Welcome to our Youth Page! 

Frequently we are asked how students can get involved with Habitat if they are under 16 years of age.  This page explains why we cannot allow youth on our construction site and ways that youth CAN get involved.

CONSTRUCTION

First it is purely for legal reasons that we cannot allow youth under the age of 16 on our construction site.  It relates to Federal Child Labor laws.  For this reason, our liability insurance does not extend coverage for youth.  The laws are clear that when we are in our "hard hat" phases of construction, youth cannot be on site.  By law, youth cannot use power tools no matter how well supervised.  But we can allow youth on the construction site for various other projects, and allow them access to existing homes to assist Habitat homeowners; painting and landscaping are good examples.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES...

COINS FOR CONSTRUCTION

Another way to get involved is our COINS for Construction program. We will give you six hours of credit for every milk gallon filled with coins you drop off to the office. Your child can collect change from friends, family, coworkers, or fellow students to fill his or her jug. If you stop by the offices at 454 N. Pearl St. we will give you a sticker to put on your jug to show your Habitat pride!

If you want to get your classroom involved in COINS for Construction, that can count for more credit. Please contact Ericka for more information about classroom involvement at  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

COINS for Construction is the way your child can participate in the "Give a day. Get a Disney day." program. One milk jug per child will give that child a Disney ticket. Please email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it  for more details.

INDIVIDUALS AND SCOUT TROUPS:

Youth under the age of 16 can get involved in other projects.  As an individual under the age of 16 you can volunteer in our offices; at one of our events (Tent-a-Thon or Tour de Habitat); participate in promoting our mission; fundraise for Habitat; develop special projects and; organize other students to get involved.

STUDENT GROUPS

It is likely that if you are in high school you will have to demonstrate some community service in order to graduate.  More and more schools have this requirement and, here in the office, we can get ovewhelmed each spring as seniors flock to get in their hours.

But also younger students have a passion for our mission and express interest in getting involved.  For these reasons, we have developed a "Start Up Kit"  for forming a Habitat Club in your school.  It would be a huge service to us if youth could organize other students and work to match their own needs/requirements for service with our opportunities.  If you would like a copy of our Start Up Kit, email us and request the kit.  Email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

SOME RECENT EXAMPLES

-  In 2007 the Shenendehowa HIgh School formed a Habitat Club and committed to raise $6000 for Habitat to purchase a tool equipment truck.  Thanks to their  tireless effort and multiple fundraisers, they achieved their goal.  Habitat purchased the truck which now sports their donation on its side and they received the "Volunteer Group of the Year Award".

- In 2008 a 12 year old decided to pedal in a 400 mile ride with his mom and developed a fundraising packet that he sent to friends and relatives to secure sponsors.  He raised over $8,000 and was recognized at our Tour de Habitat event last year.

- A local Girl Scout troop this past spring raised several hundred dollars and found a landscaper able to partner with them to teach them to plant.  They purchased bushes and flowers and a couple of trees and landscaped four homes on Odell Street.   Each scout received a medal.

- A student from the Academy of Holy Names organized a project in 2007.  Working with the staff she surveyed existing Habitat homeowner families and painted the interior of two homes.

WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS???

Email us to start a dialogue or you can visit our Facebook page and start a discussion group!  Search "groups" for Capital District Habitat for Humanity to find us.