Service Immersions

Center for Community Engagement and Service

Service immersions offer a unique opportunity for students to volunteer, experience a new culture, build community and reflect on their service experiences. The Center for Community Engagement and Service invites all students to live the mission of Salve Regina through these programs.

Service Plunge 2.0

April 4-6, 2025

Service Plunge 2.0 provides all students with a challenging and fun opportunity to lead and learn through direct and indirect service. Participants have the option to focus on environmental or hunger issues.

Cost: $25
Capacity: 20 participants
Mercy critical concern: Earth

Give Kids the World Village

May 10-16, 2025

Give Kids the World Village is a 79-acre, nonprofit resort that offers weeklong, cost-free vacations to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. The village provides children and their families with accommodations in fully-furnished villas, transportation, tickets to theme parks, meals, daily entertainment and much more. The village depends on volunteers, known as angels, to fill hundreds of shifts every day. Each year, 27,000 children in the United States are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. The goal of Give Kids the World Village is to provide everything these families need to make their trip the vacation of a lifetime. Since 1986, more than 150,000 children and families have had their dreams come true at the village.

Participant handbook
Cost: Estimated between $800-$950
Capacity: 12 participants
Faculty companion: Dr. Michelle McCarthy and Jenna Ribeiro
Mercy critical concern: Women

Dominican Republic

May 19-23, 2025

The service immersion in the Dominican Republic is run through the Mustard Seed Communities, an organization that works with the local Catholic church to serve the needs of abandoned or orphaned children with mental and physical disabilities. Participants will serve at Hogar Immanuel, which is home to almost 50 children and young adults with disabilities. Mustard Seed's highly developed program for volunteers is based on meaningful interaction with the children, tangible work projects and participation in an inclusive Christian community.

Participant handbook
Cost: $2,000
Capacity: 10 participants
Faculty companion: Dr. Zuleida Aleman-Herba and Gabriella Kuba
Mercy critical concern: Women

Mercy Ecospirituality Center, Benson, Vermont

Aug. 21-25, 2025

Mercy Ecospirituality Center is a sponsored work of the Sisters of Mercy. The center's mission is to inspire reverence for the Earth and to live in harmony with all of creation. The organization is committed to reflection, education and living gently in mutual relationship with the Earth. Participants will embrace seeking solace and find a place to refresh their spirit in the beauty of creation, as well as programs in ecospirituality. The new is always unfolding in our evolutionary universe. We strive to honor that as we welcome all to the sacred land of Mercy Ecospirituality Center.

Participant application (application deadline: March 31)
Participant handbook
Cost: $350
Capacity: 8 participants
Faculty companion: Dr. Michelle McCarthy
Mercy critical concern: Earth

Service Plunge

Aug. 27-29, 2025

Service Plunge provides first-year students with an introduction to service through direct and indirect active experiences. Participants learn the importance of service, social justice and civic engagement. They also meet community needs, identify and build upon community assets, and share their experiences with the campus community. Selected students will move to campus early and meet new friends through this annual Salve Regina experience.

Participant application (application deadline: June 30)

Dominican Republic

Jan. 10-17, 2026

Participant Application
Participant Handbook
Cost: $2,000
Capacity: 12 participants
Faculty companion: To be determined
Mercy critical concern: Nonviolence, women

Spring Break Service Immersion

March 16-20, 2026

(Details coming soon)

Service Plunge 2.0

April 2026 TBD