At NMU’s Center for Student Enrichment (CSE), Superior Edge is offering students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to delve into community service projects while abroad in Greece. 

The tentative dates for the trip are Sunday, May 7 through Sunday, May 21. Anyone interested in learning more should attend one of the upcoming interest meetings on Friday, Oct. 14 at 1 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 20 at 4 p.m. or Monday, Oct. 24 at 5 p.m. All of the interest meetings will be held in the Front Room in the Northern Center (across from the Alumni Office, 1102 Northern Center) and you only need to attend one session.

The interest meetings will cover the itinerary of the two-week-long trip, covering details on what to expect, how much it costs and how to prepare, including securing a passport four to six weeks in advance of departure said Rachel Harris, director at the CSE.

“I feel like this is such a great way, with these service experiences, to get out there and do some traveling, so it’s fabulous,” Harris said. 

Past community service abroad destinations through Superior Edge include Ecuador, Ghana, Ireland, Peru, Thailand, Cambodia, Belize and New Zealand in 2018 and 2019. The most recent trip was taken in 2019 to India, prior to COVID-19.

“It’s life changing too because we have students that are in Superior Edge, and they have to write a reflection paper or talk about their experience through an interview,” said Cara Kamps, executive secretary at the CSE. “When we did just reflection papers … the highlight of their experience at Northern was going on these community service trips.” 

Students are encouraged to stop by the CSE to chat with Harris and Kamps about the trip to Greece, and both are more than happy to answer any questions. Further clarifications or concerns can be directed to [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]. 

“Talking to and having interactions with the people in Greece or wherever you are traveling to is really special,” Harris said. “You are not just a tourist when you are doing these volunteer trips, you are actually engaging with people that live there and getting to know them and so I think it is extra special.”