Request a 2023 Alternative Break Crew

Thank you for requesting to host a 2023 Alternative Break Crew! Please note, you will need to fill out the online application in one session and will not be able to save your work and return to a partially filled out application. If you have further questions or need assistance, please email eplace@americanhiking.org.

Organization Address

Liability Insurance

Due to the nature of trail work, accidents can happen.

Project Dates/Travel Information

Please indicate the week(s) you are available to host an Alternative Break crew. The dates listed are the most common weeks colleges/universities have off in 2023. Most projects are scheduled for the crew to arrive on Sunday, work Monday – Friday, and depart Saturday, with weekends allowing time for travel; however, this might vary based on the group’s travel plans and how long it takes to get to your location.

Project Details

This information will be included on our website and will help “sell” your trip to potential Alternative Break groups. It should explain the actual work that will be done during the project. Keep in mind that most Alternative Breaker’s are new to trail work. Projects should not require prior trail work experience or expertise and will need to be explained thoroughly.

Area & Volunteer Accommodations

Describe your park or forest including terrain, natural and scenic features, landmarks or tourist attractions and recreational opportunities. This is a great time to “sell” your location to students not familiar with your area and what it has to offer.
Describe the accommodations in as much detail as possible. Ex, how many rooms / beds are available, are there private or shared bathroom facilities, if camping, what amenities are available (picnic tables, fire pits, grills, water spigots, etc.)
Alternative Break crews will plan and prepare all their own meals for the week. Hosts are expected to provide access to full kitchens and cooking gear including pots, pans, cooking utensils, etc. Please see the Host Guide for the full required list of cooking gear.

The Vacation

Since students are spending their vacation time volunteering, we want to make sure they have some free time and get the chance to explore the local area. We strongly recommend that you provide a half-day or full day-off from trail work.
Examples: tour of local attractions, guided hike, rafting trip, visit to another park, etc.
Examples: dinner in town, barbecue, pizza party, etc

COVID-19 Safety Requirements

We have created the following guidelines for all hosts to keep volunteers/staff safe and mitigate the spread of COVID-19. These guidelines are periodically reviewed and updated. https://americanhiking.org/volunteer-vacations/volunteer-vacations-covid-19-guidelines/