Spring 2010 Site Descriptions

Habitat for Humanity Trips

Okiciyapi Tipi, South Dakota

Okiciyapi Tipi is a very remote area located in central South Dakota. It encompasses the entirety of the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation with a mostly Native American population. You’ll have the unique opportunity to help build up the community while learning firsthand about the Cheyenne River Sioux culture. The trip will include a tour of local buffalo herd, discussion on culture and native spirituality, a chance to participate in a native ceremony, and visit to a local museum.

Denver, Colorado

Participants will work alongside partner families and local volunteer groups to help build 24 two-story townhomes in metro Denver. Denver, located an hour away from popular ski resorts, is home to six professional sports teams and has a vibrant and lively downtown (including superb restaurants). Explore all that the Mile-High City has to offer while you help eliminate the urban housing crisis!

Statesville, North Carolina

Iredell County, where Statesville is located, is a county in need. It is home to 145,000 people with over 12% living at/below the poverty line. While working to alleviate poverty, you will experience real small town charm and have a chance to explore the great outdoors. It’s called southern hospitality; try it, you’ll like it.

Almost Heaven, West Virginia

Escape to breathtaking beauty in the heart of Appalachia! Almost Heaven is a community loaded with well-preserved natural wonders: mountains, caves, swimming holes, shallow trout beds, and much more. It is literally an outdoors paradise, with plenty of opportunities for self-discovery. Yet it is also an area of extreme poverty, and it needs your help. Serve others, find yourself.

Breakaway Trips

Everglades Trip: Ecological Extravaganza

The Everglades is one part of the nation that has been greatly affected by global warming. As the Everglades begins to disappear, it becomes only more important to gain an understanding about the area and methods that are being implemented to preserve what is left. Working with the national park services for four days of the trip, you will be doing invasive species removal, trail maintenance, beach clean ups and possibly some snorkeling. One day will be spent at the Everglades Outpost, a refuge devoted to saving abused exotic animals. Don't forget sunscreen!

North Carolina: Outer Banks Bangaroo

The outer banks offers a mix of beautiful scenery including massive sand dunes, wildlife and American history. Staying in the area of Wilmington, we get to work in both national and state parks. Starting inland in the Nature Conservancy we will be helping repair trails and learning about the swamps of southern North Carolina. Then we will shift to the coast and work with a national estuary reserve, Masonboro Park. Finally we will hit the beach, the Carolina State Beach Park and Fort Fisher helping mark nesting areas and planting oyster beds. Help preserve a truly magnificent part of the country.

South Appalachia Folklife Center: Pipestem, WV

An unequaled way to discover Appalachian culture while serving the community. Learn about issues affecting rural areas suffering poverty while performing much needed repairs and maintenance on resident's homes and for other social justice organizations. The earth loving center also provides cultural lessons at night such as the history of coal mining in the region and banjo lessons.

New York City: Children Challenge

New York City is known for being big. It has over 700 miles of subway tracks, but more importantly it is home to roughly 2 million children. We will focus on initiatives within the city that help out children. We will be working with Donors Choice that helps furbish public schools with supplies as well as a variety of other programs that help educating the youth of the city.

Tennessee Road Trip

Enjoy driving through beautiful Tennessee as we make stops at all of its major urban centers -- Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis. We will spend the days working on urban poverty initiatives and other various community projects and also spend a day on the Cumberland Trail. A unique blend of road-tripping, urban work and southern hospitality!

ASB: Serve others, find yourself