For Greg Mason, next week's spring break is about more than getting a great tan at the beach.

Mason (graduate-leisure studies) helped to organize spring break for the student service club Project Haiti. During spring break, he and other group members will visit the village of Pandiassou, one of the poorest areas in Haiti, where they will be staying with a group of nuns.

"It's easy to go to the beach or do something else fun," Mason said. "But for me, this trip is a chance to make a difference."

In preparation for the trip, group members have collected medical supplies, diapers, children's clothes and other supplies to donate to a local hospital.

Last year, Project Haiti's annual trip was canceled as a result of violence and unrest in Haiti. After the U.S. government cited Haiti as a dangerous country to travel to, the university suggested the club cancel the trip and refused to sponsor the trip under Penn State's name.

In an e-mail message, Stan Latta, director of union and student activities, said that because of the nation's travel warning, it would be unwise for Penn State to support the travel student groups to Haiti.

"We cannot deny an individual student from traveling on their own," he said. "We can however, restrict our recognized student groups from using their [Associated Student Activities] accounts or supporting their travel in any formal way."

Despite danger warnings, Mason said that the group is unwavering in their dedication to this important cause.

"We still have a strong commitment to the people we are going to help," he said.

Project Haiti President Kristin Zagari will be making her fourth trip with the club. When reflecting on her third-world destination, she admitted that the lifestyles of Haitians are quite different than that of her own.

"The biggest thing I've learned is you can live with almost nothing. ... The simplicity of their living is impressive," Zagari said.

Most students agree the camaraderie among group members will help them through the challenges of the week ahead.

"At the beginning of the week, you don't really know these people that you are serving with," Brock said. "It's a real bonding experience."

To cover the cost of travel accommodations, fees for service trips range from $200 to $800 per person, which students pay for personally or through fund raising.

Katharine Brock (senior-premedicine), Habitat for Humanity co-coordinator, said more than 120 group members from her organization will be assisting the construction of homes in several southern states, including Florida and Kentucky.

After attending last year's Habitat for Humanity trip, Brock said traveling to a place with an underprivileged population made her aware of how fortunate she is, and it motivated her to help organize this year's event.

"I had the best spring break ever," she said. "I took what I have for granted, and this trip makes you appreciate what you have."

Another Penn State club, Mission Mexico, will also be forgoing the stereotypical spring break experience.

Group members will travel to an orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico, where they will interact with young children there while doing maintenance jobs, like painting.

Through various fund-raisers and sponsorships, Mission Mexico will make a large donation of clothing, shoes and toys to the children they plan to help.

Club President Irene McKenna, who is making the journey to Tijuana for the third time, said she especially looks forward to spending time with the children at the orphanage.

"I love playing with the kids all week. ...They're never sad, and they have a better life in the orphanage than they would at home," she said. "I get a lot from the kids."