Alternative Break 
Alternative Break trips offer students the opportunity to spend a week or even a weekend in generous service to others while traveling outside the Alma community. The work may include building homes for those in need, working in a food bank or providing child care in a homeless shelter. Through service to others, issues education, group fellowship and recreation, students reflect on what is important to them in their lives.
These service opportunities have been well received by Alma College students and staff. The program has grown from a single trip with 20 participants in 2003, to multiple trips with 125 participants in the 2006/2007 academic year. To see a history of the agencies and locations served by Alma College students and staff, click here.
Most service teams are 8-12 in number except when we partner with agencies that provide bus transportation and encourage larger groups of volunteers. Each group has student leaders and a staff advisor. The entire service team meets regularly during the winter term to better understand the social issue they will encounter as well as the culture of the local area and other factors.
Alternative Break participants have fun serving others, learning about social issues and experiencing local culture. Each trip includes time to sight see, enjoy an ethnic restaurant or relax with friends. All of the trips are alcohol and drug free.
Multiple alternative break trips will engage students in a choice of generous service during the winter term break in late February. With significant subsidy from the Center for Responsible Leadership, these trips are available to students for as little as $100.
Students take a special role in designing and leading the alternative break trips. For many students, this additional responsibility is a joy. Vicky Wilson '05 and Dan Martin '06 were the student leaders on the 2005 trip to Laredo, Texas. Vicky wrote of her experience in this way:
"We were blessed just to be able to serve on our Spring Break with Habitat for Humanity, but then we were given the opportunity to actually lead a trip, and it was the experience of a lifetime! I learned so much about myself, Dan, and God's power and guidance in our lives throughout the planning stages and while leading the trip itself. It was wonderful to meet and work with the Habitat affiliate in Laredo, they taught us the true meaning of service and family. I am so thankful for this experience, and would like to find a way to continue to participate now that I have graduated!"
Students interested in helping to plan or led an alternative break trip should contact Sallie Scheide, Assistant Director of the Center for Responsible Leadership.
Campus location: Kirk Center, lower level of Dunning Memorial Chapel
