<p>Hi,</p>
<p>Have any of your kids done this? Youth immersion is a group of individuals who go to a site for week to help. You can’t apply with a friend or family member. Aside from working at different sites it includes time to learn about social and civic responsibility. Kids stay in churchs or local homes and can sleep on the floor - bare bones accommodations. All of the sites are in poverty stricken areas. There are several one-week trips planned during the summer. It’s $500 plus travel.</p>
<p>Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Sounds like an interesting experience for students who are serious about community service and want an opportunity to travel and have more civic responsibility education.</p>
<p>I do not know anyone who has done that trip.</p>
<p>If the purpose of going is to impress colleges, however, it would be far better to do something in one’s hometown. Colleges tend not to be impressed by community service that one does by paying to participate in an activity.</p>
<p>An example of an impressive community service occurred in mmy city when a student managed to get all high schools in my city involved in raising the money to build a Habitat house, and then jointly building it. He had to face the challenge of school administrators thinking that this would not be possible, too.</p>
<p>I think many kids end up paying to do things - special camps, pre-college weeks, etc. I also think its often for a variety of reasons including having things to add to your EC’s. Just as specialty camps can help define your interests, community service opportunities may help develop a passion. Maybe this is the step before organizing an event in your hometown. Maybe its a way to see if this is something you’re passionate about. It’s also potentially great experience - living somewhere you’re not used to, no cell phones or computers, a chance to appreciate hardship and be helpful, make new friends, and be independent. It costs organizations $$ to have kids do these things so I’m not sure having to pay for some of these experiences is negative. </p>
<p>I think these decisions are hard and its helpful to hear insight from others.
Thanks :)</p>
<p>Our friends sons did something like this with their church group, they went to N.O. about 2 yrs ago. The eldest went to work towards his Eagle Scout, the youngest went to just do it. They both enjoyed it.</p>
<p>Our NHS makes it a requirement to work for Habitat in our area. Our DS has volunteered many times and has taken friends with him who are not even in NHS. If you want to volunteer for Habitat, I am sure there are places near you that have it, look up their website. It is a great organization</p>
<p>I also believe the two boys are going again this year with another organization (they moved last summer, so new state, new group)</p>
<p>D did a Habitat for Humanity trip to El Salvador for one spring break. She said that it was well worth it to see how happy the family of four were with a 500 sq ft concrete block house.</p>
<p>I am the coordinator of the Youth Immersion program and would be happy to talk further about volunteer opportunities for High School and College aged students (e-mail: <a href="mailto:yi@habitat.org">yi@habitat.org</a>). Habitat for Humanity has a whole department devoted to engaging youth ages 5-25 in the work that the organization does. You can browse all of our programs at [Habitat</a> for Humanity - Youth Programs](<a href=“http://www.habitatyouthprograms.org%5DHabitat”>http://www.habitatyouthprograms.org) Youth Immersion is also there.</p>
<p>If you can wait about 4 weeks, I’ll have an answer for you. D2 is doing an Habitat for Humanity trip to NO during spring break. I’ve seen the schedule and the travel plans sent home by the comm service coordinator at her school–it looks well-organized and well supervised.They’ll be sleeping on the floor of school gym.</p>
<p>D2’s BF did a very similiar trip last spring break with his youth group from church. Everything went very smoothly and he learned alot about demolishing houses… and how truly fortunately he is.</p>
<p>My kids both love building but would not like the “turn over your cell phone to the group leadership” aspect of the Habitat Youth Immersion programs. </p>
<p>I can definitely see telling participants to leave their cell phone behind during the day while the group is out building and bonding, but telling them they can’t use their cell phones at all, not even during some portion of the evening… That’s a pretty strict requirement for participants who have to be age 16+</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. A week without a cell phone could be interesting :)</p>
<p>Youth Immersion - what can you tell us about the program? What kind of kids are a good fit? What kind of work do 16 and 17 year olds actually do? Are there people available to meet kids at the airport and take them to the airport at the end of the week? Are most volunteers local or are they coming from all over? Can they use their cell phones at all?</p>
<p>Any insight you could share would be great.</p>
<p>My daughter did a Habitat for Humanity build site in Hancock County Mississippi. Cell phones dont work period. We stayed at a church center, bare bones accomodations, food and dry stuff was a supplement to our own shopping. (they asked for a donation about $200 i think but i brought more donations from the office) .Large service kitchen was shared with Americorps, everyone did some cleaning and sweeping. Showers were good. Washer Dryer in church. We thought there was no TV but i managed to get reception with one station by using some MardiGras beads. You work like an apprentice. Just do exactly as they instruct and you will be surprised at what you learn. The south is realy humid. There is evening time for a walk on the beach or a volleyball game. There is about a hundred mile long swath that needs help not just N.O. D learned a lot and was very happy with her community service, Mom and grandma still write checks. Lots of colleges have H4H houses or dorms, club as well. Keep in mind H4H is a faith based org, but we fit in even if it was not our faith.</p>
<p>The Youth Immersion has been discontinued.
[Youth</a> Immersion – Habitat for Humanity Int’l](<a href=“http://www.habitat.org/youthprograms/yi/]Youth”>http://www.habitat.org/youthprograms/yi/)</p>
<p>So sad- does anyone know why? Our Daughter did this this past summer and had a great exeperience. She did say there was room for a little more organization with the evening programs but overall it was a great week.</p>