Collegiate Challenge

Details

• Available trip dates in September, October, and November 2025.
• Contribution of $250 per person, due 30 days in advance; 10% of the amount required.  

Description

From the staff at Habitat for Humanity of Taos:

Join us to help the 90% of Taos residents who can’t afford a home in this tourist-dependent town. We will provide group housing as well as an adobe workshop. When not building a Habitat home, you will have the opportunity to experience the high desert’s moderate temperatures, stunning mountain and desert vistas, and a variety of activities including hiking, river rafting, llama treks, stargazing, and swimming in free natural hot springs. 

Upcoming available trips

• Week of September 7
• Week of October 5
• Week of November 2 

If you are interested in any of the options listed, please contact our Collegiate Challenge Team to get started at [email protected].

Details

• Available trip dates throughout September and October 2025
• Contribution of $150 per person; no contribution amount required in advance

Description

From the staff at the Tahlequah Area Habitat for Humanity: 

Help build a new home for a low-income citizen of Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Group housing is available through our local churches and typically includes access to a kitchen. When planning your trip, please be aware that we are limited to groups of 15 or fewer. We are happy to organize bonding and leadership activities. During your down time, we invite you to explore our many Cherokee museums and Hunter’s Home Living History Museum. 

Upcoming available trips

• Week of September 14
• Week of October 19
• Week of October 26 

If you are interested in any of the options listed, please contact our Collegiate Challenge Team to get started at [email protected].

Details

• Available trip dates in August, September, and October 2025.
• Contribution of $175 per person; due 60 days in advance; 50% of the amount required. 

Description

From the staff at Midcoast Habitat for Humanity:

Midcoast Habitat is a strong community organization working to build affordable homes in Knox County, Maine. There’s lots of work to do year-round, and we welcome volunteer groups to join us anytime! It’s a beautiful place to visit in any season—with the bonus of giving back. We team up with local churches to host our volunteers, and there’s no shortage of fun indoor and outdoor activities nearby.

Upcoming available trips

• Week of August 10
• Week of September 21
• Week of October 26

If you are interested in any of the options listed, please contact our Collegiate Challenge Team to get started at [email protected].

Collegiate Challenge opportunities are available year-round to submit an application for. Please refer to the schedule of opportunities for the dates when travel months will be posted. After you apply, the local Habitat affiliate will reach out to you within two business days to complete your registration.

Note: Your team’s place is not reserved until your chosen Habitat affiliate contacts you. 

Volunteers age 18 and older may participate in this program. Chaperones over the age of 25 are also welcome.

Local Habitat organizations, or affiliates, across the country host Collegiate Challenge volunteer groups for weeklong periods, typically over spring, summer and fall breaks.

Each location is unique with different group sizes based on local Habitat affiliates’ needs. Habitat affiliates will provide the materials and service work for the week, while you are responsible for recruiting your group, finding accommodations and transportation to and from the site for the week.

Most groups arrive on Sunday and depart the following Saturday, but this can vary based on the Habitat location you are working with.

1. First, you’ll need a group with a few other students. Please check with the Habitat location to find out the minimum team size they require. See question “Can I participate as an individual?” for more details.
2. Once you have an interested group of friends, identify a team leader and your preferred travel dates. The team leader will serve as the primary point of contact for Habitat on all matters related to the volunteer trip. The team leader must be someone who is traveling on your trip.
3. Search the listings, select an opportunity – local Habitat and date — for your group’s participation and click Apply.
4. This will take you to an intake form, which must be completed and submitted by the team leader on behalf of the entire group. Individual group members should not submit separate forms.
5. Within two business days, your selected Habitat will contact your team’s leader to complete your registration. 

At this time, Collegiate Challenge is only open to groups. The minimum and maximum team sizes are set by each local Habitat organization and depend on their capacity.

The group doesn’t have to be an official club or organization to participate. Ask around within your school, church, civic group or friends. You never know who might be interested, and how a trip together might strengthen your relationships!

Each group should select a team leader who is the primary contact for the group. A single point of contact — the group leader — for all communication with Habitat affiliates is important to avoid confusion and ensure alignment on all aspects of the trip. 

The team leader should submit the application on behalf of the group and should manage all follow-up communication with the local Habitat to complete registration and to help your group prepare for the trip.

Please consider the following before submitting an application to the local Habitat affiliate:

• Affiliate contribution: The per-person fee required to participate. This varies by Habitat affiliate and is used to support the local project. You’ll pay this fee directly to the local Habitat affiliate either before or upon arrival. Refer to the list of local Habitat affiliates and their locations for the contribution levels and payment deadlines.
• Accommodations: It will be your group’s logistical and financial responsibility to secure accommodations for the week unless the local Habitat organization specifically offers lodging as part of their opportunity. Please check directly with that Habitat location to find out if lodgings will be provided to you.
• Transportation: Groups are responsible for their own transportation and all travel costs to and from the site, whether you are driving or flying.
• Food: Groups are responsible for their own meals, food arrangements and costs unless the local Habitat organization states otherwise. Please check directly with the specific Habitat location to find out if any meals will be provided to you.

In most cases, your group will arrive on Sunday afternoon, and depart the following Saturday morning. Build activities occur Monday through Friday or Tuesday through Saturday, but the schedule varies by Habitat affiliate and location.

Projects may include building or repairing a home, assisting in a Habitat ReStore, landscaping projects or another type of assignment that helps meet Habitat’s goals within that community. Some affiliates may plan an evening activity for your group, such as dinner with a Habitat partner family, but generally your evenings will be free.

Cancellation policies are set by each local Habitat affiliate. Generally, you will be required to pay a nonrefundable deposit to secure your trip dates, while the remainder of your fees are due closer to the time of the trip. However, this varies by affiliate. Make sure that you understand their policies before you confirm your trip.