Since the 1990s, Keene State College’s Alternative Break program has offered students a unique way to combine travel and community service during academic breaks.
Whether it is over winter, spring or summer, students have had the chance to volunteer in communities across the country and internationally, building connections and broadening their perspectives.
“The Alternative Break program has been around on this particular campus since the ‘90s, and it’s really designed to offer students an opportunity to combine travel and community service or volunteerism,” said Jessica Gagne Cloutier, director of student involvement.
“It’s really an opportunity to meet a group of students you might not otherwise meet and to see a part of the country through a different lens – not just traveling for fun or as a tourist, but traveling with a purpose.”
The program has a strong network of partnerships across the U.S. and internationally, thanks to its long-standing history.
“We’re really lucky that Alternative Breaks are part of a decades-long movement on college campuses,” Gagne Cloutier said. “We have some great partnerships that allow us to offer a variety of service opportunities.”
This year, the program is returning to Catalina Island, revisiting a trip from 20 years ago.
“We thought it would be nice to go back to an older trip location where we had a strong partnership,” Gagne Cloutier explained. Participants will engage in various conservation projects, such as working in a nursery, trail maintenance and habitat restoration.
“It’s definitely a trip where folks are going to get their vitamin D,” Gagne Cloutier added.
For many students, Alternative Break has been transformative. Gagne Cloutier recounted how trips that were focused on children’s healthcare led some participants to change their career paths.
“Students who thought the only way to work with kids was to be a teacher, went on to discover fields like child life, where they can help children navigate hospital stays and difficult medical situations,” she said. “Some even changed their majors and pursued master’s degrees in child life.”
Senior Ashleigh Moroni, a recent participant, shared how the experience shaped her college journey.
“Participating in Alternative Break influenced my college experience in an extremely positive direction,” she said. “It was the best combination of the things I value – engaging in service work, strengthening my leadership skills and seeing a new destination.”
“You will come home with new memories, new skills, new friends and new experiences. Alternative Break is a space where you get to push yourself out of your typical comfort zone, while also giving back in a way you may otherwise have never been able to do,” Moroni said.
COVID-19 significantly impacted the program, leading to a two-year hiatus and a decline in participation.
“We’re basically starting from scratch,” Gagne Cloutier said. “Before COVID, we’d run up to 10 trips a year and had to turn away applicants. Now, we’re working hard to rebuild awareness and interest.”
This year’s trip will include eight students and two staff members.
“Traveling with people you don’t know can be challenging, but it’s also an opportunity to build lasting connections,” Gagne Cloutier said.
Applications for the program remain open until spots are filled and students are encouraged to apply even if they’re unsure.
“Applying doesn’t lock you in,” she said. “It’s a chance to explore the opportunity and see if it’s the right fit.”
Looking ahead, Gagne Cloutier said she hopes to expand the program to two or three trips a year and is open to student suggestions for future destinations.
“We try to offer diverse experiences,” she said, mentioning past trips to a Pennsylvania farm sanctuary and aspirations to visit an elephant sanctuary.
“Alternative Break is about more than just service, it’s about growth, connection and seeing the world through a different lens,” Gagne Cloutier said. “We welcome everyone and strive to make each trip a meaningful experience.”
Aisling Kavanagh can be contacted at
akavanagh@kscequinox.com
