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Alternatives to Military Service
Dear Friends and Allies, AFSC Youth & Militarism is planning on publishing a national resource guide for youth and those who counsel them on post-high school opportunities in the near future. With the understanding that many of you need the information NOW as we approach the end of the school year, we are releasing some of the information that we have incldeded in the guide (absent the wonderful anecdotes, tips and helpful advice). The actual guide is much more than the sum of these resources, but we think they will help you as you move forward with tabling at schools and working with local groups during this crucial recruiting season, especially in developng handouts on local resources. Please see more alternatives resources from our AFSC offices in LA, Western Mass and North Carolina at http://www.afsc. org/youthmil/ resources/ Default.htm. 1. GAP YEAR OR YEAR OFF Gap-Year Information Sources • The Center for INTERIM Programs asks the question: If you could wave a magic wand, what would you do? The program has offices in Cambridge, MA and Princeton, NJ See their website for some very interesting alternatives. A warning: they have a pricey consulting fee of $2,100 if you opt to have them design a gap year program for you. http://www.interimprograms.com Jobs and Service • Teens4Hire.org is a membership-based website founded in 2002 and dedicated to linking teens with prospective employers. Students may take a career assessment test, read about labor laws and work permits, and search for jobs. http://www.Teens4Hire.org • Public Allies selects individuals aged 18-30 for a 10-month program of leadership training, team service, and paid, professional internships in community nonprofit organizations (Ally Leadership Program). Ally positions are funded by AmeriCorps and include a monthly stipend of about $1,500, health insurance, childcare, interest-free student loan deferment, and a post-service education award of $4,725. http://www.publicallies.org or call 414-273-0533 AmeriCorps http://www.AmeriCorps.org • Job Corps http://www.jobcorps.doleta.gov • The Dynamy Internship Year Program offers internships and independent living in Dynamy apartments along with an Outward Bound program, one-on-one advising, and optional college credit seminars for 17 to 22 year-olds. Dynamy, Inc. is a not-for-profit experiential educational organization, the oldest residential internship program in the country. Its mission, as stated on its website, is to offer young people, ages 17-22, a gap year opportunity like no other. Dynamy programs integrate independent city apartment living with mentored internships, personal and college/career advising, urban and wilderness leadership opportunities, and the company of an incredible group of peers. Locations: Worcester, MA and Santa Rosa, CA. It is expensive. It costs $17,000 a year, plus $7,000 for room and board. There are lower-cost, half-year programs available and some financial aid. http://www.dynamy.org •The Outward Bound Wilderness website claims that it is the nation’s leading, nonprofit adventure-education organization offering an array of exhilarating course activities in many of the beautiful and pristine wilderness areas throughout the United States and internationally. The courses emphasize personal growth through hands-on experience and challenges. Students of all ages develop self-reliance, responsibility, teamwork, confidence and compassion, as well as environmental and community stewardship. http://www.outwardboundwilderness.org • The Council on Standards for International Educational Travel is a nonprofit organization that provides information about international youth exchange and education programs for high school students through its publications, its website, and activities. http://www.csiet.org • LEAPYear is a nine-month program for 17-20 year-olds and includes: a three-month experiential group semester of language, service and cultural immersion in Central or South America; a solo internship in Latin America or Spain; a formal Rite of Passage that involves parents, career and job-readiness counseling; and a curriculum of Life Skills Learning held at a retreat center in the U.S. http://www.leapnow.org Books to check out: • The Gap-Year Advantage, by Karl Haigler and Rae Nelson (St. Martin’s Griffin; 2005) One of the few books for U.S. students interested in a gap year, this book has ideas for a gap year after high school through to taking off while in college. The Back Door Guide to Short-Term Job Adventures: Internships, Summer Jobs, Seasonal Work, Volunteer Vacations, and Transitions Abroad by Michael Landes (Ten Speed Press; 4th edition 2005) • Or ask a librarian! Web Sites to Visit: • http://www.whereyouheaded.com A site that offers interesting educational options, helps people make plans to take a year off and offers advice for the college application process. There is a fee but it can be waived if you are low-income. • http://www.Gap-year.co.uk This is a British site, but it has a lot of good ideas about the gap year, including information about staying safe and healthy. • http://www.yearoutgroup.org Another British group with information on gap years for students, advisors and parents. • http://www.gapyear.com A commercial site with ideas, guides and a “Gap Year Clearing” section. • http://www.youthtravel.org A new website with information on how to travel safely. • http://www.unitedplanet.org and www.gquest.org These sites offer travel abroad service and educational opportunities. 2. BASICS (SHELTER, FOOD,HEALTH CARE) For housesitting opportunities, see http://www.caretaker.org and http://housecarers.com Temporary Shelter Youth hostels: In many larger cities—and most states—in the U.S., you will find youth hostels that are safe, clean and provide temporary shelter. If you are adventurous enough to travel, check out this website to find out which states have hostels and what facilities they have: http://www.hihostel s.com. Hostel prices range from $10 per night in smaller cities to $29 in New York City. Emergency or Safe Shelters: A Safe Place is a community program that sets up public locations as a network of places where youth in crisis can get immediate help. The YMCA has a hotline number and Safe Places you can go to if you find yourself needing temporary shelter. Call 800-621-4000 to find out where one is near you. Safe Place sites may be in fire stations, YMCA’s, Boys and Girls Clubs, libraries, fast food restaurants, convenience stores, other businesses, and even buses (mobile Safe Places). Look for the Safe Place sign. Safe Places are meant to serve youth under the age of 18, but if you are over 18 they will help you move to your next step. Beyond Shelter For access to immediate resources like showers and a hot meal, see http://www.nationalhomeless.org/resources/ state/index. html. http://www.govbenefits.gov is a website that asks you a series of questions about your income, age, family status and other factors to determine which state and federal benefits you might qualify for. http://www.erideshare.com is a free service connecting people throughout the country to carpools in their community. http://www.craigslist.org is another source of ride share information. Rental Resources • http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com This site offers tips for helping you find an apartment, important questions to ask potential landlords, and a list of organizations that deal with renters’ rights and laws by state under “Renters’ Resources”. 3. CHOOSING A CAREER Several self-assessment tools are listed at http://www.ulc.arizona.edu/assessments.htm. For a great selection of fun tools, go to http://www.queendom.com. Many resources can be found at http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/counseling Here are some great books you might want to check out. • The Career Guide for Creative and Unconventional People, by Carol Eikleberry (Ten Speed press; 2007) http://www.creativecareers.com • Discover What You’re Best At: The National Career Aptitude System and Career Directory, by Linda Gale (Fireside; 1998) • The Best Work of Your Life, by Patricia V. Alea and Patty Mullins (Perigee Trade; 1998) • What Color Is Your Parachute? For Teens, by Richard Nelson Bolles (Ten Speed Press; 2006) •Career and Tech School Finder: One good site is http://www.khake.com. On this site you can explore vocational and technical careers, check out the skills employers really want, find a trade school, research technical topics and take a look at the current job market. You can find any community college in any state on this site: http://www.aacc.nche.edu Career Info: To find out about wages and employment trends, occupational requirements, state-by-state labor market conditions, employer contacts nationwide, financial aid information, and the most extensive career resource library online, visit America’s Career InfoNet website: http://www.acinet.org • 300 Best Jobs Without a Four-Year Degree, by Michael Farr. (JIST Works; 2005). This is a great book for people who want to make the most of their training and those who want to explore new career options without going back to school. Job Search Web sites • http://www.idealist.org (also includes paid and unpaid internships and volunteer opportunities) • http://www.indeed.com http://www.craigslist.org • http://www.careerbuilder.com • http://www.monster.com • http://www.hotjobs.yahoo.com • http://www.dice.com (for technology jobs) http://www.teens4hire.org For more information about careers, see the federal government’s Occupational Outlook Handbook at www.bls.gov/ oco/home.htm. At http://www.careervoyages.com, you can explore different careers and even watch videos about what they are like! 4. SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES AND NONVIOLENT CAREERS AmeriCorps: This is a civilian organization that provides many opportunities to serve while you are learning skills and earning money for college. In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and others, AmeriCorps joined with local, state, and federal relief and recovery efforts to provide emergency assistance and long-term relief. For more information about benefits and the history of the program, see http://www.americorps.org. If you want to have the experience of living with a cadre of young people who are also looking to do something for their country, AmeriCorps*NCCC (National Civilian Conservation Corp) may be the best choice. You will live dormitory style and be deployed to areas of the country where work is needed on projects that help communities. http://www.americorps.gov/about/ programs/nccc.asp For the more independent minded, AmeriCorps* Habitat sends team members to live in communities to build housing. AmeriCorps*Habitat does not provide housing but they help people find housing while they build. For more information, see http://www.habitat.org/cncs If you would like to work with children, City Year, the program that inspired the creation of AmeriCorps and a member of AmeriCorps, might be right for you. It's website is located at: http://www.cityyear.org. There are literally thousands of AmeriCorps options, some of them probably right where you live! Many nonprofits have at least one or two AmeriCorps paid service opportunities, so don’t restrict your search to just the biggest AmeriCorps programs. The benefits are the same whether you are tutoring kids in the city or building hiking trail in the wilderness, so take the time to find if there is a program that will really utilize your interests and talents. Ask at local organizations that you like if they have an AmeriCorps slot or take the time to search at https://recruit. cns.gov and click on “Find a Program”. Health Careers: • Healthcare Careers’ website lists training programs in a wide variety of medical and allied health care fields. The listings include online and distance learning courses. The website also includes a list of career opportunities in allied healthcare. http://www.health- care-careers.org • All Allied Health Schools’ website provides a list of schools throughout the country where you can train for a career in the healthcare industry. http://www.allalliedhealthschools.com • Try Learning for Life’s career exploring program and get placed in a health care organization. They also have programs in: Arts & Humanities; Aviation; Business ; Communications; Engineering; Fire Service; Law Enforcement; Law & Government; Science; Skilled Trades; Social Services. http://www.learningforlife.org/ Alternative Fuels Technology: National Alternative Fuel Training Consortium (NAFTC) http://www.naftc.wvu.edu Apprenticeships The Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services website (OATELS) provides information on how to begin an apprenticeship and provides links to national apprenticeship programs, as well as programs in your own area that especially focus on young adults. See http://www.doleta.gov/OA and http://www.doleta. gov/jobseekers. You can also visit Career Voyages -- a related government sponsored site that allows you to view videos of different careers. http://www.careervoyages.gov/apprenticeship-main.cfm Job Corps: While learning a trade, Job Corps students live at one of the 122 Job Corps centers across the country. You must demonstrate a financial need/ For information on Job Corps call 1-800-733-JOBS or visit the website: http://jobcorps.dol.gov. YouthBuild: If you haven’t finished high school and have financial need, and want to acquire skills to support yourself, YouthBuild may be for you. YouthBuild is a nationwide public-private partnership that teaches carpentry skills to 16- to 24-year-olds. There are more than 225 local YouthBuild programs throughout the United States. To find the one nearest you, visit http://www.youthbuild.org. YouthBuild offers job training and education opportunities to unemployed young adults who learn to build and rehabilitate affordable housing in their own communities. Participants spend six to 24 months in the program, dividing their time between the construction site and the YouthBuild alternative school. Community and faith-based nonprofit organizations sponsor most programs, although some are sponsored by public agencies. Each YouthBuild program raises private and public funds to support itself. Williamson Free Trade School: The Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades in Media, Penn., is the only free boarding school of its kind in the nation. In three years, students study trade and technical theory, work on realistic projects, and receive academic instruction in a highly disciplined environment. The school is entirely free of cost but students are expected to conform to a highly disciplined environment. The school gives preference to applicants from New Jersey and Pennsylvania and restricts its applicant pool to U.S. born males who have not yet completed their 20th year. Candidates must be interviewed and take a standardized test. http://www.williamson.edu Small Business Training: Amlost every community has a Small Business Development Center led by the Small Business Administration. Most of these are connected with colleges and provide inexpensive training courses in business topics. Assistance from these centers is available to anyone interested in beginning a small business or improving or expanding an existing small business. For a list of offices, see http://www.sba.gov/localresources. Business Simulation Course from Making Cents http://www.makingcents.com. Finally, check out websites with “business start-up kits” that help you think through the steps of starting a business. One that’s especially good is the http://www.sba.gov/teens/ designed for young first-timers. More websites: http://www.jamieallen.com/youthlinks http://www.nxlevel.org has a youth entrepreneur curriculum called “What’s the Buzz on Biz” http://www.studentcenter.ja.org has tons of resources directed at high school students, including a Business Start Up kit http://www.kidsway.com http://www.independentmeans. com holds Camp $tart Up for youth in June and July http://www.edtecinc.com the Education division of EDTEC (Education, Training and Enterprise Center) publishes the New Youth Entrepreneur curriculum series and a curriculum called “Making Money the Old Fashioned Way: A Story of Black Entrepreneurship Green Jobs Green businesses sell all types of consumer goods and services. Thousands of green businesses are listed in the National Green Pages. http://www.coopamerica.org/pubs/greenpages/ One good site for a green dream job is http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/jobs. For more: http://www.sustainablebusiness.com click on “Dream Jobs” http://www.usgbc.org to find a Green Building company http://www.ellabakercenter.org has a curriculum on green jobs The Student Conservation Association (SCA) The SCA offers a variety of volunteer and paid experiences in U.S. national parks. Crews of six to ten students (high school, college, or others) with two adult leaders build and maintain trails; construct shelters, rock walls, and bridges; restore habitat; and remove invasive species. SCA provides housing, a living stipend, possible academic credit, AmeriCorps education awards, health and accident insurance, and travel to the project site. Partners include the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and other federal, state, and nonprofit organizations. For a list of hundreds of current positions, go to http://www.thesca.org/. The Environmental Careers Organization This organization is a clearinghouse for information about environmental internship opportunities and a lot more http://www.eco.org. The opportunities are for people already in college. ECO’s book, “The Complete Guide to Environmental Careers in the 21st Century”—which you can read right off their website—is a great source of information about environmental, conservation and sustainability careers. Go to http://www.eco.org, click on “Publications,” and then click “Read it on-line.” Orion Grassroots Network This network is an environmental internship and career service connecting students and professionals with cutting-edge environmental and social change work. http://www.oriononline.org Appalachian Coal Country Watershed The OSM/VISTA Watershed Team is a partnership between the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) and AmeriCorps VISTA. The team places full-time VISTA volunteers in community watershed associations throughout Appalachian coal country, which includes 30 sites in 8 states (PA, MD, OH, WV, VA, TN, KY, AL). The majority of the sites are in rural communities with a history of coal mining. Interns earn a small living allowance (approximately $750/month), health insurance, childcare (if eligible), student loan forbearance (interest paid for a year deferment by the federal government), choice of $1,200 stipend or $4,725 education award (upon successful completion of term), training, and an opportunity to make a difference. For full details, see http://www.accwt.org/volunteer.html College-like Programs • Castle Rock Institute for Wilderness Adventure and the Humanities North Carolina’s Brevard College offers programs primarily for college students but also accepts recent high school graduates who’d like to earn humanities course credit, engage in outdoor adventure activities, and live in a small community setting. Locations include North Carolina, South Carolina and Australia. http://www.castle- rock.org • The Audubon Expedition Institute, Lesley University This program is one of the top five Outdoor Education programs. With “the desert Southwest, Alaska, Hawaii and other sweet spots,” for their campus, AEI students explore diverse bioregions living on buses as they pursue environmental studies. High school graduates participate in its experiential ecology programs as a post-graduation year. http://www.getonthebus.org Niche Farming Find Hundreds of Organic Farm Sites Worldwide World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) helps individuals find organic farmers in countries around the world. Students or others join a WWOOF organization in a particular country of interest and are then put in contact with host farms to make particular arrangements. See listings for organic farms at http://www.wwoof.org. Southeastern Willing Workers on Organic Farms (SEWWOOF) SEWWOOF is a service linking organic farmers in the southeastern United States with people interested in apprenticeships in farming. It publishes the SEWWOOF Farm List, which describes each farm’s operation, compensation, etc. http://www.wwoofusa.org/directory.html • Farms offering internships or apprenticeships may be found in a registry maintained by ATTRA—National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, an organization that provides information and resources to the U.S. agriculture community. If you are interested in on-farm internships, please check the ATTRA website: http://www.attrainternships.ncat.org. • Organic Volunteers can provide a directory of volunteer opportunities or educational exchange opportunities in organic farming. http://www.organicvolunteers.com • http://www.backdoorjobs.com Training In Sustainable Farming For a good clearinghouse of information on options for obtaining training in sustainable farming, contact the Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC). Their website lists an abundance of resources for both college-focused and community oriented training opportunities. Alternative Farming Systems Information Center National Agricultural Library http://afsic.nal.usda.gov http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/edtr/EDTR2006. shtml contains the database of educational and training opportunities in sustainable agriculture. • The Northeast Organic/Sustainable Agriculture Education Directory describes educational and training programs about organic or sustainable agricultural methods in the north eastern region of the United States. Contact: The Northeast Organic Farming Association, Massachusetts Chapter, http://www.nofamass.org/programs/ageddirectory.php • Upper Midwest Organic Resource Directory entries include contact information and descriptions of University organic or sustainable agricultural programs plus other sources that may offer educational training opportunities. http://www.mosesorganic.org/umord/directory.htm • The Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada Directory lists courses, program descriptions and contact information for institutions in Canada that offer training in organic agriculture. http://www.organica gcentre.ca/Courses/courses_ campus_credit.html. There are a few nonprofit organizations that provide hands-on training in sustainable agriculture, including Massachusetts- based Food Project. The Food Project offers fellowships for young people. For more information about this unique opportunity, see http://www.thefoodproject.org or write to info@thefoodproject.org. If you are interested in a more formal training program, the Farm School might be what you are looking for. The Farm School Practical Farm Training Program offers a hands-on curriculum in learning how to be a farmer. More formal than usual farm apprenticeships and designed for learning, college credit may be arranged. Tuition is $10,000 and only limited financial aid is available. http://www.farmschool.org 5. COLLEGE Paying For College One great way to get started is to head to you local college access program. http://www.collegea ccess.org has a list of local programs. The most important person in the process will be the Financial Aid Officer at the school you apply to, so relax, find your perfect school and worry about money later. You can get a paper FAFSA application from any school. You can also fill it out online free at http://www.fafsa. ed.gov. Sometimes, private colleges also require you to fill out the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE® This is a more extensive investigation of your financial resources. It is worth the effort to fill it out, however, if your dream school requires it – and many of the most elite universities do. http://www.profileonline.collegeboard.com Special Circumstances If you are ineligible for federal financial aid due to drug conviction, dependency status (i.e. you are considered a dependent but your parents are not supporting you financially and you need help), immigration status, you aren’t planning on registering for Selective Service or any other reason (no taxes filed previous year or parents won’t fill out the forms, for example), contact the Financial Aid Officer at the school you wish to attend. They may know of special scholarships or school funding options you may not be aware of. If your parents will not support you or you are not in contact with them, you may also petition the school to consider you as an independent student, meaning you can get financial aid even without your parents’ help. In most cases, colleges and universities are reluctant to grant this status, but community colleges have the reputation of being more helpful. Usually only married students, parents of dependent children, veterans, graduate students and orphans and wards of the court under the age of 24 are considered independent for financial aid purposes. Otherwise, your parents will have to participate in the financial aid process, even if you don’t speak to them or they are divorced. If You Don’t Have “Papers” Being undocumented creates a host of problems for accessing higher education and disqualifies a student for federal financial aid. There are a limited number of private scholarships. There is a good article on options at http://www.finaid.org/otheraid/undocumented.phtml Special Sources of Aid for Non-Registrants If you did not register with Selective Service when you turned 18, or are considering not registering, federal law does not allow you to enroll in federally funded job training programs, or to receive federal financial aid for college. To help those who, for reasons of conscience, do not comply with Selective Service laws, the Center on Conscience and War (CCW) provides loans from the Fund for Education and Training (FEAT) http://www.feat. centeronconscien ce.org. They also provide a list of schools that will help nonregistrants financially like Earlham College http://www.earlham. edu plus other loan sources. The explosion in the private education loan industry has recently provided another viable option. The Education Resources Institute The Education Resources Institute (TERI) sponsors a TERI Supplemental Loan Program that is also open to non-registrants, but has a broader goal of helping families plan and pay for college. http://www.teri.org/ To find resources for financial aid information, look at information on federal and state sources of aid at http://www.finaid.org __._,_.___ |
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