Site Leader Information
Some social issues we have worked with in the past include: health and disabilities,
disaster relief, poverty and homelessness, animals, environment, education and culture,
and youth.
We are always seeking dedicated site leaders that can help organize and construct
a spring break trip that makes a difference! Site Leaders must commit to attending
site leader training and building a strong community amongst their participants.
The Role of a Site Leader
This is a great leadership experience for students who would like to gain more skills
working with groups. Before the trip, Site Leaders are responsible for helping to
select participants, conducting pre-trip meetings, organizing itineraries and travel
logistics, and keeping participants informed. During the trip, Site Leaders work with
their Trip Advisors to collaborate with the host site coordinators, mobilize participants,
plan meals, trouble-shoot any problems, and facilitate reflection activities each
day of service.
Ideal candidates are passionate about service, effective at motivating and organizing
teams, are very organized and have a positive attitude. If you see yourself in this
role, please apply! Two site leaders will be selected and work as partners on each
trip, with one staff advisor.
The Rules
Site Leaders are strongly encouraged to select a diverse group of participants. This
ASB experience is not meant to be a trip of all of your friends. Your significant
other is not allowed to participate in the same trip as you. Site Leader fees are
the same as participant fees for all trips. Only Site Leaders who pass the driver
authorization process will be hired to drive vans during spring break. Site Leader
trainings and participant events are mandatory. Site Leaders who miss more than 1
meeting may be terminated from their position. ASB participants must be in good conduct
standing with the University of North Texas and have a minimum of a 2.5 GPA.
Alternative Breaks, AB, is a student-led program advised by the Center for Leadership
and Service. AB is a unique learning experience where you will be able to engage in
service in a social issue you are passionate about or interested in while being immersed
in community and culture.
Yes! As long as you meet the eligibility requirements of AB you are able to apply.
The AB program makes every effort to ensure that students with disabilities can participate
successfully on trips. If you have any questions or concerns please contact AB at
leadandserve@unt.edu or 940-565-3021.
Experience Leaders propose Social Issues as a part of their application process. The
CLS considers the social issue proposals and helps the selected Experience Leaders
create experiences focused on the proposed topic or in an intersectional topic.
Interested in leading one of our AB experience? Email chad.flenar@unt.edu for updates on when applications open.
- Spring in-person AB- March 8th-14th, 2025
Experiences are usually within driving distance in the Southern Region of the US.
Previous years, location ranges from Oklahoma, New Mexico, Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas,
Tennessee, and Arkansas.
Generally, 12 participants, which includes one faculty/staff advisor and one experience
leader.
Your program fee will cover your transportation costs. Each experience will have vans
that are driven by faculty/staff and students. Experiences will have a designated
leave time based on their destination and decided on by the group.
It will vary on the experience; most AB experiences will range from 30-45 hours of
service during the program. However, your group may have a little less depending on
other educational activities or more if your team decides to do service before and/or
after your experience locally.
The program fee is $300 for distant experiences and $150 for local experiences ($100
and $50 is a non-refundable deposit) that covers transportation to and from your destination
and around the area, lodging, and food except during travel days. The fee also covers
any community partner costs that may occur. The fee does not cover excursions, personal
snacks, personal items (toothbrush, pillow, etc.), or souvenirs.
Our community partners are generally non-profit organizations working with limited
resources, and spend a great amount of time and effort to plan and accommodate our
students. If a student drops out of the trip- we are still required to pay our community
partners and lodging partners for their time and service.
Unfortunately, due to our policies, students are unable to come late or leave early.
We are in the process of looking at shorter trip durations and weekend trips. As well
as, we have our virtual experiences. Stay up to date with us @UNTLeadandServe on all social media platforms for announcements.
When offered, virtual experiences begin on Friday afternoon with a team conversation
and overview of the day. After, the team will have the chance to listen and interact
with an expert in the field of your social issue. On Saturday, your team will have
an orientation with your virtual service partner about their organization, role, and
how they interact with the social issue. You will then get time to work with them
on a virtual service project. There will be a short break, and you will come back
to your service project or work with an additional community partner. On Sunday, you
will have reflection, brainstorming, and action plan setting with your team on the
next steps beyond this experience.
For some, experiences will leave on Saturday and arrive at their destination on Saturday
afternoon or evening. Teams will unpack, pick up groceries, make dinner, and set aside
time for group reflection and discussion.
Sunday is typically an excursion day decided upon by the team during Pre-Experience
Meetings. Teams will come back to make dinner, prepare for service the next day, and
have time for group reflection and discussion. Also maybe some board games!
Monday-Friday will be service days. Teams will arrive at their community partners
around 8 am, have a break for lunch decided by the group, and end around 5 pm. If
teams decide they want to continue to explore their community they will have time
after service to do so. Then teams will go back to their lodging, make dinner, and
do group reflection and discussion.
Experiences will leave Saturday morning and arrive back on UNT's campus on Saturday
afternoon or evening.
Teams will be able to build a grocery list for breakfast, lunch, and dinners during
their trip. We ask that if you have any food allergies or dietary needs, please let
your experience leader know in advance. Typical meals will include cold or continental
type breakfasts, sandwiches or leftovers for lunch, and group meals for dinner.
Every experience is different, and your experience leader will provide you with a
packing list specific to your group. We do recommend packing light in duffle bags,
because of limited cargo space please don't bring hard or large suitcases on the trip.
We also recommend bringing reusable water bottles, plates, utensils, and lunch bags.
We don't recommend bringing any major valuables like cameras, laptops, or jewelry
if it is not needed.
Each trip is unique and will have different lodging arrangements. Trips may be staying
in churches or community centers. Your site leader will have more information about
your lodging once selected.
In your team setting, you will be able to discuss guidelines on how to make your trip
successful and welcoming. We ask that you come with an open mind ready to learn and
understand more about the social issue and community you will be serving in. As well
as, make your payments and submit your trip paperwork on time.Your adventure will
begin with us at a Kick-Off event, and your experience leader will have dates for
you to meet as a team to get to know one another called Pre-Experience Meetings. We
will also host some training, and then meet one last time before your trip leaves
at a Pre-Departure Meeting. After your service, we ask that you come back and share
your story with other participants during our ReConnect. These dates and times will
be given to you when you are selected.
University of North Texas 
