Learn and Build Experience: frequently asked questions

Learn and Build Experience: frequently asked questions


Do I have to have previous Habitat experience to apply?
No. You have to be a high school student between the ages of 16 and 18 and be motivated to help end poverty housing.

What is a typical day on the trip like?
Here is a sample schedule:
7:00 a.m.–8:00 a.m.: Breakfast; make lunches; travel to work site.
8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.: Build on site.
3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.: School or community visit.
6:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.: Showers and phone time.
7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.: Students make dinner.
9:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.: Reflection and discussion.

How many students will be chosen for each trip?
Each trip will have 16 participants.

What kind of supervision will there be?
There will be a staff to student ratio no higher than 1:5. Staff members are trained by Habitat for Humanity International and will make sure each student has a safe and enjoyable experience!

Are travel expenses included in the trip cost?
No. Trip costs do not include travel costs to and from the project location and the participant’s home. The $550 trip cost includes all meals, lodging and a donation to the affiliate. (Please note: Lodging will most likely be modest. Some participants will need to bring a sleeping bag.)

What if I cannot financially afford to go?
You can apply for one of our scholarships when you fill out the main trip application. Remember the power of fundraising, too! You can ask people to sponsor you, plan a fundraising event or even collect change from classmates.

Where and when do you build?
Dates and locations change every summer, though sites are typically in the southeastern United States. The 2010 locations are: Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity, Tennessee; Lauderdale County Habitat for Humanity, Mississippi; and Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity, Washington.

Can I pick where I go?
You can rank your preference on your application. While we will do our best to place you during your top-ranked week, we cannot guarantee placement.

How will I get there?
Once you are accepted into the program, you will be notified of the specific airport and times necessary for you to make your travel arrangements. A Habitat for Humanity staff member will be present to greet you at baggage claim and transport you to the host site. Additionally, both staff and students will have LBE shirts to wear so they can easily recognize each other at the airport.

Can I go with a friend?
Unfortunately, we do not accommodate requests for participants to be kept together. Part of the experience of a Learn and Build trip is working with a group of entirely new people (from all over the country) who bring different perspectives and strengths to the team. If you are interested in participating in a Habitat trip with an existing group, please visit the Collegiate Challenge page.

How is this trip different from Collegiate Challenge?
Unlike Collegiate Challenge, participants sign up as individuals instead of groups. The Learn and Build Experience is for individuals who are excited to learn about Habitat’s mission and want the chance to go to an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people. There is an educational component to the Learn and Build Experience program that is not built into every Collegiate Challenge trip.

I want to go internationally. Is that an option?
Learn and Build Experience trips currently go to U.S. locations only. If you are interested in an international short-term build with Habitat, consider the Global Village program.

I am from outside of the United States. Can I participate?
Yes. We welcome a diverse group of students and staff to be a part of LBE.

Do the words “educational activities” and “educational component” mean I’ll be taking exams?
No. We want the trip to be fun, and we want you to learn something from it. Each affiliate can offer a new perspective on need and poverty, and groups will learn that through various activities. We might take a tour of a poverty-stricken area or hear a Habitat homeowner’s story, but we are not going to test your housing knowledge.

What kind of work will I have to do before the trip?
We want you to know about Habitat, poverty and the community you will be visiting, so some light research and reading is necessary beforehand. We will mail articles for participants to read. In addition, we will also ask that you participate in online message board discussions. Participating students who have not volunteered on a Habitat build site will also be strongly encouraged to do so before their scheduled trip.

It says on the application that cell phone usage is strongly discouraged. What if I can’t live without my cell phone for a week?
You may use the phone for quick calls to check in at home, but we do not want any unessential chatting or texting. Participants will not be permitted to bring cell phones or MP3 players to the build site. We want everyone listening to the people around them and not to what is coming out of earphones.

What if I am 15 now but will be 16 before the trip?
As long as you turn 16 on or before the start date of the trip, you can apply.

I’m ready to go! How do I apply?
The application period for the 2010 Learn and Build Experience is now closed. Please check back this fall for information on LBE’s 2011 trip locations and dates.

Sign up for the Youth Programs e-newsletter to receive the latest updates on LBE and other special opportunities for youth.

I have more questions, or my parents want to talk to someone about the program. Who can we contact?
Contact Habitat for Humanity International staff member and LBE trip leader Larry Galante at lgalante@habitat, 1-800-HABITAT (422-4828), Ext. 7571, or 229-410-7571.