Alternative Breaks
Connecting with Community, Learning About Complex Social Topics
Our alternative break trips are designed to connect students with community members through engaging, experiential service and learning opportunities. These hands-on experiences prompt learning about community social topics, encourage self-understanding, and inspire commitment to future action.
Included in all Weeklong Service Immersion Trips
Alternative break trips are open to undergraduate and graduate students of any year or major. Trips range in cost between $100-700 (includes food, lodging, and transportation).
Need-based financial assistance is available.
Applicants are asked to rank trips based on their interest level in each trip. Those applying before the priority deadline are more likely to be assigned to one of their top choices. Following the priority deadline, students will be placed on trips on a rolling basis depending on trip availability.
Questions?
Contact Raymon Johnson, Engagement Coordinator, at rtjohnson@vt.edu. If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Raymon during regular business hours at least 30 business days prior to the trip departure date.
Upcoming Trips
Note: The alternative breaks calendar for the 2026-27 school year is under construction. Please check closer to the start of the Fall 2026 semester to see our trip options!
Leading trips, exploring topics you care about
Our student leadership team coordinates all VT Engage alternative break service trips. Our leaders are passionate about service, social justice, and inspiring change. They work closely with peers, VT Engage, and community partners to coordinate community-driven service trips. Leaders are trained to develop engaging, learning-centered reflections for each trip.
Throughout each service experience and group meetings, they explore their passion for service and the social topics they care about. Our leaders coordinate a range of service programs and have opportunities to take on increasing responsibility as they progress through the program.
COVID-19 restrictions may impact leading trips for the year.
Our leaders have the unique opportunity to develop their leadership capacities through the lenses of service and social justice. Through hands-on experiences and group meetings, leaders become more knowledgeable about best practices in community engagement and service-learning.
As they develop reflection facilitation skills, leaders learn how to engage in meaningful discussion about complex social topics. Our leaders are trained to cultivate sustainable, mutually beneficial relationships with communities and teach trip participants to do the same.
Leaders are encouraged to venture out of their comfort zone as they learn with and from a team of thoughtful, fun peer leaders. Our goal is to help student leaders recognize their own capacity to be change agents, then equip them with the knowledge and tools to be engaged citizens both during college and throughout their lives.
Leaders are expected to:
- Commit to a yearlong term as a student leader.
- Attend weekly group meetings throughout the academic year.
- Commit to develop their leadership, reflection, and trip management skills.
- Commit to lead or co-lead their assigned VT Engage alternative break service trip.
- Prepare a debrief session on their trip experience.
Engaging, learning-centered curriculum
Leaders attend meetings focused on developing new skills and building impactful service experiences for their peers. Throughout the program, leaders will be immersed in learning more about best practices for community engagement and trip coordination while taking a critical look at service and social topics.
Each semester, our leaders will focus on a different set of topics. The curriculum is designed to build knowledge and expertise as students’ progress in the program, with the goal of preparing students to become mentors for new leaders.
Requests for accommodations & other questions
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, welcome! Please contact Raymon Johnson (rtjohnson@vt.edu) at least 30 business days before the scheduled trip date during regular business hours to discuss your request(s).
All other questions about our alternative break and weekend trips may be directed to Raymon. We look forward to having you participate in our programs!