Wanna take a spring break vacation? With destination opportunities like Scotland, Costa Rica, Chicago, Georgia, and The Great Smoky Mountains, all at a discounted price, who wouldn't?
Luckily for you, you can register to join your peers on one of the 13 FIRE Week opportunities Wittenberg is offering this Spring.
What is FIRE Week?
FIRE Week stands for Focused, Integrative, Reflective Experience and is one of the key features of Wittenberg University's Connections Curriculum.
The program was first launched in 2022. The goal is to provide students with unique and impactful experiential learning opportunities that they can't get from sitting in a classroom. Basically, learn by doing.
The chance to pursue an existing interest, gain a new perspective, or encounter something entirely new, resonates with the core of Wittenberg’s mission. "Having Light, We Pass It On to Others."
This motto inspires not only the FIRE acronym, but also the program's intent to help with “igniting your passion."
Wittenberg requires their students to earn two experiential learning (EXPR) credits and one civic engagement/ community service (CCUE) experience in order to graduate.
All of the FIRE Week programs count as EXPR, but three of the 2026 programs are also approved for community service credit (CCUE). This means FIRE Week is a great way to check off one, if not both of the LO1 requirements while connecting with fellow Wittenberg students and making great memories.
What can I expect from FIRE Week?
FIRE Week programs include local opportunities or involve domestic and international travel.
In 2025, nearly 200 students participated in the 13 programs that were offered.
Some programs included studying STEM in the Smoky Mountains, business in Chicago, or criminal justice in Ohio's Clark County. Other programs included learning about history and culture along the Mississippi River or in New Orleans, experiencing film and literary inspiration in Scotland, or engaging with nature in nearby recreational areas. Students also participated in service projects in Costa Rica, built homes with the Fuller Center for Housing in Georgia, and painted murals in our own Thomas Library on campus.
"In 2026, we are hoping to see even higher levels of participation as students share their great experiences in this year’s programs," said Prof. Stefne Broz, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Student Success. She added that Wittenberg covers a large portion of the cost of each program to help make them more financially accessible for students.
While some of the programs that include international travel cost a couple thousand dollars, five of this year's programs have a fee of only $20.
Recent Wittenberg graduate Syd Striker went on the service trip to Koinonia Farm in Georgia last spring to work with the Fuller Center. She explained, “This trip made me realize just how easy it is to make a bonded community over the span of a week. If everyone puts in some time and effort and has a fun attitude, there is no stopping us.”
Katherine M. Horstkotte, Coordinator of Experiential Learning & Co-Curricular Programming, says that FIRE week is a great way to expand your community as a Wittenberg student. "You have the chance to not only meet students you might not otherwise encounter, but also to meet new staff and faculty and connect with them in a new way outside their usual roles."
She continued, "One of the most consistent pieces of feedback we've had from students every year is how much they enjoyed meeting new people and having new experiences."
Who can go, how can you sign up, and when should you apply?
Applications for the FIRE Week programs available this spring will start closing on October 1st, with some applications remaining open until early November.
To see all program descriptions and to apply, you can visit www.wittenberg.edu/connections/fireweek
Even if you've completed all of your EXPR/LO 1 credits, you're still able to apply to programs every year you're at Wittenberg.
For general FIRE Week questions, email fireweek@wittenberg.edu.
