Breakout Princeton

In response to a recent rise in COVID-19 cases at Princeton University, we have suspended off-campus volunteer opportunities as well as on-campus volunteer opportunities that involve bringing community participants to campus. This is being reviewed on a weekly basis. If you have questions, please contact Geralyn Williams at geralynw@princeton.edu.

The mission of Breakout Princeton is to offer students the opportunity to expand their education through immersive service-learning trips that engage with critical issues facing communities across the nation, and inspire sustained commitment back on campus.

Fall and spring break off-campus trips are led by students for students and have covered a variety of topics in the past including: transgender healthcare, the education gap, mass incarceration, and urban arts. Taking place in locations across the nation, these trips are all free of charge and open to all. If you want to propose your own trip, look for our application offered every spring.

We value:

Experiential learning
Humility, Respect, and Open-Mindedness
Diversity of Perspectives
Community Engagement
Social Justice
Equitable Access for All Students

Regardless of how you get involved, all aspects of our program integrate service, reflection, and education as we strive to heighten participants' awareness of critical social issues, enhance their individual growth, and prepare them to meaningfully engage in service throughout their lives.

For a closer look at what goes on during our trips, check out the Breakout Princeton blog.

FAQs

How do I apply to go on a Breakout trip?: Breakout Trip applications open up twice a year for the fall and spring semesters. Applications for fall 2021 break trips are open until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 19.
How do I propose a Breakout trip?: Come up with a trip idea, find a friend to co-lead with you and submit an application. The trip proposal application begins each spring semester. For more details on this process, go to Propose and Apply.
How long is a Breakout trip?: For fall 2021, to keep our campus community and local partners safe we will not be staying off-campus overnight. We will be spending full days immersing ourselves with partners and themed cohorts. This fall Breakout Princeton will run from Sunday October 17 through Wednesday October 20. Mandatory pre-trip and post-trip events will be scheduled through early October and early November.
What if I don’t get chosen for a Breakout trip?: No worries! You can apply for a Breakout trip next semester! If we could offer spots to everyone who applies each semester, we would. Funding is our only limitation. So don’t hesitate to apply again, we’d love to have you on board.
How do I apply to join the Breakout Princeton board?: The Pace Center’s various programs all share an application and recruitment timeline which begins in late fall of each academic year.
I still have more questions, who should I ask?: You can send any questions you have to the Program Coordinator, Geralyn Williams (geralynw@princeton.edu) or talk to one of the Breakout Board.