CARLISLE, Pa. - For the Dickinson College men's lacrosse team, winter break represents a pivotal opportunity for immersive service, a tradition that became a cornerstone of the program following the team's relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina in 2007. These biennial trips are designed to help the players learn to work as a team, make a tangible difference, and gain a sense of perspective as well as gratitude. This year, the "Make A Difference" tour led the squad to Lewisburg, West Virginia, where they traded their lacrosse sticks for tools to assist Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity in building local homes.

Senior attackman Mac Childs documented every step of the trip. Read his account below:

Sunday – At 8:30 on Sunday morning, the team loaded up our minibuses and vans and departed from the Kline lot for Lewisburg. Our six drivers formed a caravan as we headed out on our "Make A Difference" tour. About halfway, we stopped at Buccee's for some fuel and food. After about four and a half hours, we arrived at the Rhema Christian Center, unloading our things, settling into our bunk rooms, and hopping onto the basketball court for some competition. We wrapped up the day with a BBQ dinner before meeting to begin discussing our team's winter break read, Chop Wood Carry Water: How to Fall in Love with the Process of Becoming Great by Joshua Medcalf, and watching some playoff football.

Monday – At 7:30 Monday morning, everyone was up making breakfast and coffee before kicking off day one of work. Four groups were off to a job site with two Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity houses, one group headed to the Habitat Restore, and one stayed back at the center. Once at our spots for the day, we split into small groups to begin learning and building. The day consisted of flooring, insulation, painting, framing, and assisting with ReStore sales and organization. At 4:15, we arrived back at the center for hoops, and a few groups went off for a run. For dinner, the seniors put their cooking skills to the test, preparing tacos for the team. Then we met for part two of our book discussion, and the guys played ping-pong and cards, then watched football before resting up.

Tuesday – To begin day two, the vans tried out various local coffee shops for breakfast and a caffeine boost. By 8:45, we were all on site, continuing to make progress. The insulation crew completed both houses and were on to their next tasks: installing the vapor barrier and putting up drywall. The flooring crew finished their first two rooms and moved on to the main living room, and the painting crew continued painting coats on the trim. The group at the center continued to frame, and the group at the ReStore made trips to the dump to drop off trash. Tuesday concluded with basketball, circuit workouts, the juniors cooking spaghetti Bolognese, and our nightly team meeting.

Wednesday – Day three looked a little different as after a morning of construction work, the squad tackled the 5-mile Rocky Ridge Trail in Greenbrier State Forrest for a challenging hike. Once at the top, the team gave the world's loudest and most emphatic team "KAIZEN" (team motto) chant before traveling back to the buses. The sophomore class prepared meatball subs before we played a team knockout game and celebrated Senior Luke Devlin and Sophomore Eyasu Kelly's birthdays with cake and ice cream. The night commenced with a meeting, cards, and some movies.

Thursday – Due to problematic weather on our final day, our trip was cut short by a day. We were unable to work, so we cleaned up the worksite, helped dispose of trash, and organized tools before packing up and caravanning back to Carlisle. An amazing week from start to finish that all of us will truly remember.

Though problematic weather eventually cut the trip short by one day, the effort put forth by the team ensured the experience was a success. From finishing the insulation on two houses to shouting a "KAIZEN" breakdown at the summit of the Rocky Ridge Trail, the players embraced the "win-win scenario" of productive work and personal growth. As the caravan returned to Carlisle, the team carried back a renewed sense of unity and perspective.

Beyond the physical labor of framing walls and installing vapor barriers, the trip served as a profound "immersive experience" intended to reshape the players' outlook long before they step back onto the Biddle Field turf this week. Head Coach Dave Webster entering his 25th season as the bench boss at his alma mater views this time in Lewisburg as a "catalyst" for growth, noting that the "challenging work" is as much about building the team's internal character as it is about building houses for the community. By stepping away from their typical routines to learn about themselves and each other, these young men gained a level of "perspective and gratitude" that cannot be coached on a practice field. This shared sense of accomplishment and the lessons learned in West Virginia are assets the program will "reference often" as they navigate the highs and lows of the upcoming spring season.