Weeklong Experiences
​Join Alternative Spartan Breaks in volunteering on a winter weeklong experience! These experiences take place over the Michigan State University winter and spring break. Experiences are across the nation and may require a maximum of 10-12 hours of driving as a team to reach your destination.
Foundations for Change
status: OPEN
program cost: $450
December 14th-20th
About the Organization:
​This organization creates service-learning trips that bring volunteers together to address pressing community challenges. Focus areas include homelessness, educational equity, poverty alleviation, food insecurity, civil rights, and youth development. Participants are immersed in the local culture and will complete service projects like community outreach, supporting youth development programs, and working with local nonprofits on impactful projects.
Move, Play, Serve
Status: OPEN
program cost: $450
December 14th-20th
About the Organizations:
​​This organization is a community-centered nonprofit that promotes holistic wellness through a wide array of programs for people of all ages. It offers health and fitness classes, aquatic programs, youth sports, enrichment camps, after-school care, and child development services. With an emphasis on nurturing spirit, mind, and body, it strives to make healthy living and personal growth accessible — providing financial assistance, varied youth programs, and seasonal camps to meet the needs of diverse families and individuals.
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This nonprofit is dedicated to building strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable housing. It partners with individuals and families to construct, repair, and improve homes, empowering them to achieve independence through shelter. By engaging volunteers, local communities, and future homeowners in every stage of the process, it fosters dignity, sustainability, and hope. Through homebuilding projects, housing advocacy, and resource initiatives, it works to ensure that everyone has a safe, decent place to call home.
Spring Break Experiences
Hands that Heal
status: OPEN
program cost: $425
March 1st-7th
About the Organization:
​This organization is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of children and families through compassionate care, education, and community outreach. It brings together experts, volunteers, and supporters to address critical health challenges, promote wellness, and provide resources that strengthen families. With programs focused on healing, research, and advocacy, it strives to ensure every child has the opportunity to grow up healthy and strong. Volunteers contribute by offering comfort, supporting events, and helping create a positive and nurturing environment for those they serve.
Little Steps, Big Impact
status: OPEN
program cost: $425
March 1st-7th
About the Organization:
​This nonprofit organization supports children and families facing poverty by providing a safe, loving, and educational environment along with comprehensive family services. Founded in 1971, it has grown from serving a small group of infants and toddlers to reaching hundreds of children each week through early childhood programs, after-school and summer enrichment, and workforce development. It also empowers parents through advocacy, emergency aid, therapy, and education. With a holistic approach, the organization helps children succeed in school, strengthens families, and fosters thriving, resilient communities.
Constructing Hope
status: OPEN
program cost: $425
March 1st-7th
About the Organization:
​This nonprofit organization focuses on providing affordable housing solutions to low-income individuals and families. Through income-based programs, it assists clients in achieving homeownership by offering housing counseling, access to various floor plans, and support in navigating the mortgage process. Additionally, the organization offers affordable home repairs, including critical and accessibility upgrades, to help homeowners maintain safe and comfortable living conditions. Its efforts contribute to community redevelopment and support disaster recovery initiatives, aiming to enhance the quality of life for residents in underserved areas.
Built to Serve
status: OPEN
program cost: $425
March 1st-7th
About the Organization:
​This organization creates service-learning trips that bring volunteers together to address pressing community challenges. Focus areas include homelessness, educational equity, poverty alleviation, food insecurity, civil rights, and youth development. Participants are immersed in the local culture and will complete service projects like community outreach, supporting youth development programs, and working with local nonprofits on impactful projects.
Strength in Strides
status: OPEN
program cost: $425
March 1st-7th
About the Organization:
​This nonprofit organization provides equine and animal-assisted therapeutic programs that enrich the lives of individuals of all ages and abilities. Through guided interactions with horses and other animals, it promotes physical, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being, fostering confidence, balance, and connection. Rooted in a holistic approach, the organization offers opportunities for participants to grow in strength and self-awareness while building meaningful bonds with animals and volunteers in a supportive, inclusive environment.
Golden Connections
status: OPEN
program cost: $425
March 1st-7th
About the Organization:
​This nonprofit serves older adults and caregivers by offering a broad range of supportive services designed to help individuals maintain independence, build connections, and enjoy a high quality of life as they age. Programs include home-delivered meals, adult day care, memory-enhancement activities, transportation services, caregiver assistance, and lifelong-learning opportunities. With a focus on dignity, community, and wellness, the organization welcomes people of all ages to participate, volunteer, and contribute.
Supporting Families and Futures
status: OPEN
program cost: $425
March 1st-7th
About the Organization:
​This nonprofit organization is dedicated to empowering individuals and families to achieve economic well-being and holistic stability. Through a range of educational, financial, and emotional wellness programs, it equips participants with the tools to build sustainable futures and break cycles of poverty. The organization provides services such as financial literacy workshops, youth development programs, early childhood education, and family support initiatives that address immediate needs while fostering long-term growth. Rooted in dignity, inclusivity, and community partnership, it promotes self-sufficiency and resilience—helping individuals of all backgrounds thrive with purpose and confidence.
Seeds of Hope
status: OPEN
program cost: $425
March 1st-7th
About the Organization:
​This nonprofit organization is dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by cancer and their families. Through a combination of research funding, advocacy efforts, and patient-centered support services, it works to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. The organization offers a 24/7 helpline, transportation and lodging assistance for treatment, evidence-based health information, guidelines for early detection, and community outreach aimed at reducing disparities in care. Rooted in a vision of ending cancer as we know it, the organization fosters hope, builds resilience, and champions equity in cancer prevention and care.
Trails of Renewal—International
status: OPEN
program cost: $1400 (includes flight costs)
March 1st-7th
About the Organization:
​This organization partners with local communities to promote sustainable travel and environmental stewardship through hands-on service and education. Dedicated to preserving natural ecosystems and fostering cultural connections, it offers immersive experiences that engage volunteers in meaningful conservation work. During this service trip, participants will focus on water and sustainability by assisting with trail maintenance, building new signs within a protected reserve, and supporting environmental education initiatives. Through this collaborative effort, volunteers will help protect vital natural resources while learning about the importance of conservation, responsible tourism, and the lasting impact of community-driven sustainability.
PLEASE NOTE: This is an international experience; a valid passport and flight are required.
