![\"Volunteer](\"https:\/\/americanhiking.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/vv-nourish-body-soul.png\" "\\"vv")
\nSpend Your School Break Making a Difference<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n
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\nAmerican Hiking Society’s Alternative Breaks are volunteer trail stewardship projects in America’s parks and forests designed specifically for college students and young professional groups. Part volunteer work project, part kick-back outdoor vacation.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAlternative Break Locations\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n Alternative Break crews vary between 6-15+ students. Supervision during the project will be provided by our experienced project hosts. AHS offers Alternative Breaks for\u00a0 student groups (minimum of 6). If you want to volunteer throughout the year as an individual, check out all the trips we offer as part of our year-round\u00a0 Volunteer Vacations<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0program. Volunteer Vacations are open for individual registration and are not limited to college students (There will be a variety of ages of participants on these trips). \u00a0Many of these trips will coincide with your spring and summer break.<\/p>\n Most trips last one week with weekends used for group travel. Alternative Breaks combine day hiking, trail work, exploration, crew camaraderie, and FUN into a weeks time and are scheduled for your student group to participate during your school break. Never been hiking or done trail work before? We welcome you! Alternative Breaks don’t require any prior trail work experience, just a good attitude and a willingness to get a little dirty!<\/p>\n Lodging options vary depending on the trip you choose. Alternative Breaks will offer either indoor accommodations (bunkhouses, cabins, lodges) or access to a campground site where you bring your own tent and camping supplies. \u00a0Most locations will offer access to indoor bathrooms and either a full-service kitchen or camp cooking gear for meal prep.<\/p>\n Make new friends and share laughter over a campfire. Experience an amazing sense of accomplishment after building a bridge or restoring a neglected trail. Connect with the land. Experience nature first-hand. Spend your break doing something that makes a lasting difference.<\/p>\n While the mission of Alternative Breaks and Volunteer Vacations with American Hiking is the same, giving back to the trails we love, Alternative Breaks are geared specifically towards college students and young professional groups (such as AmeriCorps). Alternative Breakers will spend the week working, relaxing, and giving back to the trails with their peers!<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tWhat if I have never worked on a trail before? How much experience is necessary?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t We welcome you! Our Alternative Breaks are a fun way to learn new things and most do not require any prior experience. All of our projects do require participants to be in good physical condition and will involve 1-6 miles of hiking each day while performing trail maintenance. Please read the project descriptions carefully and choose one that fits your group’s experience level and physical abilities.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tHow much does an Alternative Break cost and what is included?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t Alternative Break group registration for groups is $250<\/strong>\u00a0per student and includes:<\/p>\n Alternative Break crews are responsible for paying for travel to and from the project location and for food. Registration fees are the same for every location offered. A $500 non-refundable deposit is due to secure your space. The deposit will apply towards your final payment amount. Registration fees are due 1-month before the start of your project. A minimum of 6 students or $1,500 total registration fee is required (see information below about reserving your desired week\/location). No refunds or updates to final invoice will be made for cancellations within 4 weeks of the project start date.<\/p>\n American Hiking is a non-profit organization. The registration fee helps offset the costs associated with coordinating our alternative break trips and ensures that we can recruit and send hardworking groups to assist our project hosts with their trail needs. Our volunteers also are exempt from paying park entrance fees, campground fees and backcountry permit fees, which for a typical week in a U.S. National Park could run upwards of $100. The registration fee is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tHow large are the groups (or crew)?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t Alternative Break crews are usually 8 to 15 volunteers, however, there may be limited group sizes due to staffing and accommodations. Groups must have a minimum of 6 people to participate in an Alternative Break.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tWhat is the basic itinerary for an Alternative Break?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t Most trips last one week with weekends used for travel. A typical day will include a hearty breakfast, trail work for 5-7 hours (enjoy lunch on the trail!) and a return to camp for a well-deserved dinner and evening of relaxing around the campfire or cabin. All trips will include free time to hike, get to know your fellow crew members, and explore the area.\u00a0 Each trip will include one “free-day”, where you will not be working on the trail. \u00a0Many hosts will have a special outing planned for the group for the free day or will provide the group with information on local attractions that you can visit on your own.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tWhat types of accommodations are available?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t Accommodations vary, depending on the trip you choose. Options include car-camping campsites, bunkhouses,\u00a0 cabins, or dormitories. Most Alternative Breaks will offer indoor lodging either in a cabin, lodge, or dormitory. Typically these facilities will include cots\/bunk beds, full kitchen, bathroom(s), and running water. Please read the accommodations description for the trip location you are interested in to see what is provided.<\/p>\n Alternative Breaks are intended to foster an inclusive and empowering group experience. If there are any concerns or questions about accomodations, please reach out to volunteer@americanhiking.org.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tHow are meals handled?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t Most Alternative Break groups have a designated student leader or adviser who oversees the meal planning and food shopping when they arrive at the project site.\u00a0 American Hiking will provide the trip leader with sample menu options, sample shopping lists, a meal planning guide, and budgeting guidance to aid in food planning. American Hiking or the project host will let your group know what grocery store is recommended to use and what amenities are available at the lodging. Most Alternative Break groups prepare meals together or set up a meal preparation schedule. Group cooking gear will be provided for the crew by the host.\u00a0 The purchase and payment of food is the responsibility of the volunteer group- food is not included in the registration fee.<\/p>\n Individual Alternative Break participants will have meal planning and food shopping handled by a crew leader or host. Food is included in the registration fee. Most Alternative Break groups prepare meals together or set up a meal preparation schedule. Group cooking gear will be provided for the crew by the host.<\/p>\n Alternative Breaks are a substance free program, and there is zero tolerance for the use of drugs or alcohol while on the trip, including free time and offsite activities.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tI’m sold! How do I sign my group up for an Alternative Break?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\tWe require a $500 non-refundable deposit to reserve the location and week that your group wants. This deposit will secure that particular week and location for your group as we get a lot of inquiries from other groups for specific locations. Registration fees are $250 per person and will be due 1-month from the project start. We require a minimum of 6 students or $1,500 to participate in an Alternative Break. The paid deposit will be subtracted from the total registration fees.\u00a0 For example, if your group has 10 participants, your group would pay the $500 deposit to secure your chosen week\/location. The registration fees would total $2,500 ($250 X 10).\u00a0 Since you already paid the deposit to secure your week- $2,000 would be due to us one-month before the project starts to cover the remaining registration fees. No refunds or updates to final invoice will be made Alternative Break Spend Your School Break Making a Difference Make Spring Break Mean Something Make Memories Outdoors Make a Difference What is an Alternative Break with the American Hiking Society?…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":225,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-27926","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\tFind a Location\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBook Here\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n
\n\t\t\n\t\t\tHost an Alternative Break Crew\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHost Information\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n
\n\t\t\tGeneral Information\t<\/h2>\n\t
The Crew<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Setup<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Accommodations<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Experience<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n\t\t\tFrequently Asked Questions<\/b>\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\tHow is the Alternative Break program different than the Volunteer Vacations program?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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\nfor cancellations within 4 weeks of the project start date.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAlternative Break Locations\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\tBack to Top<\/a><\/h5>\n
\n\t\t\tThank You to Our Alternative Break Partners\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\tBack to Top<\/a><\/h5>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"