University of Alabama students immersed themselves in service and leadership in New Orleans through the Beyond Bama alternative spring break program this year. The group of 15 students worked with regional nonprofits to address environmental restoration of the Louisiana coast.
Experiential Learning through Service
Students understand they’re going to get fully engaged in the mission of each trip. That’s one of the most exciting aspects.
“The New Orleans trip was very beneficial for me. I was able to gain hands-on experience in working with organizations with goals towards sustainability and conservation,” said Kaleigh Oberg, an environmental science major. “These trips allow you to make connections with your peers and the communities we serve.”
It’s also a skill-building experience for the student leaders who plan and coordinate the trips.
“I got involved in Beyond Bama and leading trips because I was already involved in the Center for Service and Leadership, working on our communications team, but I wanted to do even more,” said Clara Cagle, a public relations major and Beyond Bama team leader. “Planning and leading trips was the perfect opportunity for me to get more experience in the communications field while still volunteering!”
Where Culture and Community Intersect
In 2025, students served in Memphis, Tennessee, and Orange Beach. Service opportunities included working with a mobile food bank, an urban farm and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.
The New Orleans trip offered up a bit of a unique opportunity. Students volunteered with the Coalition of Restore Coastal Louisiana where they learned about recycling oyster shells which are then turned into reefs serving as habitats for oysters and other aquatic species. They also worked alongside The Green Project getting hands-on experience learning about creative reuse and diverting usable materials from landfills. Volunteers learned how to create custom paint colors from recycled paints. They also learned how to repurpose discarded Mardi Gras beads while volunteering with The Arc of Greater New Orleans.
But the learning doesn’t end with the service project. Students also take in the culture of wherever they are.
“Cities are picked by having service components but also historical learning opportunities,” said Haley Carpenter, assistant director of Beyond Bama. “Domestically, we look at American culture or American history unique to the place we’re in.”
“The first couple of days were spent learning all about New Orleans — going on a swamp tour, ghost tour and exploring the French Quarter,” said Cagle. “After that, we spent three days volunteering for different organizations in New Orleans. We also learned a lot about how Hurricane Katrina still affects the environment and what organizations are doing to combat those issues.”
The Takeaways
Students get more from the Beyond Bama trips than just a résumé bullet point. They are fully involved in creating trips with meaningful impact.
“Participating in Beyond Bama has allowed me to find a group of people who also enjoy volunteering. We are spending our spring break giving back to other communities, not just our hometowns or Tuscaloosa,” said Oberg. “We experience the culture of other communities as well as learning about the struggles the communities face.”
“We try to keep the number of students around 15 so they can stay a close-knit group,” said Carpenter. “We really work to make sure the trips are impactful both during and after. The student leaders and I plan where to go and then we contact the organizations to see how we can help. After the trips, I’ve seen a lot of the students who didn’t know each other before remain friends.”
“I always feel great after service. It makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something, and getting to help others in the process is a huge plus,” added Cagle. “Specifically, during these trips, however, I get to learn about a new community and help them in the process. Most importantly to me, I get to meet fellow students that I wouldn’t have become friends with if not for the trips.”
Planning Beyond 2026
“Offering both a domestic and international trip is always the goal,” said Carpenter. “The challenge is finding places or organizations that need help from our type of group.”
Half of that challenge has already been met for 2027. A service trip to Costa Rica is in the works for next spring break. The Beyond Bama team is also planning another domestic opportunity for students to serve, learn and lead.
Learn more about Beyond Bama and other student service opportunities on the Center for Service and Leadership website.
