Office of Student Life
Leadership and Community Engagement

Tennessee: Nashville Humane Association

Supporting the organization's mission to help thousands of pets find loving homes each year while working to keep animals healthy, safe, and with their families across Middle Tennessee. 

Community Partner:  Nashville Humane Association

Trip Dates: January 2-9, 2027

Location: Nashville, Tennessee 

Number of Participants: 10 

Price: $500 

Winter 2026-2027 Applications will be available on August 17!

Included in participant fee: 

  • All logistical and travel expenses: Rental vehicles for roundtrip transportation (damage/insurance coverage included), gas for rental vehicles, parking for rental vehicles, any toll fees incurred during travel, and overnight lodging for entire week (exact location TBD). 
  • Project/service fees OR donation to community partner for facilitating week of service/alternative break experience. 
  • Buck-I-SERV supplies/swag: Individual items (t-shirts, water bottles, pens, and reflection booklets for each group member) and group items (first aid kit, disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, deck of playing cards, and thank you card for community partner). 
  • Buck-I-SERV Events and Training: Summer Kick-Off and Welcome Back events with catering and pre-trip education and training. 
  • Most meals and group activities: The group will be provided a budget to use for group meals and group activities. Participants should plan to bring money for out of pocket expenses. 

Travel and Housing: 

  • Participants will drive to and from Tennessee in rental vehicles. 
  • Housing for the trip is currently TBD. Expect accommodations to either be a local volunteer/retreat housing site or Airbnb in Nashville. 

    • Please note that service housing provides a unique opportunity to build community and embrace simplicity, often staying in welcoming spaces like religious buildings or community centers. While accommodations may be rustic—such as sleeping on cots or air mattresses, making use of community kitchens and showers, and limited hot water for showers—they foster meaningful connections and a deeper focus on service and reflection.

  • A packing list will be provided to participants and discussed during pre-trip meetings leading up to departure. Participants will need to pay close attention to the instructions provided on what to pack due to the poison ivy, ants, and mud. Students will work rain or shine, so pay attention to the weather close to your trip dates. Participants should pack close-toed shoes, pants, and any applicable allergy medication. Participants will be exposed to cats and dogs, smells (including chemical odors and dog poop), and sounds (ear protection could help!). Participants with dog and cat allergies should refrain from coming. NHA uses a plethora of peanut butter for enrichment. If any participants have a nut allergy, please inform your trip leader and advisor. Our project will continue rain or shine.

What to expect: 

  • Nashville Humane Association’s mission is to help thousands of pets find loving homes each year while working to keep animals healthy, safe, and with their families across Middle Tennessee and beyond. The organization is committed to humane education, reducing pet overpopulation, and maintaining its 99% annual save rate. In addition to pet adoptions, NHA offers low-cost vaccine and spay/neuter clinics, the city’s first 24-hour microchip scanner, a pet food bank, foster care opportunities, and educational resources for pet owners and the broader community.
  • Students will be working with Nashville Humane Association each day to perform service.
  • Students will be going to the animal shelter each day to perform service work. Projects are assigned to groups based on needs of the organization at the time they arrive. Projects shall include:
      • Doggie Dates – students may take dogs off-site to pet-friendly businesses in Nashville to help promote adoption.
      •  Content – gather content about our animals and help create real-time and evergreen content for our development team. Think animal videos that will break the internet!
      • Creating Pet Enrichment – prepare enrichment for our pets to include peanut butter-filled kongs, licky mats, scent tubes, and braided t-shirt rope toys.
      • Performing Light Construction Work – weather-dependent – refresh our walking path. Move railroad ties, pick up sticks, rake mulch.
      • Painting – with this being in January, we will have a few painting projects to help touch up areas that are worn down.
      • Food Bank Prep – prepare food for our weekly food bank.
      • Counting in Donations – Counting in-kind donations and storing them.