from the CCLA staff, planning group activities for the full Service Trip experience with their Learning Partner, serving as group facilitators, and providing on-site leadership during the Trip experience.
Learning Partners are Dickinson faculty or staff members who support the learning experience during a Service Trip. Learning Partners participate in all group activities and serve as the point of contact for campus during trips. Learning Partners serve as mentors to Trip Leaders and participants, and assist in drawing connections between the service experience, cultural explorations, and students’ academic experiences. Learning Partners also provide support around health and safety issues on trips. Training is provided.
CCLA Staff: Service Trip Coordinators & the Director of Community Engagement are members of the CCLA team who create the Service Trip experiences. The Service Trip Coordinators are members of the CCLA student staff who work together with the Director of of Global and National Partnerships and Programs (Laura Megivern) to identify host communities and community partner organizations for the trips each year. They provide support for the trips and their leaders, especially prior to the trips. Laura is also the primary contact for financial aid and payments as well as any required paperwork for participants.
Community Partners & Host Sites: Community Partners and Host Sites are the organizations that host Service Trips in their local communities. These organizations may include nonprofit or government organizations filling community needs who host us as volunteers, as well as organizations that provide housing. Some trips may have a single host site for housing and service projects; others may have multiple partner organizations. CCLA strives to create long-term, sustainable, and mutually beneficial partnerships with these organizations, so that we may assist with ongoing community defined needs, learn about the community and its history, and engage in meaningful and ethical relationships.
Finances & Required Paperwork
How Much Do Service Trips Cost?
Program Fees for each trip vary depending on duration of trip, location, and mode of transportation. We work to make trips affordable - for example, for a trip in 2023 to North Carolina (van travel) for 7 days the trip fee was $300. See below for information about the payment process and financial aid.
What’s Included in the Program Fee?
Program Fees include all accommodation, three meals a day, and transportation on site, entrance fees to scheduled sites and events, group gear, administrative costs, and project donation. For trips during the semester (spring break and fall pause), the program fee includes transportation to and from campus as well as meals during travel periods.
For trips where participants are traveling separately, when possible, the program fee will include transportation from transit hubs (e.g., airports, train stations, bus stations) to service sites or housing.
Your payment is expected in full prior to departure. Trip fees do not cover any additional meals or snacks you may want, personal entertainment, or medications (although each team will have a fully stocked standard First Aid kit).
Program Fees do not cover the full cost of Service Trips. We are grateful to generous donors to be able to offer this program at reduced cost for students; groups’ fundraising efforts also support the program and financial aid for the program to be sure that Service Trips are accessible to all.
Financial Policies, How To Pay, & Financial Aid
Payment Methods: payments may be made by credit card, debit card, or e-check can be made .
Cash or check payments can be delivered to CCLA – 255 W. Louther St. Tuesday – Friday, 9am-12pm and 1-4pm or by appointment.
Cancellation Policy: Cancellations made up to six weeks prior to departure will be refunded 50%. Cancellations made after six weeks prior to departure are not guaranteed refund and granted at the discretion of the CCLA office and may be possible given our ability to fill vacated spaces. Payments already made on your behalf may be nonrefundable (e.g., airfare). Cancellation of registrations made by credit card will be refunded less a 5% credit card processing fee. All cancellations must be submitted in writing to the Director of Global and National Partnerships and Programs (Laura Megivern).
Financial Aid: At the Center for Civic Learning & Action, we aim to make Service Trips as accessible as possible. We work to keep costs down for all participants, and we know that even this subsidized fee may be out of reach for some. While support funds are limited, we are able to offer a limited number of reduced trip fees. Financial Aid is available both in the form of reduced trip fees as well as the ability to spread out payments, though all fees must be paid in full prior to departure. There is a brief financial aid application for each trip; forms will be made available to students selected to participate. Please note that this information is reviewed only by CCLA full-time staff (not student trip leaders or coordinators); Financial Aid staff assist in prioritizing requests, but final determination for Service Trips support is made by CCLA staff. This financial support process is separate from the application to participate and decisions in regards to participation are not contingent on the support application. Please send questions about Financial Aid for Service Trips to Laura Megivern at megiverl@dickinson.edu.
Additional Paperwork & Required Forms
Students are required to complete a Dickinson waiver and medical form (via CLIQ) prior to departure; some host community partners or community host sites may also require waivers or medical forms. These will be distributed during pre-trip meetings or electronically prior to departure. For trips where individuals are traveling separately (i.e., January and May trips), additional forms may be required to manage travel logistics including travel method, arrival and departure times, as well as whether you will require access to your residence hall.
Application Process & Timeline
Note – 2024-2025 dates are subject to change – check in with your trip leaders, trip administrator, or servicetrips@dickinson.edu for the most up-to-date information.
Each trip requires an application which can be completed online. Some trips may also require an interview (typically for longer or international trips). Trip participants must be in good standing academically and socially with the college. Academic and social conduct records will be reviewed for all participants as part of the selection process. Below are the important dates for 2024-2025.
- Fall Pause Service Trip Application Due Tuesday, October 1, 2024 by 11:59 p.m.
- Fall Pause Service Trip - Saturday, October 19, 2024 – Tuesday, October 22, 2024 (Richmond, VA)
- Trip Leader Application Due (for spring break and May trips) Friday, November 1, 2024 by 11:59 p.m.
- Spring Break Service Trip Application Due Sunday, November 17, 2024 by 11:59 p.m.
- Trip Leader Retreat - Saturday, January 25 – Sunday, January 26, 2025
- Spring Break Service Trips – Saturday, March 8 – Sunday, March 16, 2025
- May Trip Application Due - Sunday, March 23, 2025 by 11:59 p.m.
- May Service Trip - May 19 – May 28, 2025 (Dallas, Texas)