Make a Difference with Badger Alternative Breaks
Badger Alternative Breaks, a chapter of the national Break Away network, provides Northern Vermont University-Johnson students the opportunity to participate in a year-long experience exploring social, political, and cultural dynamics of a community. Through learning and practice, students explore the integration of service, education, and reflection to create meaningful change in their communities. Students travel to their host community over February break and take part in a week-long service project, getting a chance to meet new people, explore new cultures, and make a contribution to a community in need. It’s life-changing, agree previous participants — and it’s also really fun!
Johnson was a founding chapter of the Break Away program (which currently has a network of over 130 chapter schools), and since 1991, the NVU-Johnson SERVE Office has sponsored 120 trips with 1,197 participants. Students have traveled across the U.S. to spend their winter and spring break working in various communities on issues such as disaster relief, homelessness in LGBTQ+ youth, torture abolition, and urban farming.
Our vision is a society of effective citizens: people who value the community as a priority when making life decisions. As part of the Badger Alternative Break experience, participants will become more educated and experienced in all sides of a social issue. Upon return, they will be empowered to make more informed decisions and take meaningful action that supports a greater good. They will become contributing members of society and will weigh in on issues that impact their community.