Alternative Break Service Trips
Alternative Breaks are immersive and unique opportunities for students to work as a team and experience new places, cultures, skills, and people; all while assisting with the missions of established and reputable community organizations.
More About Alternative Breaks!
Alternative Breaks are a unique and affordable way to offer CCU students opportunities to travel and engage in direct service (focused around a particular social justice issue) with local, regional, and international communities in meaningful and mutually beneficial ways. CCU Alternative breaks have traditionally been offered to students as a free way to get give back to communities in need whilst utilizing time offered during academic university breaks. Alternative Break can last anywhere from 3 to 7 days!
Alternative Breaks are broken into several parts: pre-service orientation, direct service, post-service reflection. During the pre-trip orientation, students are educated about their social issue and the Active Citizen Continuum in order to be fully prepared for their service experience. During the service trip, students participate in hands-on work with multiple community organizations related to the social issue. Post-trip reflection offers the students a chance to think about their week of service as well as, consider future actions and decisions that can further help their communities with prevalent social issues.
Past Trips
Since 2021, Alternative Break group trips have occurred in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Pisgah National Forest, New York City, and most recently to Athens, Greece. Because of these experiences, many students have been (for the first time in their lives) been offered the chance to ride on airplanes, travel the country, or even simply get leave the state for the first time.
Experiential Learning
Due to the unique and varied nature of the trips, students also get the chance to explore the lived experience of professionals in their desired career fields as these trips often work with professionals and organizations that carry out the very work that student participants study in the classroom. Experiences have included- trail maintenance, zoology, non-profit support, homeless support, state park support, and national park support.
2024 Alternative Breaks:
Athens, Greece - March 2- 9, 2024
CCU Partnered with International Volunteer Headquarters to send four students to Athens, Greece to volunteer with Impact Greece providing support to homeless communities abroad!
Myrtle Beach State Park, SC - March 2-4, 2024
Students camped at Myrtle Beach State Park to provide invasive species removal at the park!
2023 Alternative Breaks
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens - March 5th- March 9th
Event Description: The Office of Civic Engagement hosted the 2023 Alternative Spring Break Trip to Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in Jacksonville, FL. While there, students had the chance to observe and assist in the day to day operations that typically occur on site: with activities ranging from special event support, to habitat and garden maintenance. Throughout service, students also had the chance to tour the zoo and learn about the conservation efforts employed by the only walking safari in Northeast Florida. But the best part of it all... the trip was free!
Fall Alternative Break Nov 19 - Nov 22, 2022
CCU in partnership with The Pisgah Conservancy, helped maintain the expansive trails held with Pisgah National Forest!
Why Pisgah?
Volunteers are the life-blood of Pisgah National Forest. Our mission is to provide funding to preserve the natural resources and scenic beauty of the Pisgah Ranger District and to enhance the recreational experience of all visitors to Pisgah.
Students took steps to maintain and improve the environment for wildlife on the Pisgah, in conjunction with the Forest Service and in accordance with its policies.
The Pisgah Conservancy supports the sound management and conservation of all wildlife resources on the Pisgah. Whether by promoting silviculture techniques to restore Chestnut, Spruce, Fir, or Oak trees, engaging with fisheries biologists to protect aquatic organisms, creating way stations for migrating Monarch butterflies, or maintaining habitat for land animals and birds, TPC will work collaboratively with the Forest Service to promote the conservation of important wildlife habitat and the health, abundance, and diversity of wildlife species.
Interested in planning a trip as a student? Email: CommunityEngagement@coastal.edu to learn how to become an Alternative Break Student Leader.
What is an Alternative Break?
An Alternative Break is a week long trip where students engage in direct service focused around a particular social justice issue. Alternative Breaks are broken into several parts: pre-service orientation, direct service, post-service reflection.
During the pre-trip orientation, students are educated about their social issue and the Active Citizen Continuum in order to be fully prepared for their service experience. During the service trip, students participate in hands-on work with multiple community orginizations related to the social issue. Post-trip reflection offers the students a chance to think about their week of service as well as, consider future actions and decisions that can further help their communities with prevalent social issues.
Past Alternative Breaks
New York City, New York (Alternative Spring Break 2022)
Orlando, Florida (Alternative Spring Break)
Jacksonville, North Carolina (Alternative May Break)
Asheville, North Carolina (Alternative Spring Break)
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (Local Alternative Spring Break)