STUDENT SERVICE TRIP TEAM LEADER

Alternative Break Service Trip Program

MadisonAreaTechnicalCollege

The role of the Student Service Trip Team Leader is to work in cooperative partnership with the Faculty / Staff Service Trip Team Advisor to lead a Madison College Service Team in doing service work to meet needs & address matters of social issue at predetermined locations within the United States. The role has responsibilities before, during & after the week-long Service trip.

Recruitment Responsibilities

Before the Trip:

Assists in recruitment of student volunteers for Service Teams by staffing information tables;by making brief presentations to classes, clubs & organizations; by facilitating Information Sessions about the Alternative Break Service Trip Program at Madison College (works in cooperation with the Student Life Center Advisor for the Alternative Break Service Trip Program, the Alternative Breaks Coordinator from the Volunteer Center Board of Directors & other Student Service Trip Team Leaders);

Assists with interview & selection of student volunteers for upcoming Service Trips (interview questions, materials & selection criteria are provided for this process; works with the Alternative Breaks Coordinator from the Volunteer Center Board of Directors, the Faculty / Staff Service Team Advisors & other Student Service Trip Team Leaders)

Teambuilding & Skill Development Responsibilities

Before the Trip:

Administers needs assessments to Service Team members (works with Faculty / Staff Service Team Advisor);

Researches, plans & facilitates learning activities for Service Team members, including “get-to-know-you,” teambuilding & developmental events & activities; (work with Faculty / Staff Service Team Advisor);

Orients & trains selected student volunteers on the Service Team regarding roles, financial preparation (for baggage-fees, some meals, entertainment, some ground-transportation), resources, packing recommendations, safety-tips, trip preparation, etc.;

Co-Leads team discussion about “expectations” (expectations from the college, the volunteer agencies, the lodging facilities; expectations of the Team Leader & Advisor; expectations of Team Members, etc.) (partners with Faculty / Staff Service Trip Team Advisor);

Educates self & Team Members about social issues & service topics specific to the Service Trip location,by sharing articles & / or videos about the culture & social issues facing the area (partners with Faculty / Staff Service Trip Team Advisor);

Promotes service learning & leadership development by leading the Service Team in service projects locally, prior to the week-long Service trip out-of-state;

Works cooperatively with the Service Team to determine various roles for the trip (may include: drivers, navigators, subway guides, grocery-shoppers, food preppers, time-keepers, sight-seeing tour-guides, etc.)

Completes one-day course: “Community Emergency Response Training: Citizens Helping Citizens” along with all other Team Members (if course is available)

During the Trip:

Co-Leads team decision-making process to determine departure times, dining locations, gathering points, day-to-day logistics, etc. (partners with Faculty / Staff Service Trip Team Advisor);

Co-Facilitates team discussions to process & reflect upon feelings, observations, experiences, things learned relative to the service experiences (partners with Faculty / Staff Service Trip Team Advisor);

Meets daily with Faculty / Staff Service Trip Team Advisor to discuss the strengths, needs-for-improvement & insights of the Service Trip team experience; adjusts & follows-up accordingly

Mediates team conflicts (partners with Faculty / Staff Service Trip Team Advisor);

After the Trip:

Establishes an Assessment Meeting for the full Service Team to meet with the Student Life Center Advisor for the Alternative Break Service Trip Program & the Alternative Breaks Coordinator from the Volunteer Center Board of Directors

Continues to promote service learning & leadership development by leading the Service Team in service projects locally, following the week-long Service trip out-of-state;

Administrative Management Responsibilities

Before the Trip:

Manages the completion, collection & processing of college required Student Co-Curricular Travel Conduct Code forms (one per participant)

Develops meeting schedule for the Service Team (recommend weekly)

Provides fund-raising tips to team members, who require assistance

Assists in follow-up with Team Members to complete trip payments

Meets with the Student Life Center Advisor for the Alternative Break Service Trip Program, the Alternative Breaks Coordinator from the Volunteer Center Board of Directors, Faculty/ Staff Service Trip Team Advisors & other Student Service Trip Team Leaders, as necessary

Before & During the Trip:

Partners with Faculty / Staff Service team Advisor to maintains necessary information:

  • Airlines Reservation Confirmation (if applicable)
  • Consultant / Emergency Call List of Personnel at Madison College
  • Debit Cards for Authorized Purchases (examples of purchases: bus tickets, food, fuel, groceries, parking, shuttle costs, subway tickets, tips, toll, etc.)
  • Driver Authorization Forms (if applicable)
  • Emergency Contact / Medical Information for each Participant
  • Student Co-Curricular Travel forms signed by each Participate,
  • Itinerary
  • Learning Resources (Assessment Forms, Reflection / Processing Questions for Team Discussions)
  • Lodging Information & Reservation Confirmation Paperwork (as applicable for camps, campgrounds, hostels, hotel, ranches, retreat lodges, etc.)
  • Certificate of Liability (if applicable)
  • Resource Information about the Volunteer Agencies, Local Points-of-Interest, etc.
  • Service team Roster
  • Service Hours Tracking Forms
  • Vehicle Rental Confirmation paperwork (if applicable)
  • Volunteer Agency-Specific Waivers (if applicable)

During the Trip:

Interacts with various personnel regarding reservations, purchases, check-in-out, agency directives, etc. (partners with Faculty / Staff Service Trip Team Advisor);

Collects & organizes itemized receipts for all trip related purchases

Manages debit card purchases

After the Trip:

Meets with Student Life Center Advisor for the Alternative Break Service Trip Program to return used& un-used debit cards, receipts, etc.

Recognition Responsibilities

Before & During the Trip:

Provides recognition to Service Team members for positive actions, role fulfillment & contributions (recognition via private conversations, group announcements, issuing of certificates, awards, service pins, etc.;

During the Trip:

Shoots photos & videos of Madison College students doing service work

Blogs about service experiences

Posts photos on Facebook of Madison College students doing service work for various agencies in various locations

After the Trip:

Leads-by-example & encourages other team members to write emails & “thank-you” notes to those who helped to fund the Service Trip, those who worked with the Team at the various Service Agencies, those who provided service & assistance to the Team at various lodging facilities;

Recommends to Student Life Center Advisor for the Alternative Break Service Trip Program, which Team Members, if any, should be considered as Student Service Trip Team Leaders for upcoming Service Trips

Writes articles or is interviewed for articles about the Service Trips to be published in The Clarion & local area newspapers

Eligibility:

  • Current full-time or part-time enrollment in degree-credit courses at Madison College (must be enrolled during the semester in which he or she applies & during the semester in which he or she travels with the Service team)
  • Cumulative grade-point-average of 2.5 or higher
  • Previously & successfully served as a Team member on a Madison College Alternative Break Service Teamor equivalent-type group experience with community, high-school, college, etc.
  • Be recommended by the Faculty / Staff Advisor & / or by the Student Service Trip Team Leader for the Service Team on which he or she was a Team Memberor by other Madison College Faculty / Staff member
  • Be recommended by student volunteers from the Madison College Service Team on which he or she was a team member (if applicable)
  • Proof of Health Insurance coverage

Skills Necessary:

  • Ability to facilitate teambuilding & learning activities among Service Team Members
  • Ability to learn & understand“the basics” of group dynamicslearning styles
  • Mediation skills
  • Monetary management skills
  • Teambuilding skills
  • Organization skills
  • Planning skills

It is a BONUS if Student Service Team Leaders…

  • Speak other languages, in addition to English
  • Previously travelled & / or did service in the location to which the Service Team is going
  • Is age 25 years, or more (rental vehicle companies require this age)
  • Has held, in good-standing, a WI State Driver’s License for 5, or more, years

Characteristics for Success:

  • Charismatic / magnetic personality
  • Connects easily with others
  • Inclusive & encouraging of others
  • Intuitive about the needs of others (individuals & groups)
  • Described by others as a “coach, teacher, helper & guide”
  • Informative person (likes to be in-the-know & to help others to know what’s going-on)
  • Student, possibly, in the following academic programs: Education, Human Services, Meeting & Event Management, Recreation Management

revised October 2012