Alternative Break Citizenship Schools (ABCS)

Posted by on June 3, 2005

[posted from Idealist On Campus newsletter]

Alternative Break Citizenship Schools (ABCS)

The Alternative Break Citizenship Schools (ABCS) offered through Break Away? combine workshops, service projects, community interaction, speaker panels, team-building, discussions, and reflection. Participants synthesize knowledge and skills gained during workshops with educational contact with both the community and student leaders from campuses nationwide.

Break Away programs teach participants to examine the root causes of social problems. Every ABCS Summer Institute focuses on a particular social concern, such as HIV/AIDS, education, youth and families, etc (see below for this year’s issues) and incorporates relevant educational materials. Since the training is experiential in nature, . Participants learn about the issues through reading, discussion, hands-on activities, and daily reflection sessions. Workshops train participants to replicate these quality components within their local alternative break programs.

Registration is limited to 48 participants per week-long session to encourage idea sharing and team building. Participants are divided into four small groups, including two co-Site Leaders, to replicate the small group dynamic of a quality alternative break. Registration includes all meals (17), lodging (6 nights), on-site transportation, and a comprehensive training binder with all workshop materials and sample documents for the entire week.

To register for his program or to find more information, please visit: http://www.alternativebreaks.org/abcs.asp