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University of Texas at Austin
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Alternative Breaks

Alternative Breaks (AB) offers service-learning opportunities for students looking to participate in community-centered volunteerism over their academic breaks. AB encourages participants to prioritize ethical volunteer practices and consistent reflection.

Check out our current and upcoming trip locations at utbreaks.org..

Why Should I Participate?

  • Participate in Immersive Travel
  • Engage in Reflective Learning
  • Earn 20+ Service Hours
  • Receive Digital Badging Opportunities
  • Complete a 2-Hour Elective Course

Opportunities

Go on a Trip

Applications for spring break open each October. Follow @ut_collective for updates.

Become a Trip Lead

Interested in joining the leadership team and planning a future trip? Apply to the Community Engagement Collective to become an Alternative Breaks Trip Lead. Trip Lead recruitment occurs in late spring and early fall semesters.

Participate as a Graduate Student

AB Graduate Fellows work with the AB Program Coordinator, staff, and undergraduate Trip Leads to execute Alternative Breaks programming. Fellows:

  • Act as an AB trip staff advisor by assisting student leaders with logistics and risk management.
  • Complete a self-led research project on a topic related to their assigned trip location or on the evolving field of service-learning.

Fellows are recruited each fall semester by their home College/School. Reach out to utbreaks@austin.utexas.edu for more information.

Participant Expectations

Participants are required to enroll in LA 212C: Active Citizenship in Practice in the spring, which takes place Wednesdays from 3-5 p.m. This course is used to prepare participants for the trips and promote active citizenship after the trips.

Trip fees range from $200-$500, which includes travel, lodging, food, and activities. A non-refundable $50 deposit is due in the fall semester. Payment plans are available in the spring. Final payments are due prior to the trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can participate?
Alternative Breaks is open to all UT Austin students. No prior Alternative Breaks, travel, or service experience is required. The most important requirements are an open mind, a passion for community service and a desire to learn and work together.
How will AB participants reach their trip location? What mode of transportation will be used?
All AB participants will travel with their groups to their respective trip location. Throughout the various AB trips participants will travel by SUV, van, or plane. Once they arrive, participants should prepare to walk, use various modes of public transportation, and be driven by SUV.
How safe will I be?
Steps have been taken to minimize all risk because safety is the top priority for all Alternative Breaks trip. Each trip's routes and sites are screened carefully to ensure the safety of all participants. During the trips, participants will be participating in AB lead activities from night to day so participants will always be with the larger group.
What does my trip fee cover?
The trip expense will pay for everything other than souvenirs or incidentals. Transit, accommodation, and meals will be fully covered by the trip costs. The sleeping quarters are modest, participants will be sleeping in bunks, cots, or in sleeping bags throughout the trip. Meals will be provided for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Most meals will be home-cooked by participants, but there will be opportunities to try local restaurants. Strict diet preferences will be accommodated, if specified in advance.
What type of volunteering would I be doing?
Each trip varies in the type of volunteering you will be participating in, some consisting of intensive manual labor such as: digging, building, lifting, cleaning etc. While others may be less labor intensive such as: gardening, sorting files, packing bags, serving food etc. You will be informed of what type of work you will be doing prior to the trip.

Support Alternative Breaks

Alternative Breaks is made possible by individuals and groups who give time, talent, in-kind product, and monetary donations. Support Alternative Breaks.

$600 will fund one student's trip.
$1,500 will fund a week's worth of food for one trip.
$3,000 will fund housing for one trip.
$10,000 will fund an entire trip.

Contact Information

utbreaks@austin.utexas.edu
@ut_collective on Instagram