Alternative Reading Break

South Carolina

Participants on this trip will be travelling to Sumter, South Carolina, which is approximately one hour from the East Coast, to work with Habitat for Humanity.  Our team will be focusing on building houses for the week in an area where 110 Habitat homes have been completed over the past 20 years!  We will be taking a coach bus for the week and will also have the opportunity to see the area we are working/staying through a couple of social evenings in the community.

Participants:

• 30 Student Participants
  
• 3 Peer Team Leaders
• 2 Professional Staff Leaders

 Service Projects:

Our week will consist of constructing of a brand new home!  The tasks may include building walls and framing the house (hammering many nails, using power tools if comfortable, etc.)!  No construction experience required!*  During our time building, we will most likely be working alongside the future homeowners, which adds a very personal touch to the experience.

 *Since no experience is required, these skills will be taught on-site and safety procedures outlined.

Community Partner:

Habitat for Humanity believes that every man, woman and child should have a decent, safe and affordable place to live.  They are a nonprofit ecumenical Christian ministry but build with people in need regardless of race or religion and welcome volunteers of all backgrounds.  Whenever possible, sustainable and energy-efficient houses are built.  Around the world nearly 2 million people live in slum housing and 100 million are homeless. 

Check out Habitat for Humanity on-line:  www.habitat.org

Cost:

This trip is $600 Canadian per person.  A down payment of $200 toward the cost of this trip is due with submission of the application.  Please make all cheques payable to Brock University and note your name and student ID in the memo line.  With space on the trip being limited, all deposits will be returned to students who are placed on the waiting list, or whose applications are not able to be accepted this year.

Please note that steel-toed work boots are required while on the build site.  Participants must have these by the time of the trip.

Medical Precautions:

It is recommended that all participants have an up-to-date Tetanus vaccine.  Any medical related needs are the responsibility of the participant and not included in the cost of the South Carolina experience.

Accommodations & Meals:

Our team will be staying at a local church in Sumter, South Carolina where we will sleep and cook breakfast and dinner together (lunchs and some dinners are provided by our hosts and/or Habitat).  Showers will happen after our day of building at a new YMCA nearby our housing site.  We may also go out once during the week to experience local cuisine, which will be at the cost of each participant and not included in the cost of the South Carolina experience.

If you have any additional questions about the South Carolina experience, please feel free to contact Sandy Howe at showe@brocku.ca or at x4126.

 Applications are now being accepted for Student Participants!  This trip is open to all Brock students on a first come, first serve basis until the trip is full! 

South Carolina Participant Expectations:

• Available to fully participate in all pre-departure meetings (dates coming soon - likely Sunday evenings).
• Available to fully participate in the post-trip meeting (Saturday, March 2. 2013).
• Available to fully participate for the duration of the South Carolina experience during Reading Week (Saturday, February 16 - Sunday, February 24, 2013).
• Submission of a $200 non-refundable down payment (cheque or cash only) with your application. 

Please make all cheques payable to Brock University and include your name and student ID in the memo line.  The down payment can be dropped off to Sandy Howe in DeCew, Room 207 during business hours.

• Submission of all remaining fees by 4:00pm on Friday, January 11, 2013.

Note: If a participant withdraws from the program and a waitlisted applicant is able to participate, the withdrawn participant will be refunded their fees less the $200 down payment.  After January 11, 2013, all fees are considered non-refundable and must be paid in full as soon as a participant accepts a spot on the trip.

• Responsible for ensuring valid travel insurance and health insurance is in place for the duration of the South Carolina experience. 
• Responsible for following all safety related guidelines outlined by the trip leaders and partnering organizations.
• Responsible for arranging valid travel and health insurance.  I agree to check with my parent/guardian regarding valid international Health Insurance.
• Responsible for securing a valid passport and/or VISA.
• Understand that this is a substance free experience (no drugs or alcohol may be consumed during the experience or purchased to bring back into Canada).
• Understand that this program is facilitated through Brock University and as such, the Code of Conduct for  Brock students extends to cover all behaviour during the South Carolina experience.

Apply now to be a Student Participant!

Peer Team Leader Information: (Peer Team Leader applications are now closed for 2012-2013)

Each trip can only be a success with the help of students willing to step up into a leadership role!  Peer Team Leaders will be chosen who complete the application below (any applicants applying to be a Peer Team Leader, will also be considered for general participant spot on the trip in the event that we have more applications for Peer Team Leaders than we have spots available.)

Additional Expectations of Peer Team Leaders (in addition to the expectations of a participant outlined above):

• Participation in Peer Team Leader meetings leading up to the trip, as well as one meeting upon return
  
• Assistance in facilitating pre-departure meetings, leading ice breakers, etc.
  
• Organization of a team social activity (optional for participants) in advance on the trip
  
• Assistance in facilitating the post-trip meeting
  
• Assistance in gathering photos/media after the trip and with the creation of display boards for volunteer appreciation event
  
• Assistance in facilitating reflection activities during the trip
  
• Willingness to assist the profession team leaders with tasks during the trip as necessary

For taking on this extra responsibility, Peer Team Leaders will receive $100 off the cost of their ARB trip.  Applicants for Peer Team Leader may be contacted for an interview.

Apply now to be a Peer Team Leader!