Partner With Branch Out

About Us

We are a student-led program, with a student executive board and student leaders for each alternative break. We are advised by the director of Civic & Community Engagement at William & Mary. Learn more about our mission, vision, and values. 

Not only do we wish to hold our students accountable to the work they do on-site, we also want to ensure that they are thinking critically before, during, and after their experience. All Branch Out trips are all alcohol- and drug-free; we ask that you respect this agreement as well while our students are with you.

While many Branch Out breaks work with faith-based organizations, our students represent diverse backgrounds and our trips are secular. Please keep this in mind when considering offering prayers or blessings, and when planning service activities.

What Branch Out Offers Partners 

• Strong, direct service for three to seven days during school breaks (October, January, March)
• Groups of up to 12 fully engaged, passionate students who participate in four pre-trip meetings
  with issue-specific education, orientation to the community and partner, and training for service
• Two trained student Site Leaders committed to peer leadership, diversity, and active citizenship
• Eagerness to learn about the systems that create and perpetuate social inequality, reflect on
  their experiences, and understand how individuals and communities come together to work for
  justice
• Site fee for your time and expertise, and for investing in our students and our program

What Branch Out Expects from Partners 

• Communicate with Site Leaders to develop a mutually beneficial schedule and project plan, no
  later than a month before the trip
• Projects to engage student participants in direct or capacity-building service for the full duration
  of the break, and if applicable, connections to other local partners
• Consistent communication before, during, and after the trip via phone, email, etc
• Contribute to pre-trip education materials and participate in reflection conversations during the break, if desired
•  Provide on-site training, orientation, and project supervision
• Share your feedback on our accomplishments after the break

Sample Schedules 

Weekend or Three-Day Break (Fall, Winter)

• Arrival, welcome to housing and site
• Orientation to site and community (tour/panel/conversation with host)
• Dinner at housing site
• Reflection & group bonding (led by our students; partners welcome to join in a session if they
• like)

• Morning: Three hours of service
• Lunch on site
• Afternoon: Three-four hours of service
• Dinner at housing site
• Evening: Panel of community leaders or conversation with leaders of another community or
• organization (optional)
• Reflection & group bonding

• Morning: Three hours of service
• Lunch on site
• Afternoon: Three-four hours of service
• Dinner at housing site
• Evening: Reflection with community partners and leaders (optional)
• Reflection & group bonding

• Goodbye!

• Arrival, welcome to housing and site
• Orientation to site and community (tour/panel/conversation with host)
• Dinner at housing site
• Reflection
• Group bonding

• Morning: Three hours of service
• Lunch on site
• Afternoon: Three-four hours of service
  • Could plan service with another organization for some of these times
  • Could also plan occasional community activities (e.g. visiting a nearby community museum or hiking trail)
• Dinner at housing site
• Some evenings could include the following activities:
  • Panel of community leaders or conversation with leaders of another community or organization
  • Reflection with community partners and leaders
  • Community activity
  • Reflection & group bonding (led by our students; partners welcome to join in a session if they like)

• If a six-day break, optional morning activity or service project
• Goodbye!