Alternative Break Experience

What We Are:

The Alternative Break Experience is a student-led, service immersion program that takes place during the school breaks each year. Our Spring Break domestic trips are 6-day 5-night trips, while our international trips average between 8 and 10 days. This experience is designed to be a hands-on opportunity for students to learn more about themselves, others, and the world around them. Research shows that these experiences help our students to become better leaders in college and more civically engaged and socially responsible members of our society as alumni. 

This year, there will be seven trips, one of which is an international destination. Each trip will have a specific theme, including Food Insecurity/Environmentalism, Social Justice/Refugee Support, City Empowerment, LGBTQ+ Rights, Urban Community Development, Housing Insecurity/Youth Empowerment, and International Community Action. These trips will help to engage over 100 undergraduate students in service to communities in need. We know that our students could choose to spend their time doing a number of things over their breaks, and it makes us proud to know that they are choosing such a selfless act of service. 

Your Support:

Each year, students are responsible for funding part of the trip with a program fee of $150/person for the domestic trips and $1,500/person for the international trip. This program fee helps to cover the cost of transportation, lodging, and meals for the week. With your help and support, we will be able to decrease the financial obligation of these programs on our participants, as well as offer scholarships to students who may not otherwise be able to attend.

For questions, please reach out to the Center for Service Learning and Volunteerism at service@memphis.edu.