Johns Island, South Carolina
April 18–24, 2009
Join us for a working spring vacation in South Carolina to help build a safe, sustainable home and learn new skills. No previous experience is needed — just willing hands and a willing heart. Make new friends, enjoy the South while the weather is cool, and know that you will forever change the life of a family.
About Johns Island, South Carolina
Sea Island Habitat for Humanity is located 20 minutes away from historic downtown Charleston, South Carolina. With many world-renowned restaurants, shops, galleries and activities, Charleston is a city that has much to offer visitors; it is a place rich in culture and history. There are also several county parks near Sea Island Habitat’s office, offering attractions such as biking, kayaking and a chance to see the 1,500-year-old Angel Oak tree. In addition, there are several beaches close by, which allow visitors to enjoy South Carolina's beautiful coastline.
Sea Island Habitat’s office is on Johns Island, off the coast of South Carolina, and it serves the housing needs of South Carolina’s barrier islands. Sea Island Habitat serves the area from James Island to Edisto Island. In the 1960s, steel bridges were built to Johns Island and several other barrier islands, and in the 1970s, two nearby islands were developed. The new development and the close proximity of Sea Island Habitat’s service area to downtown Charleston, whose size and housing market has exploded in recent years, have contributed to the dramatically increasing cost of housing on the barrier islands. Decent, affordable housing has become rare on the sea islands.
Many of Sea Island Habitat’s applicants currently live in conditions that many think no longer exist in the United States. Sea Island Habitat sees applicants with no running water, heat or floors in their homes. When residents are fortunate enough, they reside with extended family, but often, families are not in positions to offer support. Because of these conditions and the level of poverty that exists in the South Carolina barrier islands, there is a great need to provide simple, decent and affordable houses.
About Sea Island Habitat for Humanity
Sea Island Habitat was founded in 1978 and is the third oldest Habitat for Humanity affiliate in the world. Since 1978, the affiliate has built more than 270 single-family homes. This year Sea Island Habitat’s goal is to build 16 new homes. The affiliate began using new house designs last year; one of the new designs was a two-story home — the first two-story home Sea Island Habitat has built. Each design is Earthcraft-certified and uses sustainable building techniques. Learn more about the affiliate’s work at www.seaislandhabitat.org.
Types of construction for volunteers
The majority of the homes built are new construction and are wood-frame houses that are either one or two stories. Volunteers help Sea Island Habitat in all aspects of new construction: digging foundations; framing; roofing; installing windows, doors, appliances, vinyl siding, insulation and sheetrock; painting; and finish work. In addition, the affiliate’s Habitat ReStore now has a Deconstruction department. During deconstruction projects, materials are taken out of homes that will be remodeled or demolished and sold at our ReStore to produce additional funds for new homes and keep materials out of landfills. Volunteers may have the opportunity to work with this program as well. All tools and construction and deconstruction site materials will be provided by the affiliate. SIHH has supervisors on staff as well as AmeriCorps members to supervise all projects.
Standard itinerary
Day 1, Sunday, April 18: Greeted at the Charleston, South Carolina, airport by team leader; check into housing; dinner and team meeting.
Day 2, Monday: Free day; orientation at office; cultural activities (e.g., sightseeing, beach, tours, plantations, kayaking, etc.).
Days 3–7, Tuesday–Friday (work days): Breakfast before traveling to work site; work from 8 a.m.–4 p.m. with lunch on site; free-time after work to clean up; time for team activities; special events throughout the week (e.g., shopping, tours, plantations, dinners out and dinners with homeowners, volunteers, and staff).
Day 8, Saturday, April 24: Depart from Charleston, South Carolina, airport.
Accommodations
Sea Island Habitat has two Habitat homes in a Habitat neighborhood available for volunteer groups. These homes are fully-furnished, complete with cookware and utensils in the kitchen. Groups need to provide their own bed linens (all twin beds) and towels. All food will be the responsibility of the team (unless a partner family volunteers to provide a meal), and teams are encouraged to create a dinner or event to invite partner families to attend.
Trip cost
$1,000
Trip cost includes: donation to the Habitat host program and HFHI; meals; accommodations; transport (excluding trip participant airfare); medical emergency evacuation and trip cancellation insurance; some local cultural activities; team coordination and orientation materials. The team leader’s trip cost and estimated airfare may be included in the trip budget. The trip cost does not include trip participant airfare, 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 that desire to help a family build their home and learn about the culture and history of South Carolina.
For more information about this trip, please contact Vicki at vwenham@comcast.net.