Several MATC students will ring in the new year in a new place. The group left on Sunday for South Florida, where their classroom will meet the outdoors.

"It's not your typical spring break where college kids are stereotyped to go and have a good time and party and live it up," trip coordinator Hope Edgren says.
But make no mistake. These young people expect a wild experience.
"Alligators, um," a student says.
The group's embarking on what MATC calls an "alternative winter break."
"What we're doing instead is volunteer service for a week somewhere else," Edgren says.
The trip coordinator says the group of nine will spend the week at an Everglades outpost, south of Miami. The first step -- head to Milwaukee for a flight to Florida. The students will unpack at a hostel when they get to the Sunshine State but spend their days helping rescued wildlife and restoring their habitat.
"I did local work before, but I never did nothing like this. Like usually, I go out to schools, help little kids and stuff but nothing like this. This is big," MATC freshman Curtis Love says.
The trip is just as big for sophomore Rudy Barlow, who's about to fly for the first time.
"First time taking a plane ever so it's gonna be a barrier to overcome," Barlow says.
But Edgren, who's opted for an alternative break in the past, says the reward is worth the journey.
"It's just gonna be something new and exciting, something that you know, it may be one of those chances they get once in a lifetime. And hopefully, it sticks with them," Edgren says, "I know my first break, it was definitely a turning point in my life."

"Hopefully other students will do it next year," she adds.

Edgren also says the trip is largely funded through the fund-raising efforts of students.