Community Service in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

The origins of this service trip came from an alumni family, the Crumps, whose daughter Caitlin ’03 had travelled to the Serengeti on a Lawrenceville trip, and son Stephen, had participated in a service project in Guatemala with the school God’s Child (also running summer 2012). Their experiences on these trips led them to want to work on developing a trip to take place where their parents reside in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Father, John Crump, class of ’68, worked together with Director of International Programs and History Master Mike Hanewald, to construct a service project working closely with a local Rotary club of which Mr. Crump is a member. In spring 2011 Mr. Hanewald travelled to Puerto Vallarta to meet with the local Rotarians in order to assemble a trip for Lawrentians, which would be rich in both service, as well as cultural opportunities.

A key component of this trip is participating with the Rotary Club in their service programs, and to witness first-hand how a service organization works to assist a community in its development. Not only will students work with the Puerto Vallarta Rotary Club, but prior to the trip abroad, the group of participants will be introduced to a local Rotary Club chapter and its service programs. The home stay families will be members of the Rotary Club.

The beginning of the trip will be geared towards acclimating students to the environment and local culture. Students will participate in a canopy tour, snorkel around protected islands, and will observe a local dance performance highlighting all of Mexico’s regional dances. Students will be introduced to their homestay families approximately three days into the trip, and will wrap up the trip experience with a few days in a hotel.

The service projects will involve working with local organizations as they serve the community in numerous ways. With CompassioNet Impact students will work to help construct a home and aid in serving at a soup kitchen, and with the Children’s Center for Hope Foundation they will spend time in a home playing with younger children and tutoring those who are of school age. In addition to this service component, Lawrenceville students will visit a local private school, UNIVA, to learn with their students many of the regional cultural highlights which will include dance, cooking, and art.