Alternative Spring Break
The Alternative Spring Break (ASB) program provides students the opportunity to spend the week of spring break engage in a public service experience while increasing their understanding of significant social and civic engagement problems.
Trip participants attend a weekly seminar before the trip to prepare for their service experience. The seminar will include team expectations, trip overview, travel information, and team-building activities. During the trip, students participate in all educational activities, daily reflection activities, and evening group activities at the site.
Please note that all trainings/orientation sessions are mandatory and in-person. All payments are non-refundable.
Learning Components of Alternative Spring Breaks
Alternative Spring Breaks are more than just a vacation or a discounted trip. They are a structured, service-learning experience that has students understanding the importance of giving back to communities and growing as student leader.
- Develop a deeper understanding of how civic action and public policy influence the communities they serve.
- Recognize their own capacity to be active, informed citizens who contribute to positive social change.
- Reflect on the connections between local service and broader social, economic, and environmental issues.
- Engage in meaningful, hands-on service that meets real community-identified needs.
- Apply leadership, collaboration, and problem-solving skills to make a tangible impact.
- Critically analyze the role of service in fostering long-term community partnerships and sustainable change.
- Explore the cultural, historical, and environmental context of the community they are serving.
- Demonstrate respect, empathy, and cultural humility when engaging with diverse groups.
- Reflect on how identity, privilege, and lived experience shape perspectives and approaches to service.
- Strengthen personal leadership skills through teamwork, reflection, and community engagement.
- Identify and apply individual strengths in group settings to contribute effectively to shared goals.
- Develop confidence, adaptability, and self-awareness as emerging leaders committed to service and justice.
- Engage in intentional reflection before, during, and after the trip to connect experiences with learning outcomes.
- Recognize moments of challenge and growth as opportunities for self-discovery and deeper purpose.
- Articulate personal values, motivations, and commitments to lifelong community engagement.
- Examine systems of power, privilege, and oppression that shape community needs and opportunities.
- Practice ethical decision-making in community contexts, considering impact, reciprocity, and respect.
- Explore what it means to serve with—rather than for—communities, emphasizing justice over charity.
- Foster a sense of belonging and shared purpose among participants through collaboration and vulnerability.
- Build meaningful connections with community partners grounded in mutual respect and reciprocity.
- Recognize the importance of collective action, empathy, and trust in creating lasting social impact.
The 2027 Alternative Spring Break Applications will open in October 2026 in the Leadership & Community Engagement Program forms page in MyLynx.
See our 2025 and 2026 Alternative Spring Breaks to Washington D.C. and New Mexico
Want to know more about Alternative Spring Breaks? Email us to get more information about the program!