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The summer
building season of Yakima Valley Partners Habitat for Humanity’s ministry could
easily be dubbed “Work Camp Season.” Beginning in April and ending
in August, groups of approximately 25 volunteers, coming from as far as
Missouri, travel
to Yakima to spend a week serving with Habitat.
How
it Works
Reservations: First off, last year’s work camps may elect
to “keep” the week that they worked during the previous summer,
returning for that same week the next summer. After the first of the New
Year, all weeks that haven’t been reserved by returning camps are FAIR
GAME!
Click on the Workcamp Calendar
to see what weeks are available for your group to come! To see 2007 Summer Workcamp Summary
click here.
 Group Size: The maximum size for a work camp group is 25, including
both youth and adults on site. We will provide work and a wonderful experience
for 25 participants on site. Members of your group need to be at least 15
years old. Youth under age 15 may not be brought unless special permission
is obtained from Yakima Valley Partners Habitat for Humanity 1 month before
arrival. Habitat cannot be responsible for their supervision on the job
site, and the construction supervisor's license could be in jeopardy if
young children are on the job site.
Yakima Valley Partners Habitat work camps are suggested to bring a ratio
of at least one professional carpenter or contractor for every seven volunteers.
The size of the group may be reduced if the appropriate number of skilled
professionals is not available. The names and phone numbers of those skilled
and experienced builders need to be listed on the information sheet being
returned to us. If your group consists of high school students you will
also need one adult counselor for every seven teens.
Dates: The “work week” begins on Monday morning and ends on Thursday
afternoon. Groups arrive in Yakima on Sunday afternoon/evening, and will
be taken to their work site first thing Monday morning. Groups may choose
to leave Thursday evening, after work, but most head home on Friday morning/afternoon,
after they have had time to rest and relax a bit.
Housing & Showers: The Volunteer Coordinator at Habitat will
make the arrangements for your group to stay at a “host
church” which will provide a place to stow gear, cook
meals, and rest
up after a long day. Some host churches have showers, but most do not. If
 your host church doesn’t have showers, arrangements will be made with the
YMCA so that
your group is able
to clean up cost-free!
Jobs
Yakima Valley Partners Habitat builds new houses in partnership with families
in need. We may be framing a house, putting in sheetrock, painting, digging
a hole or septic field line, moving rocks, putting up paneling, etc. What
you do depends on the stage of the project. Habitat's work, like all construction
work, is dependent on the weather. If it rains (a rarity in the Yakima County!),
there may not be enough indoor work for everyone.
-Divide and Conquer
It should also be noted that we are often working on more than one job site
at a time. Depending upon the size of your group and the number of work
sites, you may not all be assigned to the same work site. The smaller number
of group members the greater the chance to have an awesome experience. Because
the cities/towns in Yakima Valley are so spread out (our service area is
Prosser to Yakima), your group may have to drive some distance to reach
the job site(s).
-Branching Out
Habitat also works with other housing organizations that have goals similar
to ours, and our volunteers often work on their projects. At the present
time Habitat cooperates with Coalition
for the Homeless, and the Yakima
City Office of Neighborhood Development Services, which has a low income
Senior Volunteer program. Coalition for the Homeless furnishes short-term
emergency housing; Habitat has assisted them in the renovation of apartments.
These houses are sold at a low cost to families in need, who have put in
a certain amount of sweat equity hours. Along side of the Office of Neighborhood
Development, Habitat has also been asked to paint the exteriors of houses
of the elderly who are not financially able to have it done. Most work camps
will be asked to help one or more of these housing organizations during
their week with Habitat.
-Remember…
Whatever the job you complete is vital! Framing a house is an important
part, but digging a hole or moving rocks clears the land on which we will
build the home. Every job is an important job to Christ.
Supervision & Guidance: On-site supervision is provided by Habitat
for Humanity staff.
Cost: In order for Yakima Valley Partners Habitat to insure a productive
work camp it is necessary for your group to contribute $150 per person per
week including youth and adults. This will help to pay the construction
and administrative costs. For example, if you bring a group of 6 youth and
4 adult advisors, for a total of 10 participants, you would be expected
to make a contribution of $1,500. Please send at least half of your contribution
two weeks before arriving. Your food and transportation costs are in addition
to the $150 per person fee.
For further information and logistics, see
Workcamp Guidelines
and Workcamp Forms.
How
do I get Involved?
If you are interested in serving with Yakima Valley Partners Habitat for
Humanity for a week during the summer, please feel free to contact the Volunteer
Coordinator by phone or email
volunteers@yakimahabitat.org!
Yakima Valley Partners Habitat for
Humanity
2500 South 26th Ave. Yakima, WA 98903
Phone: (509) 453-8077 Fax: (509) 453-8190
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