Branch Out National
Branch Out National alternative breaks offer a chance for you to do something different, fun, and fulfilling over your Spring Break. On each trip, 12 students travel to communities all over the Eastern US to address and learn about social issues ranging from affordable housing to environmental sustainability to economic disparity. Through issue education, direct service and reflection with fellow students, participants often return with a new perspective on some aspect of the trip - themselves, their W&M peers, or the social issue at hand. All Branch Out alternative breaks are alcohol and other drug free.
How to Get Involved
Branch Out National alternative breaks select participants through a two-step process. First, a random lottery (for which you may sign up online) in late January of each year selects eight out of ten participants for each trip. When you sign up for the lottery, you may choose your top four trips, and you will be placed in your highest priority trip that is available when your number is selected.
Those who are not placed on a BON alternative break through the lottery may give it another go, by submitting an application. The remaining two slots for each trip are filled by application. On the application, which is typically due 3-4 days after the lottery selection process, you may also express your preferences of trip choice.
Watch the OCES home page events column for updates about lottery and application availability.
Finances and Payment Information
Each Branch Out National trip costs $250 to participate - this fee includes travel, housing, food and agency fees. You may pay with cash or with a check made to The College of William and Mary; or this year, for the first time, you may pay with W&M Express! Through the generosity of private donors and contributions from our office budget, BON is able to offer need-based financial aid through an online application (see below for timeline).
All fees are non-refundable. If you need to drop from a trip for which you have already paid, and we are able to find a replacement for you on the trip, you may be eligible for a 50% refund of the fee.
Paying to Volunteer?
Branch Out National's policy is to compensate all of our housing and community partner sites for their time and expertise in coordinating logistics, supervising service projects, providing issue education, orientation and training, and to offset any costs they may incur in the process of the alternative break.
While it may seem surprising to some that we compensate our sites in addition to providing the service we offer as volunteers, Branch Out values this practice as part of our partnerships with communities and in recognition for the high quality of service projects that we are privileged to participate in, and the significant time and energy it takes to host volunteers. Feel free to talk more with your Site Leaders or our Branch Out Co-Directors for more information about your specific alternative break's budget.
Leadership
Students can be involved as an Branch Out National participant or as a Site Leader. Site Leaders are selected through an application process in early Fall; participants are selected through a joint lottery and application system in January.
Staff Advisor: [[mcporter,Melody Porter]]
Student Directors: Anna Dausman and [[e|ceyates, Caroline Yates]]
Important Dates for 2011-12
September: BON Site Leader recruitment
January 19: BON Information Session, 6 pm, Tyler 102. BON Lottery opens online.
January 25: Noon, BON Lottery closes. Lottery entrants will be informed of their status that afternoon. Those who didn't get a trip via the lottery are able to apply for a trip.
January 27: BON applications and Financial Aid applications due at 11:59 pm.
February 1: Financial Aid applicants will be notified of the status of their application.
February 3: 5:30 to 7:30 pm, Commonwealth Auditorium, first BON team meetings! Meet your team and trip leaders, pay for your trip, and choose meeting dates for future meetings. Emergency Contact & Health Information & Liability Release form due.
March 3- 11: Spring Break; trips go!
After Spring Break: Reorientation Day (service projects on March 24), Reorientation Night with all of Branch Out (March 24, 5 to 7 pm, Tidewater A&B), and each individual trip (as scheduled by site leaders)