Santa Fe, New Mexico
July 11–18, 2010
There is a huge need for affordable, safe and sustainable housing in the United States. Please join our team for a working vacation in the beautiful Southwest United States, and enjoy all of the culture, tourist attractions and history while making a big different in the lives of a family. As one parent said, “All parents have dreams for their children, and the Habitat volunteers make that dream a reality”. Volunteers get so much more than they give on these Global Village trips!
About Santa Fe
The town of Santa Fe is in northern New Mexico, 63 miles northeast of Albuquerque. Santa Fe is at an elevation of about 7,000 feet and has a population of about 72,000. Santa Fe is the highest capital city in the US. This high desert area shows the Southwest in all its beauty. The air is thin, the humidity is low and the sun is bright.
The town and the surrounding areas have a high concentration of artists. They have come to capture on canvas and in other media the natural beauty of the landscape. One of the most well-known New Mexico-based artists is Georgia O’Keeffe who lived for a time in Santa Fe, but primarily in Abiquiu, a small village about 50 miles away. The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe is devoted to exhibitions of her work and associated artists or related themes. As of early 2006, it holds over one thousand of her works in all media.
Canyon Road, east of the Plaza, has the highest concentration of art galleries in the city, and is a major destination for international collectors, tourists and locals. Santa Fe's art market is the second largest in the United States, after New York, and the Canyon Road galleries showcase a wide array of contemporary, Southwestern, indigenous American and experimental art in addition to Russian, Taos Masters and Native American pieces.
After state government, tourism is a major element of the Santa Fe economy. The median income is $48,000, and the average home price is $355,000. The national median income is $50,000, and the average home price is $214,000.
About Habitat for Humanity Santa Fe
Santa Fe Habitat for Humanity has built 66 homes in Santa Fe since 1987 and will complete six new homes in 2009. Habitat builds simple, decent, affordable homes in Santa Fe. A typical example of annual gross income required to qualify for a Habitat home is between $17,800 and $29,700 for a family of three and between $19,800 and $33,000 for a family of four.
Learn more about Habitat for Humanity Santa Fe at www.sfhfh.org.
Types of construction for volunteers
Habitat homes in Santa Fe are frame and stucco construction.
Bathrooms, fresh water and all tools and materials will be available on site. Sunglasses and a hat are recommended. It is important to stay hydrated, or altitude sickness will be an issue. In July, there may be afternoon thunder showers, and the weather will most likely be extremely hot. A 40-degree swing in temperature is common. Dressing in layers and sunscreen use throughout the day are advised. It is also often windy, which can create dusty conditions.
Standard itinerary
(Seven-day itinerary)
Day 1, Sunday (Arrival day): Greeted at the Albuquerque airport by team leader; drive to Santa Fe and meet volunteer coordinator; team dinner/meeting.
Day 2, Monday, (Cultural outing): Sightseeing in Santa Fe and possibly Taos.
Days 3–7, Tuesday–Saturday (Work days): Breakfast at 7:30 a.m.; Work on site 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. with lunch on site; dinner at 7 p.m.; time for team activities.
Day 8, Sunday (Departure day): Team departs from Albuquerque airport.
Accommodations
The budget is for double-occupancy rooms in a local hotel.
Water is available on site. Participants help prepare most meals. Dinners can be prepared by the team or eaten in local restaurants. Some meals will be provided by the affiliate.
Trip cost
$1,150
Trip cost includes: donation to the Habitat host program and HFHI; meals; accommodations; transport (excluding trip participant air fare); medical emergency evacuation and trip cancellation insurance; some local cultural activities; team coordination and orientation materials. The team leader’s trip cost and estimated air fare may be included in the trip budget. The trip cost does not include trip participant air fare, R&R activities or visa and exit fees (not applicable for all destinations).
Team leader
Vicki Wenham is committed to creating a team of skilled and flexible people who desire to help a family build their home and learn about the culture and history of Santa Fe and New Mexico. This is her fifth trip as a team leader and ninth trip with Global Village.
For more information about this trip to New Mexico, please contact Vicki at vwenham@comcast.net.