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Submit your application to participate in an Alternative Break experience by 11:59 p.m. on the dates outlined below. On the application, you have the option to indicate your top two (2) trip experience preferences. Your application will be considered for both trip preferences.
Alternative Spring Break: Monday, February 10, 2020
Alternative Summer Break: Monday, March 16, 2020
Alternative Break program reviews applications. Students are notified by email, no later than the Monday following the deadline date if they are or are not selected for their trip preference(s).
If you applied for Alternative Spring Break, you will be notified by 11:59 p.m. on Wedneday, Februaury 12, 2020 of your application status (accepted/not accepted/waitlist).
If you applied for Alternative Summer Break, you will be notified by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday March 18, 2020 of your application status (accepted/not accepted/waitlist).
If you are accepted to participate in an Alternative Break trip experience, you have seven (7) days from the application deadline to submit a deposit payment to confirm your participation (credit, cash, or check). A link to make an online credit card transaction will be emailed to the one you provided in your application. Cash or check payments can be dropped off to South Wing 130, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. If you fail to submit a deposit payment by the trip-specific deadline below, your spot will be offered to a student on the waiting list. Students experiencing financial difficulties or other extenuating circumstances, but who are committed to participating, are asked to speak directly with Aurora Schunk, Assistant Director.
Deposit payment deadlines are the following dates:
Alternative Spring Break: Monday, February 17, 2020 by 11:59 p.m.
Alternative Summer Break: Monday, March 23, 2020 by 11:59 p.m.
If you have questions about this process please email, call 716-878-3919, or stop by South Wing 130
When: Saturday, March 21- Saturday, March 28, 2020
Where: Sky Meadows State Park, Delaplane, Virginia
Application Deadline: Monday, February 10 at 11:59 p.m.
Deposit and Final Payment Deadlines: Monday, February 17, $75; Final Payment: Friday March 6, $105 (total cost is $180)
Site Leader: Georgia Shaw
Mandatory Pre-Trip Orientation Meetings: Tuesdays, 12:15-1:30pm, February 18-March 17
Orientation #1: Tuesday, February 18, 12:15-1:30pm
Orientation #2: Tuesday, February 25, 12:15-1:30pm
Orientation #3: Tuesday, March 3, 12:15-1:30pm
Orientation #4: Tuesday, March 10, 12:15-1:30pm
Orientation #5: Tuesday, March 17, 12:15-1:30pm
Post-Trip Meet Up (Reorientation): Tuesday, March 31, 12:15-1:30pm
Spend the week of spring break in the Blue Ridge Mountains working on environmental conservation projects. You and your team will collaborate with Sky Meadows State Park, a long-time Buffalo State Alternative Break community partner. Alongside Sky Meadows State Park staff, you'll have the opportunity to contibute to projects that improve the park experience for future generations (like building hiking trails) and those projects that enhance the natural ecosystems of the park (like planting trees on creek shores to filter rain/ground water). Through the 5 pre-trip orientation meetings, your site leader Georgia Shaw, will lead you through activities to help you understand more about the importance of environmental conservation, give you the chance to get to know your teammates before you depart, discuss climate change and environmental justice issues, and you'll learn what you can do in your daily life to lessen your environmental impact on the earth.
When: Sunday, March 22 - Saturday, March 28, 2020
Where: Buffalo, New York
Application Deadline: Monday, February 10 at 11:59 p.m. (midnight)
Deposit and Final Payment Deadlines: Deposit: Monday, February 17, $30; Final Payment: Friday March 6, $45 (total cost: $75)
Site Leaders: Hawa Mberwa & Hamdi Yakub
Mandatory Pre-Trip Orientation Meetings: Tuesdays, 12:15-1:30pm, February 18-March 17
Orientation #1: Tuesday, February 18, 12:15-1:30pm
Orientation #2: Tuesday, February 25, 12:15-1:30pm
Orientation #3: Tuesday, March 3, 12:15-1:30pm
Orientation #4: Tuesday, March 10, 12:15-1:30pm
Orientation #5: Tuesday, March 17, 12:15-1:30pm
Buffalo, New York has long been a community that has welcomed immigrants and refugees from countries across the world. Today, 1 in 20 people in our city were born in another country. During spring break spend your week being immersed in the cultures and experiences of our most recent neighbors. Through projects and collaborations with Jericho Road Community Health Center, the Community Academic Center, and other non-profits, students will learn how they can impact and contribute to creating an inclusive community for our neighbors. Through the 5 pre-trip orientation meetings, your site leaders Hamdi Yakub and Hawa Mberwa, will lead you through activities to help you understand more about the refugee resettlement process, how refugees and immigrants contribute to the local economy in a Rust Belt City, give you the chance to get to know your teammates before you depart, and you'll learn what you can do in your daily life to welcome our new neighbors.
When: Sunday, May 17 - Friday, May 22, 2020
Where: Baltimore, Maryland
Application Deadline: Monday, March 16 at 11:59 a.m. (midnight)
Deposit and Final Payment Deadlines: Deposit: Monday March 23, $75; Final Payment: April 10, $105 (total cost: $180)
Site Leader: Alexander Bianchi
Pre-Trip Orientation Meetings: Announced by November 20. 2019
Orientation #1: week of April 2
Orientation #2: week of April 9
Orientation #3: week of April 16
Orientation #4: week of April 23
Orientation #5: week of April 30
Wind down after finals with Alternative Break. Work with a multitude of organizations in the city of Baltimore and learn how they are working to close the gap as it relates to educational success in their youth. Through pograms and initiaitves communities are investing in their young people, and you too can be a part of this investment in the next generation. Projects will be hosted in partnership with the Food Bank of Maryland, Our Daily Bread, and youth-focused nonprofit organizations. Through the 5 pre-trip orientation meetings, your site leader Alex Bianchi, will lead you through activities to help you understand what impacts educational success, give you the chance to get to know your teammates before you depart, discuss educational and social justice issues, and you'll learn how you can fight for educational equity, even if your post-graduation plans don't include working with youth.
