Deep in Northern California's Redwoods, CBS News' Mireya Villarreal met science majors Neha Aitharaju and Lily Acheampomaa-Piasare... She said the "alternative breaks" have helped her realize how much bigger the world is than her. "I've been exposed to communities that I honestly would never have been exposed to if I hadn't gotten outside that comfort zone," she said. "I've learned that you have to care about people. And you can't care about people if you don't know the people out there."

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Not all college-goers made a beeline to sunny shores for their spring break. Twelve University of Miami students packed up and headed 2,000 miles west to Aurora, Colorado, for an alternative spring break, a growing trend where scholars spend their time off engaging in volunteer service... For many students, the trip was much more fulfilling than relaxing by the pool or taking a road trip.

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The trips expose students to a variety of issues ranging from children and racism in Alabama to drug and alcohol rehabilitation in Colorado ... This spring break, more than 100 students will participate in UMAB. Gerardo Delgadillo, a second-year participant, will spend the week at Harvest Farm, an addiction recovery center for men in Wellington, Colo. "I’m looking forward to getting to know the community," Delgadillo said. "Understanding how different environments shape us can also reveal how alike people are at the same time." Time for group bonding and reflection is built into every alternative break trip. The time allows for students to get to know each other on a more personal level, and share the initial impacts of their experiences.

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While most students use the week of spring break to sit back, relax and tan by the beach, the members of University of Miami Alternate Breaks (UMAB) take the time to focus on social justice issues..."What sets alternative breaks under Break Away apart from typical programs is the focus on education and orientation prior to the trip and the use of the trip as a catalyst for future action, ’ said Miranda Goot, a UMAB logistic chair...‘Ironically, I chose UMAB because I did not think it would be a big time commitment, and now it is my life because it has changed the way I view the world.’

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Every year, students from colleges across the nation come to the Valley to volunteer with La Unión del Pueblo Entero and to learn more about issues along the Texas-Mexico border. ... Students helped flyer in the colonias, attended house meetings, and helped prepare for the annual Cesar Chavez March. The students visiting from the University of Miami had a special privilege this year: giving back to a family that has given so much to visiting students and the union year after year.

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While some students jet off to exotic locales or tan by the pool, a dedicated group of participants will spend their spring vacation helping others and immersing themselves in a different way of life. ... From aiding the elderly in Huntsville, Ala., to promoting LGBTQ equality rights in Los Angeles, these students are serious about making a difference in the lives of others. ... ‘Our whole goal is not to have students go over for one week and volunteer and come back and not do anything about it. Our intention is for them to come back and ... carry on this passion.’

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‘The movement for action has strengthened,’ said Shelly Garg. ... Fifty-four students signed up to go to the hurricane relief site just outside of Kiln, Miss., and 10 went to Imokalee, Fla., where they stayed at a homeless shelter to volunteer their time with those affected by poverty. ... Garg, who participated in Alternative Spring Break her freshman year, said it inspired her to become more involved in volunteering in general. ‘It completely changes your world.’

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...'I could give a million and one reasons why this is a great program,' Miller said. “The reason that I love Alternative Break is that it has helped me be a better person and leader. It taught me a lot about my own strengths and weaknesses and helped erase a lot of the stereotypes that I already had.”

“This is definitely an experience that changes your life,” Andrea Sauerteig, a member of the executive board, said.

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... the week was only the beginning of new passions, projects, and priorities ... The group worked with a non-profit organization called Freedom Foundation that promotes education and an acceptance of differences in the community ... One of the most significant parts of the trip was the group’s participation in the 49th Jubilee, an annual celebration that honors those lost in 1965 on Bloody Sunday during the civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery ... "It was one of the greatest experiences I've had," Patel said ... "It was very eye-opening to see what other towns are like. That racism still exists, and I think everyone should be aware of that, and these trips bring that kind of awareness."

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ASB sites include, among others, domestic violence, hunger and homelessness and environmental work. ... ASB representatives say offering an alternative program for spring break gives students a positive way to spend their vacation time. ‘[It] is a great way to meet new people from school who are interested in the same issues you are,’Kasi Plute said. ‘It’s also an opportunity to do something about the way the world is.’

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