The time of year has arrived when friends and fellow students journey to tropical climates to celebrate a week of freedom from school, often through drinking and all-night parties — spring break.

Some University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee students, however, have chosen to spend their spring break helping those in need.

Thirty-six members of Habitat for Humanity at UWM will participate in an alternative spring break trip called the Collegiate Challenge in which they will work with Habitat for Humanity affiliates building homes for the less fortunate.

The organization will send three groups of 12 students to three different locations in the United States that the Habitat for Humanity Executive Board chose to provide students with the best variety and options. Students will travel to Montorose, Colo.; Port Charlotte, Fla.; and York, Pa.

Participants will spend the week working with Habitat for Humanity affiliates on a variety of projects such as roofing, dry-walling, painting and framing to ultimately construct homes for people in need.

Habitat for Humanity President Andrea Altmann has been on two of these trips in the past two years and believes them to be enriching experiences for students.

“It is an amazing experience for students because they get to do something valuable for someone else during their spring break and actually see the results as projects are completed and homes are finished,” Altmann said.

The average cost of these excursions is $200, which includes transportation, housing, registration and meals for the week. Participants normally stay at local churches or youth centers near the affiliate worksite.

While anyone can become a member of Habitat for Humanity at UWM, students must be members of the organization to participate in the Collegiate Challenge.

Contact Habitat for Humanity in the Architecture and Urban Planning building, Room 473 or e-mail habitat@uwm.edu.

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