Whether it’s a rave in the hot sun throwing beach balls and sipping fruity drinks or a long, relaxing week on the couch, the spring-breaker stereotype doesn’t typically involve long hours of learning and labor. But thanks to Michigan Tech Student Leadership and Involvement (SLI), Huskies have options. Alternative Spring Break (ASB) gives students across campus the opportunity to spend their time off serving communities around the world—and having a different kind of fun in the process.
On past trips, students have helped with post-hurricane repair and shoreline cleanup in Florida, forest recovery in Puerto Rico, and built earthquake-resistant homes in Guatemala. Most years include both domestic and international trip options. Though service-learning and community building are central to ASB, trips also include community immersion experiences, educational opportunities, and group reflection. SLI assistant director Amy Hjerstedt attended the Puerto Rico trip last year and returned as a leader again this year.
“The opportunity to be among new people learning and serving together in a new location makes ASB so unique,” said Hjerstedt, “Students provide services to another part of the country or world and learn about giving to the community in a whole new way. This is my favorite part of ASB: hands-on learning.”
This year’s domestic trip is to Denver, Colorado where students are working with Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver on an affordable housing initiative. SLI coordinator Taylor Piering is leading participants in cleaning the local Rebuild Store and aiding in a home-build project.
Meanwhile, in Shandia, Ecuador, Hjerstedt leads students in working with Manna Project International. This is the second time ASB has coordinated with Manna Project International; the first was in 2023 when students focused on a variety of community development projects in Sanloqui, Ecuador. This year’s trip also gives students a variety of service opportunities to choose from in education, health, sports and recreation, business agriculture, and environment. No matter what projects the group chooses, their goal is to help create communities of young leaders working to break the cycle of poverty in underserved communities around the world.
Engineering management student Ryland Feierabend ’27 is attending his first ASB on the Ecuador trip this year.
“I hope to give back to the community that is accepting us in whatever way we can, hear new perspectives, and learn about the local culture,” said Feierabend.
The trip piqued his interest as an opportunity to travel, experience different cultures, and give a helping hand—all on a fairly low budget. Both trips are supported in part by the Student Activity Fee, so students on the domestic trip pay $500, while the international trip costs $1,400 per student. Travel, on-site food, accommodations, and materials are included.
“Alternative Spring Break gives us the unique opportunity to travel and help people,” said Feierabend. “It’s cheap and very intriguing to anyone interested in learning about local cultures and history.”
If traveling around the country (or the world) while learning and giving back to those in need isn’t enough to make Huskies consider alternative plans for their spring break, there’s always the break from the Upper Peninsula’s winter weather.
“I am always open to experiencing new things and places,” said Feierabend, “I’ve heard lots of good things about Ecuador and I know I can get a nice tan, too.”
About the College of Sciences and Arts
The College of Sciences and Arts is a global center of academic excellence in the sciences, humanities, and arts for a technological world. Our teacher-scholar model is a foundation for experiential learning, innovative research and scholarship, and civic leadership. The College offers 33 bachelor’s degrees in biological sciences, chemistry, humanities, kinesiology and Integrative physiology, mathematical sciences, physics, psychology and human factors, social sciences, and visual and performing arts. We are home to Michigan Tech’s pre-health professions and ROTC programs. The College offers 25 graduate degrees and certificates. We conduct approximately $12 million in externally funded research in health and wellness, sustainability and resiliency, and the human-technology frontier.
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