Alternative Breaks

An Alternative Break is a professional development opportunity for students to participate in an intensive service experience during a winter, spring, or weekend break. Travel to sites around the Midwest to work with local residents and learn how communities are addressing pressing social issues. Breaks are open to all K-State undergraduate, graduate, and international students.

Upcoming breaks

Spring Break 2026
Saturday, March 14 - Wednesday, March 18

Choose from one of these locations during K-State's Spring Break. If you are interested in receiving updates and more information about any one of these trips, complete this interest form. It's not the application, and it will not commit you to a trip.

Springfield, Missouri: Watershed

• Learn about programs designed to increase environmental sustainability in Springfield. Students will engage in service with a variety of organizations to gain a holistic understanding of how sustainability encompasses elements of energy use, food production, and conservation.

Dallas, Texas: AIDS Service of Dallas

• Gain knowledge about how nonprofit organizations work within healthcare systems to meet the needs of people living with HIV and AIDS. Students will provide administrative and physical support to the organization, AIDS Services of Dallas, and connect with members of the community they serve.

Tahlequah, Oklahoma: Cherokee Nation

• Work with Cherokee Tribe members to serve citizens in need. In addition to providing physical support in the Tribe’s mission to create safer living conditions, students will also learn more about Cherokee culture and customs through interactions with tribe members and the observation of sacred ceremonies.

Questions or want to learn more? We would love to connect with you! Email altbreak@ksu.edu.

Strengthen your leadership skills

Students often understand a community only from the outside—as citizens, patrons, or visitors—but stepping behind the scenes and engaging in the processes that sustain that community offers a deeper, more powerful form of professional development. Alternative breakers learn through service by preparing, acting, reflecting, and evaluating their experience; this intentional approach goes beyond volunteering to strengthen understanding of community impact while building personal leadership practice.

Fees and scholarships

The participant fee covers transportation via Enterprise Rentals, a grocery/food stipend and housing. Participants and site leaders are eligible for full or partial scholarships to cover the cost of their Alternative Break experience.

Week breaks

• Site Leaders: $125 total ($50 non-refundable + $75)
• Participants: $250 total ($50 non-refundable + $200)

Weekend breaks

• Cost is $10, participants will attend one team meeting prior to service experience.

Requirements

For site leaders

• Complete the application.
• Attend three hours of site leader trainings and one hour of one-on-one preparation with your co-site leader prior to your Alternative Break experience.
• Facilitate one pre-trip meeting with your Alternative Break Team.
• Work alongside staff to facilitate Active Citizen Summit activities with your team.
• Guide your team through daily reflections during the break. ​
• Provide logistical support for your team before and during break (transportation and purchasing).

For participants

• Complete the application.
• Attend Active Citizen Summit, one team meeting prior to break, and Active Citizen Summit Part II and be an engaged participant during all interactions.

About our locations