Instead of doing the normal Spring Break vacation, are you interested in serving a community with important and complex needs? The Alternative Spring Break (ASB) program enables students to immerse themselves in a new and different community to learn its historical, sociological, cultural and/or political background. Each trip focuses on a particular social issue, such as poverty, hunger and homelessness, education reform, health and wellness, refugee resettlement, and the environment.
Alternative breaks challenge students to critically think and react to problems faced by members of the communities in which they are involved. Program benefits include:
- Engaging in meaningful service to impact change
- Learning about and reflecting upon the complexity and interconnectedness of social issues and problems.
- Developing leadership skills and gain real world experience.
- Understanding how to continue community engagement and active citizenship work upon your return to OSU.
- Building meaningful relationships and a new community of service-minded OSU students.
- Learn, challenge yourself, and have fun!
Teams of 12 to 20 students will spend the week of March 24th to March 31st on three different trips in Oregon, Washington, and California. Here is a little more about the trips:
Environmental Restoration: Newport, Oregon
Travel to the Oregon coast to work with multiple environmental organizations to complete restoration projects. Service work will likely include beach clean ups, tree planting, stream restoration and clean up, and invasive species removal. We will try to do some whale watching while we are at the coast as well. On our off day, we will explore the coast region hiking.
Urban Beautification and Poverty: Yakima, Washington
Travel to Yakima, Washington to work with the City of Yakima and learn about 
urban poverty, hunger issues, and complete city beautification and restoration projects with the local parks and recreation office. You will learn about the complex issues the small city faces, and will work with several non-profits, both human services and environmental, and the city itself to complete a variety of projects to meet pressing needs. The group will elect outings to explore the local culture and bioregion.
Hunger and Homelessness: San Francisco
Travel to San Francisco, California to work with multiple nonprofit organizations 
that are addressing hunger and homelessness issues in one of the nation’s greatest cities. If you have an interest in learning about homelessness issues in major urban areas, this is the perfect spring break trip for you. The trip will include hands-on direct service work with people experiencing homelessness from diverse backgrounds. You will meet and work alongside local visionaries who have created programs to combat issues close to their hearts.
For more information or to apply, check out the Participant Application.
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