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 the 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, a copy of your passport application will be due by November 15th. 

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 2024 Application is available HERE.

Important Dates

• September 6
  Applications available online
• October 6
  Applications due by 3:00 pm
• October 23-27
  Interviews
• November 3
  Notifications of acceptance
• December 1
  Trip deposits due
• March 3
  Mandatory Orientation Meeting for BorderLinks trip
• April 21 
  Mandatory Orientation Meeting for Taizé trip
  
  
  

2024 Trips

BorderLinks- Tucson, Arizona

March 17-23, 2024

Cost: $200 deposit

Since 1987, BorderLinks has been asking three major questions: “Why do people migrate?”,  “What happens during the migrant journey?”, and “How do policies impact people”? From their unique proximity and long-established relationships with immigrant/migrant communities in the Tucson area and partnerships with relief agencies, assistance organizations, and advocacy groups they facilitate encounters to learn and reflect while serving in ways such as: a desert walk and water drop for those crossing the most deadly areas of the Sonoran Desert; writing letters to those in a local detention center; canvassing regarding immigration with Justice for All; serving at mealtime with Cross Street Ministries; and work in the community garden and facilities of the organization Flowers and Bullets. 

A Taizé Journey in France

May 12-21, 2024

Cost: $500 deposit

In 1940, at the age of 25, Brother Roger arrived in France to answer his call "to create a community where simplicity and kind-heartedness would be lived out as essential Gospel realities." (www.taize.fr) Taizé began as a retreat for war refugees, yet soon became a community where Christians could share spiritual and material lives. Today, the small village of Taizé, France is home to brothers of Catholic and Protestant traditions from twenty-five countries. Young adults from around the world make pilgrimage to Taizé to worship three times a day through prayer, singing, and silence; to serve the community by performing practical tasks; and to meet in small groups for discussion. The end of the trip will include time to see the city of Paris. 

Past Service-Learning Trips

• Chincha, Peru
  Summer 2001, 2002, 2003 & 2008
• Kansas City, Missouri
  Spring Break 2002
  
• 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
  
• 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