Supporting justice work and community-identified projects both globally and locally, Naz Alternative Breaks connects students, faculty, staff and community partners through an immersive service and education experience during school breaks. Spend time with your team preparing to enter a new community in the weeks leading up to Winter or Spring Break, committing to purposeful and empathetic conversations, understanding reciprocity and the nature of service, and participating in self-reflection. Travel locally or globally where you will live, learn and serve alongside peers and community members. Upon returning to campus, apply what you learned to social issues in Rochester and consider how to become a more active citizen in your daily life.
2025-2026 programs will be announced and the application will open in September.
A Tale of Two Countries: Narratives of Immigration and Community Revitalization Along the Border
San Diego, California & Tijuana, Mexico
Focus: Community Development, Immigration, Veterans
Saturday, January 11 - Saturday, January 18
Green Fingers: Urban Gardening, Indigenous Preservation, and Latin American Culture
Colombia: Medellin, Río Claro, Santa Marta, & Cartagena
Focus: Sustainable Farming, Environmental Justice
Sunday, January 5 - Sunday, January 19
SPARK-eligible
Breaking Barriers, Building Community: Empowering Communities Through Substance Use Harm Reduction
New York, NY
Focus: Harm Reduction, Overdose Prevention, Substance Abuse, Sex Work
Sunday, March 16 - Saturday, March 22
Traditions Thrive, Futures Flourish: Indigenous Youth Development and Indigenous Culture
Dupree, South Dakota
Focus: Indigenous Culture, Youth Development
Saturday, March 15 - Saturday, March 22
Alt Breaks are led by two Nazareth student team leaders trained in the Break Away model, and accompanied by two Faculty or Staff advisors. Undergraduate and Graduate students are eligible to apply.
Applications are now closed.
Naz Alternative Breaks strives to be equitable and accessible in its programming. If accommodations are needed to complete the application or interview process, please contact Jennifer Canning, Naz Alt Breaks, 585-389-2304, jcannin6@naz.edu to make arrangements.
Naz Alternative Breaks follows the nationwide Break Away organization's guiding principles of experiences that include intentional preparation, continuous reflection, and a commitment to service beyond the Alt Break.
Some short-term opportunities are an approved pathway for Experiential Learning, which is one component of the core curriculum at Naz.
Adventures, vegan food, and a dairy farm with a non-cruelty focus were part of Courtney Calkins’ alternative break experience in Pennsylvania. In a guest post on the student blog, she shares three lessons she learned.
"I was able to have the experience of a lifetime discovering the beauty of the Chicano community in San Diego, California — as well as the systemic inequities that affect people there."