Over the 2025 fall break, students from St. Norbert College put their commitment to environmental stewardship into action. The Sturzl Center for Community Service & Learning’s Turning Responsibility Into Powerful Service (TRIPS) program partnered with the SNC Adventure Club to host an environmental justice service-learning trip in Michigan’s scenic Upper Peninsula.

From Oct. 8-12, six St. Norbert College students traveled to Munising, Mich., for a hands-on experience focused on sustainability and accessibility in outdoor spaces. The group was led by TRIPS student leaders Sophia Johnson ’27 and Natalie Waurio ’27.

Throughout the week, participants completed a variety of environmental projects. They removed invasive plants and spread mulch at the Chatham Community Garden, collected macroinvertebrates from a local stream for an Alger County Conservation District/MSU Extension Office workshop and conducted trail site assessments for the Schoolcraft Conservation District to ensure accessibility for birders with disabilities.

Between service projects, students explored the natural beauty of the region, hiking to Wagner Falls, the Manistique Boardwalk and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Abram Lopez-Vaughn ’26, an environmental science major, said the trip offered valuable lessons both personally and academically.

“I loved learning more about things related to my field, but also learning new things entirely. I had never really thought about the intersection of hiking/outdoor activity and accessibility. The service we completed was very fulfilling and I can truly understand the difference we made.”

Abram Lopez-Vaughn ’26

TRIPS is an alternative break service program that equips students to grow through hands-on education, service and reflection to become engaged citizens who strengthen communities by committing to social justice.

The program offers students leadership skills, new perspectives and a deeper understanding of our local and national communities. Along the way, students experience new cultures and discover how to make positive changes within themselves and the world.