Alternative Break Trips

Alternative Break Logo One of the most popular service opportunities at Austin Peay: Alternative Break Trips! Students have the opportunity to spend their breaks volunteering in other communities and having amazing experiences. Every trip has a theme, a student trip leader, and faculty/staff member. Trips are very affordable - never more than $100 for domestic trips and are all inclusive. Each trip includes an exploration day where volunteers explore the historical, natural, or cultural specialties in the area.

Mission

The mission of the Alternative Break Program is to engage students in meaningful and collaborative community service in an effort to increase awareness of social and environmental issues and strengthen the communities in which they serve as well as foster a strong sense of community among trip participants and to the university as a whole.

Learning Outcomes

The student will be able to connect applied experiences derived from participation in alternative break trips with relevant knowledge acquired from exposure to course work from multiple academic disciplines.
The student will be able to adapt and apply skills, abilities, theories, or methodologies acquired in classroom settings to address novel situations or problems in alternative break settings.
The student will be able to demonstrate the ability to engage in meaningful self-reflection that leads to self-awareness and a sense of competence to effectively respond to new and challenging contexts.

Spend a week over Winter Break volunteering with All Hands and Hearts, an organization dedicated to disaster relief.

Houston

January 4-13, 2019 | Trip costs - $100 | Application due - December 1, 2018

Spend Winter Break volunteering and exploring New Orleans! This week will be spent assisting with organizations that specialize in issues such as homelessness and hurricane relief.

New Orleans

January 5-12, 2019 | Trip costs - $100 | Application due - December 1, 2018

Join us as we return to Puerto Rico to continue our efforts in hurricane relief work. Puerto Rico is still in a state of devastation after Hurricane Maria, which hit in September of 2017. We will help them clear and rebuild one of their greatest attractions, El Yunque National Park! The trip will cost $650 with a $300 (part of the $650) deposit for those selected!

Puerto Rico poster highlighting images from a previous trip

June 22-29, 2019 | Trip costs - $650 | Application due - November 16, 2018

Complete the following application as thoroughly as possible. Any questions can be sent to s eeneye@apsu.edu. At the bottom of the application, please choose the trip(s) you are applying for.

Important Information: Information regarding the trips will be distributed through e-mail. Please include your most frequently used e-mail address on the application. You will be expected to check your e-mail regularly for updates from your trip leader and other participants.

Minimum Eligibility and Conditions for Participation: Students must be in good conduct/judicial standing with the university and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.

Alternative Break Participant Expectations
The following is a list of minimum expectations; your individual trips leaders will discuss and formulate additional expectations as needed. By applying for the trip, it means you have read and understood the trip expectations.

Participate in pre-trip activities including group meetings, info sessions, or fundraising efforts.

Be fully engaged at a participatory level helping to plan and attend events associated with the trip and aspects of the trip's itinerary.

Maintain communication with trip leader including responding to e-mails and phone calls in a timely manner.

NO ALCOHOL OR DRUGS WILL BE CONSUMED ON THE TRIP.

Become aware of relevant health and safety risks relevant to your destination.

All payments made to Alternative Break are non-refundable.

First Name*

Middle Initial *

Last Name*

Email Address*

Birthdate*

Classification
Classification
Freshmen

Sophomore

Junior

Senior

Graduate Student

Why do you want to go on this Alternative Break Trip? What do you expect to gain from participating?*

What are your thoughts on community service/ volunteering? Please mention any previous community service/ volunteering experience that you may have.*

How might you share your learning experience when you return home? What specific type of projects or activism would like to get involved with upon your return to campus?*

Trip Options*

First Name*

Last Name*

Email*

Which Alternative Break Trip(s) have you attended?*

Why are you interested in leading an Alternative Break Trip?*

Why do you think Alternative Breaks are important?*

What have you gotten out of your Alternative Break experiences so far?*

What social issues are important to you?*

When would you be available to lead a trip?

What kind of trip are you willing to lead?*

Please include the name of a university staff/faculty member as a reference (could be the chaperone of a previous trip)*

Updates on the application process will be sent through email. Please be sure to list an email that you check regularly.