Alternative Breaks
Connecting with Community, Learning About Complex Social Topics
Our winter and spring alternative break trips are designed to connect students with community members through engaging, experiential service and learning opportunities. These hands-on experiences prompt learning about community social topics, encourage self-understanding, and inspire commitment to future action.
Included in all Weeklong Service Immersion Trips
Alternative spring break trips are open to undergraduate and graduate students of any year or major. Trips range in cost between $100-700 (includes food, lodging, and transportation).
Need-based financial assistance is available.
Applicants are asked to rank trips based on their interest level in each trip. Those applying before the priority deadline are more likely to be assigned to one of their top choices. Following the priority deadline, students will be placed on trips on a rolling basis depending on trip availability.
Questions? Contact, Graduate Assistant, Brooke Cassada-Maple, at bmaple@vt.edu. If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Brooke during regular business hours at least 30 business days prior to the trip departure date.
Current Trips - Spring Break March 5-12
Estimated Cost $150
The Commonwealth of Virginia is home to 38 state parks which includes more than 500 miles of trails and access to Virginia’s major waterways. State Parks provide a unique way to engage and reconnect with nature. State Parks are also a rich way to engage in history alongside outdoor activities including hiking, biking, horseback riding, geo-caching, and a multitude of other things. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that we are working to understand the distinct ecosystems and ensuring we are doing our part in conservation efforts.
On this trip, participants will learn more about conservation of the Virginia State Parks system. Day-to-day activities will include light maintenance projects, trail construction/maintenance/ and rehabilitation, habitat restoration and other projects identified by the State Park staff.
Activities may require some light lifting and easy to moderate hiking abilities. Participants will also be outside for long periods of time.
Estimated cost $225-325
One in six individuals in the United States struggles with food security issues, which involves issues related to regular access to affordable, healthy, safe, and culturally appropriate food. Community farming is one measure that promotes collaborative relationships, health education, and food access.
Participants on this trip will partner with a community farm in North Carolina in order to delve into the roots of food justice and better understand how community gardening can affect local food systems.
Activities may require standing for long periods of time, significant bending, lifting and carrying between 0-10 lbs., and being in outdoor garden/farm working conditions for long periods of time.
Estimated cost $225-325
Cultural and environmental richness and diversity are at the heart of the Blue Ridge in western North Carolina (WNC). Conserving Carolina works to protect this richness and diversity for both nature and people. 46,000 acres of mountains, foothills, rivers, and farms have been protected to date. Their work goes beyond protecting land, as they aim to engage communities, advance climate crisis solutions, promote equity and diversity, and increase financial resiliency. Through this multifaceted approach, Conserving Carolina envisions a future where communities focus first on protecting natural resources.
Participants will partner with Conserving Carolina to learn how humans can be environmental stewards while also enjoying the resources our planet provides. Expected work may include trail maintenance, invasive species removal, and litter cleanup.
Activities may require some light lifting and hiking for extended periods. Participants will be outside for long periods of time.
Leading trips, exploring topics you care about
Our student leadership teams coordinate all VT Engage alternative break service trips. Our leaders are passionate about service, social justice, and inspiring change. They work closely with peers, VT Engage, and community partners to coordinate community-driven service trips. Leaders are trained to develop engaging, learning-centered reflections for each trip.
Throughout each service experience and group meetings, they explore their passion for service and the social topics they care about. Our leaders coordinate a range of service programs and have opportunities to take on increasing responsibility as they progress through the program.
COVID-19 restrictions may impact leading trips for the year.
Our leaders have the unique opportunity to develop their leadership capacities through the lenses of service and social justice. Through hands-on experiences and group meetings, leaders become more knowledgeable about best practices in community engagement and service-learning.
As they develop reflection facilitation skills, leaders learn how to engage in meaningful discussion about complex social topics. Our leaders are trained to cultivate sustainable, mutually beneficial relationships with communities and teach trip participants to do the same.
Leaders are encouraged to venture out of their comfort zone as they learn with and from a team of thoughtful, fun peer leaders. Our goal is to help student leaders recognize their own capacity to be change agents, then equip them with the knowledge and tools to be engaged citizens both during college and throughout their lives.
Leaders are expected to:
- Commit to a yearlong term as a student leader.
- Attend weekly group meetings throughout the 2022-2023 academic year.
- Commit to develop their leadership, reflection, and trip management skills.
- Commit to co-lead or lead VT Engage trips the academic year.
Engaging, learning-centered curriculum
Leaders attend meetings focused on developing new skills and building impactful service experiences for their peers. Throughout the program, leaders will be immersed in learning more about best practices for community engagement and trip coordination while taking a critical look at service and social topics.
Each semester, our leaders will focus on a different set of topics. The curriculum is designed to build knowledge and expertise as students’ progress in the program, with the goal of preparing students to become mentors for new leaders.
Requests for accommodations & other questions
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, welcome! Please contact Brooke Cassada-Maple (bmaple@vt.edu) at least 30 business days before the scheduled trip date during regular business hours to discuss your request(s).
All other questions about our alternative break and weekend trips may be directed to Brooke. We look forward to having you participate in our programs!