Alternative Break Programs

From March 17-22, students will get to help a community in need, while exploring the area. As part of the trip, students will get to visit Washington DC.

Participants will work with local disaster response organizations to help rebuild homes and communities damaged by Hurricane Ida. This may include demolition, general construction, and finishing work like sheet rocking, painting, and flooring. Students get the chance to help a community in need, while exploring Puerto Rico!

The Alternative Spring Break Mindfulness Meditation retreat is a fully immersive program where we will practice mindfulness meditation, mindful eating, mindful walking, relaxation and build deep connections with your peers, all while living in community with Monastics from the Plum Village Buddhist tradition. This program is open to all Adelphi community members students, faculty and staff and open to people of all spiritual and faith traditions.

Students provided direct relief to individuals and families who were displaced by the flooding from Hurricane Idalia and Hurricane Ian.

The island of Tobago is known for its stunning white sand beaches, turquoise waters, abundance of wildlife, and delicious seafood. The island is mainly untouched by mass tourism, making it an amazing place to reconnect with nature. There are more than 260 species of birds on the island, a diverse range of vibrant coral reefs to explore, and an abundance of waterfalls and rainforest you can hike through.

Students joined our partnership with the Morocco Exchange and traveled abroad to Morocco. Students were immersed in the Moroccan culture by visiting various sites throughout the country, meeting University of Morocco students, and assisting in various service projects throughout the community.

Take part in a fully immersive Mindfulness Meditation retreat. Practice mindfulness meditation, mindful eating, mindful walking, relaxation and build deep connections with your peers, all while living in a community with Monastics from the Plum Village Buddhist tradition. This program is open to Adelphi students of all spiritual and faith traditions. All are welcome.

Blue Cliff Monastery is a mindfulness practice center and monastic training center founded by the Vietnamese Buddhist monk, author, and peace activist–Thich Nhat Hanh. Nestled on 80 peaceful acres of woodland in the southern Catskill region about two hours northwest of New York City.

Students stayed at the Center at Mariandale in Ossining NY during Spring Break. They helped clean out the Fuller Center for Housing, volunteered at a community food bank, assisted in a community garden, and helped during a Midnight Run, where they handed out warm food to the homeless population in Manhattan.

Students joined our partnership with Appleseed Expeditions. Adelphi students served at the Institute for Human Services where they worked alongside members of the organization to help sort over 1000 items in their thrift shop so that clients could readily have access to things they may need free of charge. The students also volunteered at Lyon Arboretum Rainforest Center and removed over 200 pounds of invasive species.

Volunteers were based in Cusco and the surrounding valleys of the Peruvian Andes. Students provided support to the different placements in Cusco through IVHQ’s Construction and Renovation project. Many of these placements are under-funded, run-down, and in need of renovation work. Volunteers worked alongside a local construction workers who provided them with direction and motivation. Volunteers worked on a variety of buildings, including schools, community centers and clinics. Volunteer’s work generally consisted of renovating buildings, re-painting community centers, and building new institutions such as childcare facilities.

Students joined our partnership with Appleseed Expeditions for Alternative Winter Break: Puerto Rico. During our stay, we volunteered at a local orphanage and school—helping after the devastation of Hurricane Maria.

The economic boom has accelerated an already serious gap between rich and poor, making housing unaffordable for working-class residents. That has placed further strain on social systems like food banks, soup kitchens, health clinics and youth centers. Adelphi partnered with Break a Difference in San Francisco, California so that students could help in these areas, along with the series of environmental projects restoring public space for the benefit of everyone, in a community that values its green space.

Students spent winter break volunteering in Houston, Texas for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.

Travel with Adelphi to the Dominican Republic to help serve their local communities.

Join us in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, while we partner with local organizations to assist in restoring homes in Baton Rouge and continue to support efforts in revitalizing areas of New Orleans.

Through our partnerships with local orphanages and organizations, our group will have the opportunity to aid the local children through mentoring and games as well as building and cleaning-up facilities.

Volunteer with migrant worker children in South Florida. Recreational activities include kayaking and an airboat ride in the Everglades.

Volunteer in the Liberty Children’s Home in Belize city as well as at the Belize Zoo. Recreational activities include cave tubing and zip riding at Caves Branch Outpost.

Students spent the week in a beautiful location, painting houses with “Techos Para Mi Pais” and working with disabled children through FUNDABIEM. Students also enjoyed a day of fun and relaxation, touring the Chich Lecastenango and Lake Atitlan regions.

Students had the chance to mentor impoverished migrant worker children in Homestead, FL through reading, computer assistance, soccer games, and music, as well as helping with conservation efforts to preserve and rehabilitate the unique ecological system of southern Florida. Recreational activities included exploring mangrove habitats by kayaking in the backcountry.

Students helped in the relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Isaac as well as the ongoing efforts to clean up after the Gulf Coast Oil Spill.

Students enjoyed rainforest excursions and riverboat cruises while giving back to the local community.