Start your integration to CU through the Alternative Breaks program! The First-Year Service Experience is a unique service opportunity offered by the Volunteer Resource Center for incoming first-year students. Through collaboration with various local non-profits, this program permits our students to stimulate a positive impact within their community while receiving transformative experiential education. Not only does FYSE provide participants with a greater sense of self, but it also allows for the development of friendships and relationships, constructs networking bridges, confronts social and environmental issues, and highlights the differences you can make through meaningful service.

The FYSE is open to in-state, out-of-state and first-year international students. To learn more, review the Alternative Breaks Participant Expectations. We hope you’ll be a part of this experience!

Program Cost

There is no cost to participate in the FYSE program. Participants will stay in their residence hall rooms and all transportation, food and supplies will be provided by Alternative Breaks.

2022 FYSE Program

  • Program Description: Come join us and explore your Boulder backyard to become more engaged with the topic of homelessness and basic needs. Homelessness has become an increasingly alarming issue throughout the nation, especially after the influences of the pandemic. FYSE allows students to gain insightful perspectives through service-learning with several local nonprofits to take action, pinpoint and actively discuss the various aspects of homelessness and matters of basic needs. Take advantage of this altruistic and meaningful work all while developing friendships, learning about Boulder and blossoming into new life as CU Buff.
  • Location: Greater Boulder and Denver area
  • Program Dates: Sunday, Aug. 14 – Wednesday, Aug. 17

Meet the Site Leaders

Hello! My name is Maddie Atuire (she/her). I’m in my last year of my undergraduate studies at CU, with a major in a political science and a minor in sociology. I am from Denver and I love the city. The First-Year Service Experience will be my first time leading anMaddie Atuire Alternative Breaks program, and I am so excited to meet all the students and collaborate with Madison to lead a great program! A fun fact about me is that I absolutely love to cook, but surprisingly hate baking.

Welcome Buffs! My name is Madison Cunningham (she/hers) and I am an upperclassman with majors in international affairs and environmental studies and a minor in Korean. My goal for the future is to work on global environmental affairs and collaborateMadison Cunningham with others internationally to find solutions for our climate crisis. I am a concert goer; some of my favorite artists are BENEE, Remi Wolf and Omar Apollo. I also enjoy art like painting or fashion designing. At the Volunteer Resource Center, I am a community service assistant. I help organize programs like the Volunteer Placement Program and I connect with students to find volunteer opportunities. This is the first time I will be leading a First-Year Service Experience, but this past year, I led a spring break program with Alternative Breaks. I highly recommend you lead a spring break program, or you sign up to join AB as a participant in spring 2023. My wish is for my co-leader and I to give you a good impression of your college experience at CU Boulder!