Alvernia University Alternative Breaks organizes weekend and week-long service and immersion trips for students to inspire and empower them to lead lives dedicated to serving the underserved, promoting peace and justice and working toward the common good. Centered around the pillars of education, direct service, and reflection, Alternative Breaks trips address pertinent social issues and provide students the opportunity to learn, serve, and reflect with a small community that fosters personal growth and promotes radical love. The hope is that these short-term experiences will challenge students to make a lifelong commitment to servant leadership and active citizenship.
2025-26 Alternative Break Sites
Application deadline: Sept. 30, 2025
- Alderson, West Virginia - Summer Break
Bethlehem Farm invites volunteers to be part of their mission and home as they teach about environmental sustainability and care for creation in Alderson, WV! By living out the Gospel cornerstones of prayer, simplicity, service and community each day of their lives, they offer volunteers not just the opportunity for service, but the opportunity to experience another way of life.- Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - Summer Break
During this break, you will teach classes to elementary school students and adult learners, run a Vacation Bible School for adolescents, and visit community members who are ill. Students will assist the Bernardine Sisters with the operations of their school and experience life in the Los Tres Brazos barrio.- Camden, N.J. - Spring Break
The Urban Challenge Program at the Romero Center in Camden, NJ is an urban service experience rooted in the Catholic faith tradition. This unique educational and retreat opportunity helps its participants understand urban poverty, its causes, and the many issues people in these communities confront daily. Urban decay, unemployment, food insecurity, lack of access to quality education, lack of affordable housing and homelessness, and environmental injustice are among those.- Reading, Pa. - Spring Break
The Reading Alternative Break gives Alvernia students the chance to make a direct impact in their own community. Participants take part in hands-on service that helps meet local needs, from providing food support to assisting underserved populations. By working with community members and organizations, students make a real difference while gaining a better understanding of local challenges. This experience builds a stronger connection between Alvernia and Reading and encourages a commitment to service beyond the break.
Time Commitment
Alternative Breaks is a large commitment. Participants will meet regularly throughout the year leading up to their break. Meetings will have a variety of topics: icebreakers, introduction to Alternative Breaks, team-building activities, movies or information about the trip issue, our drug and alcohol Policy, and fundraising. All trips will also participate in some large-group Alternative Breaks activities such as the kick-off Meeting, Prep4Break Sessions and so on.
Student Leadership
Each Alternative Break has one or two student leaders to accompany one staff advisor. Alternative Break site leaders will help plan meetings, organize fundraisers, communicate with their group, plan reflections, gain valuable life skills and have a ton of fun!
