As many of you know first hand, this past year has visited a lot of economic hardships on our communities, and specifically, students. We know that this has been a large deterring factor to many people who are interested in our organization. To accommodate those who are hesitant for financial reasons, this years executive board has decided to increase our scholarship fund and our fundraising activities, as well as offer payment plans and other alternatives to assist participants in as many ways as possible. As a reminder, our trip cost includes food, housing, and transportation for the entire week.

Additionally,  In order to further assist our participants, we are being flexible with our application deadline. Those who applied and made the first payment by the original deadlines last semester have been accepted and will be placed shortly. For all those who still wish to apply, we ask that you apply soon, so that we can place you before spring break orientation on January 24th.

Sincerely, the 2009-2010 Executive Board

*If you have any questions or concerns you can contact us at alt.breaks@gmail.com. For financial concerns, you can contact Mike at ab.finances@gmail or Ashley at ab.fundraising@gmail.com.

The application for the second Alternative Weekend Trip, Individuals with Disabilities, is now available in the Weekend section. Individuals with Disabilities takes place January 16-17, the first weekend back from winter break. Apply now!

Email: ab.WBweekends@gmail.com for more information.

The application deadline for Alternative Spring Breaks has been extended until Tuesday, November 24th. Please turn in your apps as soon as possible so we can get you placed before orientation on the 30th.

Hello everyone! Applications for Alternative Spring Breaks are due this Friday, November 13th, at 5:00pm! Preference will be given to those who turn in their applications on time. Orientation is on November 30th. We hope to see you all there!

Also, a reminder that we are still accepting applications for winter break.

The first Alternative Weekend Break. Intergenerational Communities, is coming up. On November 15-16 students will be taking off to work directly with senior citizens. Applications are due this Friday, October 30th and are available on the Weekend Breaks page.

Alternative Breaks alum Margaret Mimnaugh is now a Peace Corps member teaching primary school in Uganda. Her school is extremely underfunded and does not have classroom walls, doors, windows or desks and will soon run out of food. The students make beads out of recycled paper and use them to create beautiful, handmade necklaces. AB will be selling the necklaces and sending 100% of the proceeds back to the school. They will available through November 6th at all AB info tables. They are$7 each or two for $12. For complete schedule of info tables, click here.

Attention! This Friday, October 16th, is a big day for Alternative Breaks.

At 4pm, the first ever Alternative Breaks Campus Capture the Flag event will take place in the Aboretum on GVSU’s Allendale Campus. We hope to see everybody there.

Additionally, this Friday is also the application deadline for:

Turn in applications to the Community Service Learning Center (CSLC) next to the Office of Student Life on the main level of Kirkhof.

Applications for Spring Break, Winter Break, and the first Alternative Weekend, Intergenerational Communities, are now available in their respective sections! Note* Winter Break applications are due October 16th!!!

Additionally, for anyone who’s looking to learn more about AB…

Thanks, and see you all there!

Welcome Everyone!

We’re excited to kick off the new year with our new online home. Sign up under “Follow Us” to receive updates throughout the year about Alternative Breaks.

(Looking for the pages? They’ve moved to the top of the page.)