While Fall Break gives students a chance to relax and reconnect with friends and family, Hamilton College’s Alternative Breaks Trip (AXB) program offers a unique opportunity to spend the break engaging in meaningful service work. Founded in 1993 through the Hamilton Association for Volunteering, Outreach and Charity (HAVOC), AXB began as a Spring Break initiative and has since grown into a student-led organization affiliated with the Community Outreach and Opportunity Program (COOP). Over the past 30 years, AXB has expanded to include trips during Fall, Winter and Spring Breaks, with destinations ranging from Virginia and Tennessee to Philadelphia, Syracuse and Baltimore.
This year’s Fall Break AXB Trip brought together nine students, including leaders Taimah Ashour ‘28 and Jaine Buck ‘28, for a weekend of community service. The group, comprised of students from all class years, began their journey Thursday morning by sharing breakfast together before heading to their first destination: The Root Farm. Founded in 1997 by Dr. Alice Root, The Root Farm began as an equine therapy center and has since expanded into a multifaceted agricultural and therapeutic facility. After a tour of the stables and indoor equestrian center, students were split into two groups. One group worked in the greenhouse removing weeds and harvesting tomatoes, while the other spread woodchips near a new beehive and trimmed vegetation along a trail.
After several hours of hands-on work, the team enjoyed lunch at Mistuba, a Japanese restaurant in New Hartford, and then returned to campus for a relaxed evening of baking and a movie night featuring “Knives Out”.
On Friday, the group traveled to Syracuse, with AXB participant and certified driver Gregoire Winston ‘26 at the wheel. Their destination was Interfaith Works’ Center for New Americans, a nonprofit supporting refugee and asylum-seeking families. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., students took on various responsibilities: checking in families, assisting them through the warehouse, restocking items, managing check-out and even loading furniture. Throughout the day, they helped provide essentials to over 30 families adjusting to life in Syracuse. The group wrapped up the day with dinner at Salt City Market, enjoying a wide variety of international cuisine—from Jamaican to Middle Eastern and Vietnamese dishes.
“My favorite experiences were the moments that we got to sit down and bond with each other, like at the dinner and lunch tables where we would have random conversations about each other’s lives or even in the van where we would talk about music. Those moments really stuck out to me because it felt like I was bonding well with everyone,” said Alex Persaud ‘29.
Saturday, the final day of the trip, began with breakfast at Commons, followed by a visit to L’Arche Syracuse, a nonprofit that fosters inclusive communities for people with and without intellectual disabilities. The group participated in L’Arche’s annual fall cleanup, helping with yardwork, furniture removal and general outdoor maintenance.
“Looking back, my best memory was the car ride back from the second day. While it was such a chaotic car ride with [Gregoire] not being able to see perfectly, we all enjoyed doing karaoke and singing our hearts out,” said Janie Buck ‘28.
To celebrate the end of a rewarding weekend, the students headed to Green Lakes State Park for a lakeside lunch. Ashour grilled burgers and kebabs while the group relaxed and took in the vibrant fall foliage. Before heading home, they stopped at Destiny Mall, where students used the remaining AXB budget for a treat of their choice—ranging from boba tea to veggie juices and milkshakes. At 5 p.m., the group began their final drive back to campus, wrapping up a memorable and impactful Fall Break.
