Appalachia Immersion/UDSAP House

SALYERSVILLE, KY

October 15-18, 2022

Cost: $100               

In this rural Appalachian experience, UD students will get a glimpse into the UD Summer Appalachia Program (UDSAP) by visiting the local residents and learning of their rich culture, while building relationships. Participants will stay at the “UDSAP house” in Salyersville, visit families, visit the nursing home, spend time with the children and teens, hear from local experts on culture, and enjoy a simpler way of life. This small Appalachian community welcomes UD students each year and has a great willingness to share its culture. Kentucky BreakOut’ers will likely find some time to go hiking through the mountains too.

Apply at studioabroad.udayton.edu.  

St Christopher’s Journeys: Father Tolton to Ferguson

St Louis area and Hannibal, MO and Springfield, IL

October 15-18, 2022

Cost: $250

Students and a reflection leader will explore the rich history of the St Louis and surrounding areas, hosted by St Christopher’s Journeys.  This BreakOut will visit sites from the past and present day, through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching, focused on race relations in the US.  This will include a visit to the Father Augustus Tolton’s birthplace, tomb and other historical sites. Tolton, a former enslaved person, was the first Roman Catholic priest in the United States publicly known to be black when he was ordained in 1886.  The group will also visit an Underground Railroad station, have a cultural cooking lesson, stop in Ferguson to the site of Michael Brown’s death, engage in discussion with local college or high school students regarding race relations, as well as other points of interest.  Participants do not have to be Catholic to gain from this great opportunity.

Apply at studioabroad.udayton.edu.  

School of the Americas Watch Border Convergence

Join activists, church leaders, refugees, immigrants, and fellow students from across the US and around the world in this border convergence, organized by the SOA Watch.  Students from UD will attend with a staff and faculty to prayerfully call for a more peaceful and just US foreign policy and stand witness to injustice at our very own border. This Encuentro at the Border calls joins years of creative nonviolent action to bring about peace for all in the Americas.

From the Vigil and Protest in Columbus, GA to close the US Army’s School of the Americas (Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation) to a multi-national convergence on the US/ Mexico Border in Nogales, AZ, this movement provides incredible experiences of learning, action, and solidarity.  The SOA Watch movement began as a response to what was happening in El Salvador in the 1980’s when many people joined the solidarity movement. The patterns of violence and forced migration established during the dirty wars of the 20th century have continued unabated as a direct result of U.S. economic and security policies in Mesoamerica as well as the U.S.-led Drug War. How do we respond to this current reality in the same way we responded to the violence in the 1980’s? Where should our energies lie?

Stay tuned if you are interested in a potential BreakOut around the following:

• Expose the Root Causes of Migration
• End U.S. Intervention in the Americas
• Resist Border Militarization
• Engage in Nonviolent Direct Action, Education, Art and Culture

Please reach out to Mary Niebler if you have any questions.

The REAL Dayton: Reaching, Encountering, Acting, Leading!

Dayton, OH

Date: October 15-17, 2022

Cost: 20.00

The REAL Dayton is a 3-day experience during Fall Break that guides students to Reach out, Encounter Dayton, Act for others and Lead together. It is a great opportunity to find out who your Dayton neighbors are, give back to your local community, get to know other UD students, and continue to grow as a leader and team player. During the program you and other UD students will have the chance to serve, learn, reflect, and socialize right here in Dayton. The program begins with dinner on campus on October 15 and ends with dinner off-campus on October 17. You will also spend the night off campus after invigorating days of being immersed in the cultural life of the REAL Dayton. For questions, contact Meaghan Crowley or Sr. Emily Sandoval.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be vaccinated from COVID-19?

For domestic trips we follow the vaccination requirements of our host sites. For more information about a specific site, please contact Mary Niebler.

How do we travel?

Domestic BreakOut groups will travel together to and from their destination, starting from UD via Campus Ministry vehicle (12 passenger van, minivan, or car)*. We ask that all students be back on campus the night before your departure (unless you are local and can meet in the morning or at the designated departure spot). For the January and May breaks, we will arrange for housing for all students. Those who live in UD houses or Garden Apartments can generally get extended stay for that period and we will help the others have a place to stay. Students will receive instructions on this through their orientation.

It is important that our groups travel together. There are occasional exceptions to this, which will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Students who are comfortable and able will help with the driving, after completing a safety course through the university. All university-certified drivers will be covered under UD’s insurance.

*the domestic trips to Los Angeles, CA will fly.

Who is in charge?

All of our Domestic BreakOut group are led by at least one, oftentimes 2-4, designated leaders. Leaders are experience and trained students, staff or faculty. The leader is trained in emergency protocol and is there to work through emotional, spiritual, and physical struggles with the students. They will also provide valuable reflection and processing of the experience with the group.

Our trips are also hosted by trusted organizations, who serve as transportation, guides, local experts and general hospitality. Over the years, we have built long-standing, trusted relationships with these organizations and individuals.

We do view all students over the age of 18 as adults. Therefore, they are responsible for signing release forms and waivers for these trips. We strongly encourage students to share all information they are learning with their families.

What if I can’t afford the whole cost of the trip?

It is our goal that these experiences are open to all students, regardless of financial circumstances. We will work with you in a variety of ways to make this trip a possibility. We are happy to set up a payment plan or a reduced price to make it work.

What if I need certain accommodations and I don’t know if my needs can be met?

Please reach out to Mary Niebler to discuss your needs.  We would love to make sure you are able to participate in the experience, if possible, and will explore many options to help that happen.

What happens if there is an emergency?

In the case of an emergency, our group leaders will follow the proper protocol. Campus offices such as Public Safety, Campus Ministry, Environmental Health and Safety/ Risk Management, and the Counseling Center are on hand for our groups, even when off campus. Also, our local host organizations are equipped and willing to help in emergency situations.

Our leaders and campus offices have students’ emergency contact information and will notify those contact if deemed necessary.

Who should my parents or I contact if we have a question?

You or your parents may contact Mary Niebler, Coordinator of Cross-cultural Immersions in Campus Ministry’s Center for Social Concerns with any questions.