Be a Co-Leader!

Break trip leader applications for Spring 2024 are now closed. 

Each break trip is facilitated by two student co-leaders. Traveling trips will also work with a WWC faculty/staff learning partner to co-facilitate the trip. Co-leading a break trip satisfies the requirements of PEG 3, while participating in a break trip satisfies PEG 2. 

Spring 2024 Opportunities

Participation in a community-engaged spring break trip satisfies the requirements for PEG 2.
The deadline for participant applications has been extended to 11:59pm on Monday, February 12. 
 
 
This is a TRAVELING spring break trip.
Monday, March 4 - Friday, March 8
(*possible travel dates on Sunday, March 3 and/or Saturday, March 9 - participants will be notified as soon as possible) 
Trip Cost: $125 per person
Faculty Learning Partner: Jeff Holmes
Student Co-leaders: Marren Dougherty, Sam Kobylarz
 
Partner with A Clean Wilson Creek for hands-on conservation work, discussions around ecology/conservation science, and some beautiful recreational hikes near Linville Gorge. Watch this video to learn more about their work! 
 
Traveling: Letcher County, Kentucky
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
This is a TRAVELING alternative break experience.
Saturday, March 2 - Wednesday, March 6
Trip Cost: $125 per person
Faculty Learning Partners: Jeff Keith and Sarah Himmelheber
Student Co-leaders: Donnie Henry, Rosemary Thurber

Flooding in July 2022 devastated many areas in central Appalachia, and Letcher County, Kentucky is still recovering. Whitesburg, the Letcher County seat, is home to Appalshop, a media, arts, and education center focused on Appalachian history and culture. Trip participants will partner with local nonprofit Highway 7 Community Outreach and other community organizers to work on a variety of projects. You'll also participate in some great cultural experiences such as old time music and dance, a trip into an underground mine, a trip to a surface/MTR “mine,” a nature hike on top of Pine Mountain and lots of other possibilities! 

 
Local: Habitat for Humanity (Asheville, NC)
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
This is a LOCAL break trip. Participants will stay in their current on- or off-campus housing. 
Monday, March 4 - Friday, March 8
Trip Fee: $100 per person
Student Co-leaders: Eliot Ward, Alister Gardner, Orion Quick 

Participate in the construction of new homes in the Asheville area. You may paint, install insulation, lay stucco, frame walls, or work on other projects associated with home construction. All skill levels are welcome! Students will also tour the Habitat for Humanity ReStore and attend a homeowner family dinner to gain a comprehensive understanding of Habitat for Humanity as an organization.

Local: Bountiful Cities (Asheville, NC)
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
This is a LOCAL break trip. Participants will stay in their current on- or off-campus housing.
Monday, March 4 - Friday, March 8
Trip Fee: $100 per person
Student Co-leaders: Allen Stageman, David Johnson


Bountiful Cities is an Asheville-based nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching sustainable agriculture skills and sharing resources to promote social justice, economic viability, and community resilience. Bountiful Cities envisions abundant, food-sovereign communities. This local break trip will focus on working on projects at multiple school and community Bountiful Cities garden sites. 

What's a Break Trip?

Community-engaged break trips provide students with the opportunity to work deeply with community partners around a specific issue, engaging in a week of direct service while also thinking critically and compassionately about root causes and solutions.

For local break trips, participants stay in their current on- or off-campus housing, and commute to their service site each day. For traveling break trips, lodging is typically provided by local community partners and may vary based on the trip. Transportation will be provided.
 
PEG 3: Co-lead a Community-Engaged Fall Break Trip
Co-Leaders must:  
  • Attend a minimum of 2 meetings with Madeline Wadley to plan logistics
  • Plan and facilitate at least 2 meetings for trip participants (1 pre-break, 1 post-break)
  • Plan logistics for group meals during the week and shop for food
  • Consult with and maintain contact with community partners
  • Manage group dynamics 
  • Lead daily reflections
  • Seniors will be given priority for leadership positions, but all are encouraged to apply.
PEG 2: Participate in a Community-Engaged Fall Break Trip
Community Engaged Fall Break Participants must:
  • Attend one pre-break and one post-break group meeting
  • Communicate with the Student Leader(s) for this experience
  • Be in good academic, community engagement, work and student life/conduct standing
  • Fully participate in all activities associated with this experience
Logistics
 
What does the fee cover?
Fees cover your meals for the week and your lodging if it's a traveling trip. They also help to cover compensation for your community partners, who often put as much work into planning these experiences as we do! Financial assistance can be requested when you complete your application and is primarily awarded based on demonstrated financial need through the WWC FinAid Office. Please reach out to [email protected] if you have questions/concerns about this!

Where will we stay, and is transportation provided?
For local break trips, participants and leaders will stay in their current on- or off-campus housing and commute to service sites together.

For traveling break trips, lodging is typically provided by the community partner. Depending on the destination of the trip, you may be hosted by a local church or community center, or stay in a local hostel/bunk house. We do our best to keep travel costs low. 

How will meals work?
Your group will be responsible for planning and preparing meals together throughout the week. Depending on your trip, you may eat some meals with your community partner. Some groups choose to eat dinner on their own during the week, but this also depends on the trip. 
 
PEG Fulfillment
 
Will this count toward my PEG requirements?
YES! Participating in a break trip will satisfy PEG 2 requirements. Co-leading a break trip will satisfy PEG 3 requirements. 
**You must fully participate in this experience for PEG credit. This includes attending pre- and post-trip meetings, as well as actively participating during the week.**
 
How is my participation or leadership recorded?
Following the break, co-leaders will submit the total hours for your group and confirm participation. This will be recorded as an Impact on GivePulse by Community Engagement staff. 
 
General Break Trip Information

If it's a local trip, can I just participate for a couple of days?
No. Break trip participants are expected to participate for the entire week. Receiving permission to stay in your on-campus housing during the break means that you are committed to actively participating in your break trip. 

Why didn't I get a spot on the break trip I applied for?
Break trips are capped based on available transportation and the number of people the community partner is able to accommodate. Students in year 3 or 4 are given priority for co-leadership positions, due to experience level as well as their need to fulfill PEG 3, but the rest of their application is also considered. We also require that all participants and leaders are in good standing with academics, student life, the work program, and community engagement. These experiences are offered every semester, and we encourage you to apply again!
 
Are break trips always local?
Nope! Break trips to destinations within reasonable driving distance of WWC are also in the works.
 
What if I have an idea for a break trip and want to lead it in Fall 2024?
We LOVE that! Please contact Madeline Wadley ([email protected]) to discuss the planning process.