Miller Center for Vocation, Ethics and Calling

Service-Learning Trips

Serving and learning form the dual mission of a Miller Center Service-Learning Trip. Students work on projects that benefit communities suffering material or social disadvantages; building relationships with those they serve, students learn about the world's needs and gain vocational self-understanding. Through guided discussions and journal writing, students explore their values and social concerns, beliefs and commitments, gifts and limitations. Service teams may be hosted by churches or other faith communities; however all activities are led in ways appropriate for individuals from any faith or non-religious perspective.  The Service Learning Trips are pre-approved for Odyssey credit.  

Costs

Student costs listed for each trip include lodging, food, transportation, and cultural outings. The costs also include any construction fees to the service agency. Students will also be asked to pay for passport fees, visas, vaccinations and meals in the airport. Personal spending money will also be needed.

Passport

If applying for an international trip, provide a copy of an up to date passport (valid 6 mo. past trip dates).  If you don't have an up to date passport and are chosen for the trip there will be a deadline for submitting that information. 

If you are abroad or on leave in the fall semester, you will not be able to apply for the January trips. If you are abroad or on leave in the spring semester, you will be unable to apply for the May trip.  

You must be a degree-seeking student at Hendrix to apply.

Application

The 2025 Application is available HERE.

Important Dates

  • August 30
    Applications available online
  • October 16
    Applications due by 3:00 pm
  • November 4-8
    Interviews
  • November 13
    Notifications of acceptance
  • December 6
    Trip deposits due
  • March 2
    Mandatory Orientation Meeting 

2025 Trip

San Diego, California

March 23-29, 2025

Cost: $200 deposit

In January 2023, California accounted for 49% of all unsheltered people in the country (123,423 people).  The focus of the trip will be learning about and serving the needs of the San Diego County population with several local non-profit agencies.   


Past Service-Learning Trips  

  • Boston, Massachusetts
    Spring Break 2003 & 2006
  • Arlington, Texas
    Spring Break 2003
  • Tarpum Bay, Bahamas
    Summer 2003, 2004, Spring Break 2008 & Summer 2012
  • Taize, France
    Summer 2003, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2024
  • Chicago, Illinois
    Spring Break 2004 & 2012
  • Shiprock/Santa Fe, New Mexico
    Spring Break 2004 & 2009
  • Quesada, Costa Rica
    Summer 2004 & Winter Break 2006
  • Ekaterinburg, Russia
    Winter Break 2005
  • San Diego, CA/Tijuana, Mexico
    Spring Break 2005 & 2010
  • San Francisco, California
    Spring Break 2006, Winter Break 2009 & 2013
  • La Paz, Bolivia
    Summer 2006 & 2010
  • New York, New York
    Spring Break 2007
  • Koinonia Farms, Georgia
    Summer 2007
  • Bagamoyo, Tanzania
    Summer 2007
  • Pascagoula, Mississippi
    Spring Break 2008
  • Beverly, Kentucky
    Summer 2008, Summer 2016
  • Mekong Delta, Vietnam
    Summer 2009
  • Dumas, Arkansas
    Spring Break 2010
  • Poland
    Summer 2010
  • Cuba
    Winter Break 2011
  • New Orleans, Louisiana
    Winter Break 2011
  • South Africa
    Summer 2011
  • Birmingham, Alabama
    Summer 2011, Summer 2017
  • India
    Winter Break 2012
  • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Summer 2012
  • Epworth by the Sea
    Spring Break 2013
  • Alaska
    Summer 2013
  • Dominican Republic
    Winter Break 2014
  • Seattle, Washington
    Spring Break 2014
  • Kosovo
    Summer 2014
  • Guatemala
    Winter Break 2015
  • New Orleans
    Spring Break 2015
  • Arkansas Delta
    Spring Break 2015
  • Pine Ridge Reservation
    Summer 2015
  • Camp CAMP (San Antonio, TX)
    Winter Break 2016
  • DOOR (Hollywood CA)
    Winter Break 2016
  • Miami, FL
    Summer 2016
  • Bahamas
    Winter Break 2017
  • Washington DC
    Summer 2017
  • Ferguson, Missouri
    Winter Break, 2018
  • Taizé, France
    Spring Break, 2018
  • Belize City, Belize
    Summer, 2018
  • New York, NY
    Summer, 2019
  • Gashora, Rwanda
    Summer, 2019
  • San Juan, Puerto Rico
    Spring Break, 2022
  • New Orleans, Louisiana
    May 2022
  • Costa Rica
    Spring Break, 2023
  • BorderLinks, Tucson, Arizona
    Spring Break 2024