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Eleven Redbirds spent part of their summer serving families at a preschool in Quito, Ecuador, during an @isualtbreaks trip. Nestled in the cloud forests along the slopes of Pichincha volcano, the group planted a garden, refurbished playground equipment, painted colorful designs throughout the school, and explored some of the city’s breathtaking cultural landmarks. ⛰️ ✈️

Illinois State University senior photographer @shea_grehan joined the group along the way, capturing the people, landscapes, and moments that made the experience unforgettable. Discover the full 📷 gallery 🔗 in bio.

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What a great time we had connecting with Redbirds at Festival ISU! We look forward to supporting you in making your #RedbirdImpact this Fall 💪

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A group of Illinois State students, faculty, and staff is spending part of the summer in Ecuador through Alternative Breaks, combining service, cultural learning, and community engagement. The team is volunteering at a preschool in Quito and later traveling to Yunguilla to learn about conservation and eco-tourism efforts. Link in bio to follow along through our live blog as Redbirds document their experience abroad with photos and updates throughout the trip—the next update will be posted tomorrow. A group of people walking up a paved path on a hillside with greenery on both sides. A city is visible in the background. The group appears to be enjoying the outdoors.

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Over spring break, 16 Illinois State students joined partners from across the country to remove 33,547 pounds of trash from McKellar Lake in Memphis through @livinglandsandwaters.

Check out more photos from the Alternative Spring Break trip, which show the scale of the lake's pollution, students filling countless bags of trash, and a “trashion show” performance, visit the 🔗 in bio. A group of people wearing safety vests and gloves stands in front of a large pile of filled garbage bags. They are outdoors, surrounding a banner that reads "Alternative Breaks, Illinois State University." Some participants are raising their fists in celebration.

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🌱🚮 ‘26

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Let’s hear it for the Week 1 Alternative Spring Break crew!! 👏

The numbers are in, and thanks to 52 incredible volunteers, we pulled 33,547 pounds of trash out of McKellar Lake in just 2.5 days. 💪

This group powered through spotty weather and high water, but that didn’t slow them down one bit.

Huge thanks to the students and leaders from Vincennes University, Valparaiso University, Illinois State University, Heartland Community College, and Carroll University for showing up and getting their hands dirty with us.

And the best part? We’re just getting started.

#livinglandsandwaters #rivercleanup #alternativespringbreak #memphis

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Some students rest during spring break. These Redbirds show up. Our @isualtbreaks students are on the ground in Memphis, Tennessee, this week, giving their time and energy to clean up McKellar Lake alongside @livinglandsandwaters. We'll have the full story soon, but for now, we'll see you soon, Redbirds! A group of people smiling and posing energetically in front of a boat labeled "Living Lands & Waters." The background features a river and a cloudy sky.

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Senior Garrett Smolen (@garrett_smolen), a biological sciences major from Plainfield, chose Illinois State University because it was close to home and because the Fell Arboretum reflected his passion for the natural world. He has “always had a passion for anything living” and wants to dedicate his life to protecting and conserving nature.

Smolen has served as a trip leader and outreach coordinator for @isualtbreaks and worked as a student manager at @sustainisu. He previously served as president of the Student Environmental Action Coalition, helping promote environmental awareness and sustainable practices on campus.

His favorite experience has been participating in the Alternative Spring Break @livinglandsandwaters trip three times, once as a participant and twice as a leader. “Going into these trips, I did not know anyone else going, but each time I was able to meet interesting people who are passionate about what they do and befriend them,” Smolen said.

He said seeing tangible results from his work keeps him motivated. “Whether that is seeing less trash on the coast, viewing a newly restored school, or even passing my exams after studying, seeing the results motivates me to keep moving forward,” Smolen said.

Looking ahead, Smolen hopes to inspire others to take action in causes they care about. “I urge everyone I meet to find something they care about and find ways to make a positive impact within that cause,” he said. A person is sitting on a stone ledge outside, holding a sign that reads "Redbirds Who Turn Passion Into Action." The surroundings include bare trees and a large metal bell.

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A group of 11 Illinois State University (@illinoisstateu) students, a staff member and WGLT's Emily Bollinger started off the new year by volunteering for 10 days in Río Cuarto, Alajuela, Costa Rica.

ISU students have been participating in alternative break (@isualtbreaks) trips since 2000 and have been traveling to Costa Rica for nearly a decade.

These trips are designed to immerse students in service-based learning experiences that challenge their perspectives while encouraging civic responsibility beyond the classroom.

The volunteers built a house for two Nicaraguan immigrant families and harvested about 10,000 pineapples.🍍

Read the full story at WGLT.org.

Produced by WGLT's Emily Bollinger. #alternativebreak #serviceproject #collegestudents #civicengagement

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Senior agribusiness major Dru Thigpen returned to Costa Rica for an Alternative Winter Break trip after a meaningful experience with the program. From January 1–10, Dru and fellow Redbirds made a #RedbirdImpact by working in Montelirio, Río Cuarto de Alajuela, repairing and improving a home for Nicaraguan immigrants through hands-on service like cleaning, painting, and general repairs. For Dru, the experience was about giving back while helping guide other students, deepening cultural understanding, and growing as a global citizen through service. 👏 Promotional poster for Alternative Breaks in Costa Rica featuring students engaged in a service project in a lush rainforest.

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If you’re looking to make a #RedbirdImpact on a service trip, this is your chance: Applications for Alternative Spring Break and Alternative Summer Break are open until December 1!

☀️There are 2 trip opportunities for Spring (March 8-14, 2026) and 1 opportunity for Summer (May 11-20, 2026). Find more information and choose your Alternative Breaks experience visiting our website (link in bio).

❗️Scholarships are available to help offset trip costs. Don’t miss out!

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🌍❤️ A heartfelt Asante sana to the incredible team from Illinois State University! For two beautiful weeks, you poured your time, energy, and love into the heart of Ngong — from painting classrooms, walking with our mothers, bringing chickens (and hope!), to sharing stories that will stay with us forever.

You didn’t just volunteer — you became part of our community, our family. Your impact will be felt in the laughter of children, the strength of women, and the dreams that continue to grow.

From everyone at Living Positive Kenya, thank you for reminding us that the world becomes a better place when hearts connect across oceans. 🌍💫

#ThankYouISU #LivingPositiveKenya #CommunityLove #GlobalVolunteers #NgongStrong #FromIllinoisToKenya #ChangingLivesTogether #GratitudeBeyondWords

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