Alternative Breaks

Alternative break programs offer students well... an alternative to the partying of the typical spring break scene. Most organizations place teams or individual college or high school students in communities both foreign and domestic to engage in community service and experiential learning during their summer, fall, winter, weekend or spring breaks.

Most of the ones we've checked out (and admiittedly we haven't checked out too many yet) are self-pay types, which means that you furnish your own plane ticket and you pay for your own trip on top of that (usually equal to what a "normal" spring break trip would cost (but are tax deductible!), depending on the length of your stay. But don't let that stop you from exploring this opportunity. Even though spring break will be an experience you will never forget no matter which destination you choose and no matter what you choose to do, people who engage in an alternative spring break experience often report that their experience was life-changing, and fulfilling on a deeply personal level. That's something that no amount of partying could ever claim.

Alternative Break Providers

Some are private companies or charities that have a specific agenda to address, while you may also find that your school offers a program of its own, so be sure to ask around if you attend school. Also, you may want to check out the ads to the right, sometimes an alternative spring break company does show up.

http://www.i-to-i.com

http://alternativebreaks.org

http://orphanage-outreach.org

http://www.crossculturalsolutions.org

If you are an alternative break provider and would like us to add you to this page, or know of some that we missed, please contact us with details about the organization or leave us a message on the message board.