Students interested in attending an Alternative Break Trip should apply for trips that will work with their personal schedules. Our program offers three types of trips to try to meet different schedule needs:

• Alt Break Lites: Free, one-day trips within the Las Vegas valley that enable students to sample the Alternative Break Trip experience. Alt Break Lite trips do not include recreational activities for trip participants.
• Weekend trips: Paid trips that last approximately three days.
• Week-long trips: Paid trips that typically last five to seven days. Students can expect an approximate balance of 80% experiential learning (Monday-Thursday) with the remaining 20% dedicated to recreation (Friday).

Last year’s trips included:

• Food sovereignty (Portland, OR)
• Immigration at the U.S./Mexico border (San Diego, CA)
• Mass incarceration (Los Angeles, CA)
• Advancing sexual and reproductive health (San Francisco, CA)
• Ecology and conservation (Catalina Island, CA)

When you apply for an Alternative Break and make your deposit, you commit to the following:

• Participating fully in your trip
• Engaging meaningfully with your peers
• Displaying an openness to learning
• Expanding your comfort zone

There are also mandatory time commitments* for student participants. This includes:

• All pre-trip meetings (usually two or three meetings to meet your trip peers, review the schedule, provide the packing list, and answer any questions)
• Travel dates (number of days depends on each trip)
• Reunion event to celebrate, reflect, and share your learning experiences with other students

*The only exception for absence from these events would be a conflicting class during that time that you communicate to your trip leaders prior to occurring.

Trip fees can vary depending on the length of the trip and the trip destination. Weekend trip fees range from $50-150, and week-long trip fees vary from $150-300. Please note that flight-based trips will require both the trip fee above as well as the cost of the participant’s flight.

Included Items

Trip fees cover the following:

• Lodging
• Meals
• Volunteer fees
• Group activities for the week
• Ground transportation.

Note: We aim to keep fees as low as possible by booking shared lodging accommodations (such as rental homes, retreat spaces, cabins, or hostels), preparing and cooking group meals, and traveling together in either a van or public transportation at all times.

Excluded Items

Trip fees do not cover the following:

• The cost of flights to and from trip destinations for flight-based trips
• As-needed purchases (medication for a particular need, replacing a forgotten item from the packing list, etc.)
• Items you choose to purchase for yourself while on the trip (souvenirs, etc.).

Payment Instructions

Payments are submitted online within the trip application. You will first be charged a deposit of $50 upon time of application. If you are selected for a trip, you will then be responsible for the remaining balance by the established deadline prior to your departure. If you are not selected for a trip, you will receive a refund for the $50 deposit.

Travel Grants

Travel subsidies are available for students who demonstrate need. To apply for a travel subsidy, complete the appropriate section of the trip application that requests this information.