Rebuilding New Orleans Spring Break

Rebuilding New Orleans Spring Break
2011 Itinerary

Day 1 Saturday
You will land at Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY) in New Orleans, where your Rustic Pathways staff members will be eagerly awaiting your arrival. From the airport you will head straight to our Base, where you will meet the rest of the group. Then take a tour of the city and check out some of the rebuilding efforts. See where the levees breached, learn how it happened, and get a sense of the extent of the destruction that currently remains in New Orleans. You will end up back at the Base, where a hot local dinner will be waiting for you.  Welcome to the Big Easy! 

Day 2 (Sunday)
Open your eyes to the unique culture of the Crescent City, starting in the famous French Quarter.  Shop in the French Market, eat some beignets, and wander down the Mississippi towards the steamboat ferry that will take you across the river to the Algiers neighborhood for lunch.  Spend the afternoon listening to local Cajun music and picking up a few local dance moves. Then have dinner and head to bed for a good night’s sleep. 

Day 3 (Monday)
You will begin your volunteer work with a grassroots rebuilding organization in New Orleans. Help out at a local school, a community garden, or a community center and see how the city is rebuilding socially after the levee breaches. Then take a ride around the city during lunch to see how the neighborhoods were physically affected by the floods and learn a little about the history of this special city. After work, come home for a hot meal (chicken and andouillesausage gumbo!) and a quiet evening at Café du Monde, famous for their beignets (French donuts) – a well-earned treat at the end of the day.

Day 4 (Tuesday)
After eating breakfast and packing lunch, head down to the bayou and learn about how the wetlands are important both environmentally and for hurricane protection.  Pull your waders on, jump into the swamp, and help save the delicate ecosystem.  After lunch, explore the estuary and see some of Louisiana’s wildlife – maybe even an alligator if you’re lucky! You will want to relax this evening – work will start early tomorrow morning!

Day 5 (Wednesday)       
Start rebuilding with the St. Bernard Project! After a safety orientation, get out into the field and help build the walls and floors that will become a home for a family looking to come home after the floods. Pick up some new skills, teach a friend what you have learned, and chat with the homeowners about their story. You will meet more volunteers from around the world who are pitching in and learn how this parish (county) is unique, how it is being rebuilt, and what you can do to protect Gulf Coast residents from future flooding.  After dinner, head to the French Quarter to check out live music at Preservation Hall – a historic venue that is preserving traditional jazz music.

Day 6 (Thursday)
Now that you have gotten used to the feel of the worksite, perfect your techniques and spend more time getting to know the locals and your fellow volunteers.  In the afternoon, learn about the Mardi Gras Indians from a local expert, explore the Faubourg Tremé neighborhood, and check out famous Congo Square, where jazz music began.  Then head to the Garden District for a little shopping and return to the Base for dinner and free time with the group.

Day 7 (Friday)
Today will be your last day of service work in New Orleans – take in the experience for one last day and talk to local residents about what life is like in the Crescent City.  Listen to their stories from the storm, the levee breaches, and the aftermath, and be amazed at the resiliency of New Orleanians and their love for their hometown. Tonight you will head out to hear some of the live music the city is famous for!  

Day 8 (Saturday)
Spend the morning with the friends that you’ve made and enjoy one last hearty New Orleans breakfast before you return home and share your experiences and photos with your friends and family. 

An Important Note about Schedule Changes:
Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change, alter, or amend the daily itinerary for this trip at any time. Changes can be made for various reasons including changes in flight or program schedules, changes in the schedules of various external tours incorporated in our trips, the addition of new activities into a trip, or the substitution of an old activity for a new activity. The itinerary shown here provides a good outline of the anticipated daily schedule for this program. As with any travel program, some changes may occur.

 

 

Pack the following items in your carry-on luggage:

» Airline Tickets
» Identification (license, passport)
» Health insurance card
» Wallet with about $100 (emergency cash)
» Sunglasses
» Toothpaste, Toothbrush
» Journal and Pen
» Snacks
» Camera

Pack the following items in your checked luggage:

» Light sleeping bag or twin-size bed linens and light blanket
» Pillow
» Refillable, durable water bottle (IMPORTANT!)
» Lightweight long pants or jeans (2 pairs)
» Underwear (7 pairs per week)
» Socks (7 pairs per week)
» T-shirts or tank tops (6 per week)
» Long sleeve t-shirt (one for Summer and 2 for Spring Break)
» Sweatshirt
» Swimsuit (optional)
» Lightweight rain jacket
» Shorts (3 pairs)
» Tennis shoes
» Work shoes or boots (any hard-soled shoes will do – old sneakers, etc. that can get dirty)
» Sandals or flip-flops
» Soap in a plastic dish (or bodywash)
» Shampoo (pack in a zip-lock bag)
» Personal First Aid Kit (students may want to bring ibuprofen, etc.)
» Small bag for day trips
» Sunscreen (pack in a zip-lock bag)
» Lip balm with SPF
» Aloe Vera gel
» Insect repellant (pack in a zip-lock bag)
» Handiwipes or towlettes (optional)
» Hat for sun
» Towel (not white)
» Laundry bag or pillowcase
» Medications- Bring with you whatever medications you will need during your trip; during orientation you must disclose to your staff all of the medications that you are carrying.
» Contacts and solution if necessary (packed in a zip-lock bag)
» Small travel game like cards or dominos, Frisbee, hacky sack
» Musical instruments are always appreciated if they can be easily carried

1 – Will the students travel outside the city?
The students’ service projects will be both within the New Orleans city limits and in the surrounding parishes (counties).  The group will stay at the base in the city every night, and no day trip will be outside Southeastern Louisiana.

2 - What costs are not included on this trip?
Snacks, souvenirs, and other shopping excursions are not included.

3 - What kind of food will we be eating? Where?
They will be eating most meals at home base.  Breakfast is usually cereal or bagels; students will pack their own sandwiches for lunch on mornings of service work.  Dinner consists of local specialties (jambalaya, gumbo, red beans & rice, etc.) and American favorites.  Groups occasionally go out to restaurants to experience local cuisine, which is covered in the trip cost.  Meals overall are high-energy and nutritious, many times made with locally grown vegetables and regional ingredients.  Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated for; there will be a vegetarian/vegan/seafood-free option if required.

4 - Will the kids be drinking bottled water?
The Rustic Pathways students will be able to drink water from the tap during this program, but they will have the option to buy bottled water if they prefer. As New Orleans is in a hot climate, we require that every student has a refillable water bottle on hand at all times to stay hydrated.  Water coolers will be provided at the worksite to keep students hydrated, and drinking water is encouraged and required by staff.

5 - What will the accommodation on this trip be like?
Students will be staying at the Rustic Pathways home base each night in bunk beds with separate rooms for boys and girls.  The base is located in a residential neighborhood in the city; staff will be on site at all times and stay overnight with the students.  Students are not allowed to leave the property unaccompanied, and will be “locked in” at designated times each night.

6 - How often (if at all) will students be able to do laundry on this program and what will it cost?
There are laundry facilities on-site, and detergent is supplied.  Spring Break students are encouraged to bring enough laundry for the whole week, while Summer students typically bring one weeks’ worth of clothes and do a load of laundry halfway through the trip. 

7 – Should I bring my musical instrument?
Although we keep pretty busy during the trip, we do have down time.  We usually have a guitar on hand.  Feel free to bring your instrument if it is small and easy to carry – New Orleans has been known to inspire musicians to play.  Rustic Pathways is not responsible for lost or stolen instruments.

8 – Is New Orleans safe? 
Yes. Rustic Pathways takes many precautions to ensure our students’ safety.  Rustic Pathways provides our own transportation and therefore, with the exception of the occasional trolley or ferry ride, never utilizes public transportation. We avoid potentially dangerous areas, and students are closely supervised during evening cultural events.  We do not allow students to leave the Rustic Pathways Base House property unescorted, and students are always accompanied by Rustic Pathways staff for the duration of the trip service and activities.