When Ingrid Hale, director of Colgate's Center for Outreach, Volunteerism, and Education (COVE), looks up from her desk to see who has walked through the center's doors, odds are it is a female student.

"There is a gender disparity in volunteering not only on our campus, but also at colleges across the country," said Hale. "Unfortunately, there exists a stigma that it is either not manly to volunteer or that more important activities should take up a man's time."

Spring break means different things to different students, and there are opportunities galore for recharging personal batteries, taking advantage of internships, learning about leading and managing groups, or offering a helping hand.

Some students are participating in university-organized alternative spring break trips when classes shut down for a week beginning March 13.

Here is a look at several trips:

For spring break this year, nine Colgate students will roll up their sleeves and dig in to help others -- literally.

Accompanied by Daniel Mandell, assistant director of the COVE, the group will head to the Dominican Republic this Friday to plant vegetable gardens and lead educational sessions on nutrition for the community of El Mangito.

The idea for this trip sprouted from Marla Pfenninger '08, who interned in the Dominican Republic last summer thanks to the Dr. Merrill Miller Endowed Fellowship.