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.

 

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.

 

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