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SLiCE Engagement Programs: Alternative Break

What are you doing for your break?

The Alternative Break program is an immersion experience into different cultural, environmental and socioeconomic communities across the nation. Participants provide service in exchange for education about current social and cultural issues facing the host communities.  Participants travel for one week during school breaks (spring, winter) and volunteer for nonprofit and government agencies across the country and world. A terrific opportunity to learn about social issues and meet other students with the same passions.

Boosted grant funding available – up to 65% of your trip!

 Scroll to the bottom of this page for info about 2024 Alt Break trips! 

See the World. Serve the World. Expand your World.

Alt Break Descriptions

Each Alternative Break focuses on a critical social issue. The experience is centered around education, direct service, and intersectionality. Join a family of people who care about the service, social-justice, and meaning.

How to Participate

Participate in Alternative Break to change both yourself and the world. Spend your break by participating in direct, educational service-learning with a small group of engaged students working to address social issues.

Advisor Information

Faculty, staff and alumni accompany alternative spring break leaders to many of the site destinations. Advisors participant in a holistic experience
with students while offering their expertise and guidance.

Immersion Into Different Cultural Communities Across the Nation

Who:
Annually, approximately 200 Colorado State University students, ranging in age, major, upbringing, background, and interest, participate in an Alternative Break experience! This year, it could be YOU!
 
When:
Service-learning trips occur during winter and spring breaks at CSU. Group meetings are both pre and post trip in order to get to know group members, learn about the service site, cultures, and issues of social and environmental justice, as well as to adequately process the trip and continue creating change.

As you consider the ways you’ll make the most of your CSU experience, we invite you to think about Alternative Breaks!  The Alt. Break Program offers students a week-long, service-learning experience like no other. We have 3 trips going to different cities across the US.  If you have a desire to grow as an active global citizen; if you’d like to work alongside your peers to explore – and seek solutions to – a variety of societal issues, we encourage you to apply! If you want to learn more about Alt Breaks you can reach out to Melissa Carlson at Melissa.Carlson@colostate.edu

Catalina, California: This trip focuses on environmental issues and is the longest standing partnership with Alternative Break Trips at CSU.  Participants stay in Catalina Island Camps, on Catalina Island, which is a short ferry-ride from Los Angeles. Students participate in numerous environmental restoration and service-learning projects. In addition to volunteer work, participants will also have the opportunity to experience a variety of outdoor activities while on the island including snorkeling, a ropes course, organic gardening, and campfires.This trip is for 2nd year students at CSU only and planned in collaboration with Orientation and Transition Programs’ Year 2 at CSU programming.

Alamosa Colorado, Medical Focus: This medically focused Alt Break trip will give participants the opportunity to have a meaningful service-learning and volunteering experience while also gaining vital exposure to the health field. With a special emphasis on urban/rural underserved areas, this trip will allow participants to learn about issues faced by community members while collaborating with local providers to make a positive impact and develop diverse connections.

BAACC Civil Rights Focus:  Flying into Atlanta,GA then traveling through Alabama and back, this trip provides a unique learning experience that merges past and present as we explore the struggles and triumphs of the civil rights movement. With visits to historical sites and community outreach through service learning opportunities, students will learn about prominent leaders during the 1960s, while emphasizing that their work still continues today.