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Alternative Spring Break in South Dakota

Alternative Break Program

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The Office of Civic Action and Engagement’s (CAE) Alternative Break Program (ABP) is a student-driven, proposal-based, team service experience.

The ABP helps support and guide teams of students to develop and run comprehensive domestic and international service projects over summer, winter and spring breaks. Projects supported by ABP will allow students to evaluate issues within a community through the examination of social, economic, political, historical and cultural variables, and will seek to assist community members in dispatching a plan of action.

ABP trips are intended to challenge participants to reflect critically upon their role in the global community, using the CAE’s Civic Competencies and Five Pathways to Service as a guide. After participating in an ABP-sponsored trip, students will better understand their role in the global community as partners in both short and long term sustainable solutions to community challenges.  

The ABP does not organize or lead service break trips. Submitted student-constructed proposals are reviewed and chosen by ABP. Proposals must be complete before submission, following the Criteria for Approval as outlined below. Selected projects are supported by ABP in the form of trainings, guidance, or financial support. The success of any alternative break service trip depends on the leadership of the trip’s student leaders and the dedication and hard work of the team.

Thank you to all the students who submitted a spring or summer break proposal!

The ABP is happy to announce that we awarded four teams matching grants totaling $10,500 for spring break service projects. The summer proposals are still being evaluated.  

  • The Caribbean Students Association (CSA) will be traveling to the island nation of Dominica to work students from poor rural areas. Their hope is to provide extra help for the teachers and to inspiration to the students. 
  • An unaffiliated group of students will travel to South Dakota and the Sioux Nation to help install solar panels and to help with education for the community on the value of sustainable energy. 
  • Columbia’s Habitat for Humanity will be traveling to Portland, Oregon, for a massive home-build and home remodeling project. 
  • Finally, another unaffiliated group of students will be traveling to Cairo, Egypt to work with a local NGO on community and democracy development projects.


Students interested in getting more information about the program should continue to check this page soon or if you have immediate questions feel free to email the ABP.