Volunteers in hard hats raising a wooden roof frame together
Colonia La Morita, Tijuana, Mexico

Build a home.
Build a future.

For one week each summer, Saint Mary's travels to Tijuana to build simple homes alongside families who need them most. Come serve, grow, and be changed.

Register for 2026Closed2027 batch opens February 2027Learn more
When
June 14 – 20, 2026
Duration
6 nights · 5 days
Open to
Teens & adults
What we do

One week. Three things worth building.

No construction experience needed — every volunteer learns on site, and there's a job for every pair of hands.

Build a Home

Working side by side with families in Colonia La Morita, we frame, raise, and finish simple homes that give a family a safe, dry place to live.

Build a Future

A home changes everything — children stay in school, parents find stable work, and a whole community grows stronger one rooftop at a time.

Build Teamwork

Teens and adults serve shoulder to shoulder. You'll leave with new skills, lifelong friendships, and a faith put into action.

Watch

See the trip in motion.

A few minutes from last summer in Colonia La Morita — the building, the families, and the team behind it all.

More photos & videos →
Making a difference

A roof changes everything.

In Colonia La Morita, a safe home means children can stay in school, parents can hold steady work, and families can put down roots. Every house we raise together is built to last — and built with love.

Volunteers leave with calloused hands, new friendships, and a faith put into action. Most say it's the most meaningful week of their year.

6
nights

serving side by side

100%
meals & travel

included in your fee

8th+
grade

teens welcome to serve

0
turned away

scholarships available

Cost & details

What it costs to come.

Your fee covers everything for the week. Don't let cost stop you — scholarships are available for anyone who needs one.

Teens (8th–12th grade)

$250

all-inclusive

Adults (18+)

$780

all-inclusive

$100

A $100 deposit holds your spot and counts toward your total fee. It's refundable until May 1, 2026, non-refundable after.

  • Open to teens entering 9th grade through graduated 12th graders — you must be at least an 8th-grade graduate to attend.
  • Open to adults 18 and older.
  • No construction experience needed — we'll teach you everything on site.

Your fee includes

  • Six nights of group lodging
  • All meals throughout the trip
  • Round-trip transportation from Saint Mary's
  • Building materials and tools
  • Experienced trip leaders & on-site guidance

What you'll need to turn in

  • $100 deposit, due with registration
  • Copy of a valid passport — required to re-enter the U.S. (or a valid green card)
  • Copy of your current medical insurance card
  • Completed participant & guidelines forms
  • Parental permission & medical release (teens)
  • Driver's license, Youth Protection training & fingerprinting (adults)
Register for 2026Closed2027 batch opens February 2027
Where we serve

Colonia La Morita, Tijuana

We work in Colonia La Morita, a hillside neighborhood on the east side of Tijuana — about a 30-minute drive south of the San Diego border crossing.

  • Colonia La Morita · Tijuana, Mexico
Open in Google Maps →
Key dates

Mark your calendar.

Pre-trip meetings help us prepare as a team. The May 20 meeting is mandatory for adults; May 27 is for everyone going.

  1. March 19

    Info & orientation meeting

    7:00 PM · Youth Center

  2. April 16

    Team meeting & planning

    7:00 PM · Youth Center

  3. May 20

    Mandatory for adults

    7:00 PM · Serra Cottage

  4. May 27

    Final meeting — all participants

    7:00 PM · Serra Cottage

  5. June 14

    We leave for Tijuana

    Departure

Good to know

Questions, answered.

Still unsure? Call one of our coordinators — we'd love to talk it through.

Do I need a passport?+

Yes. All participants need a valid passport (or passport card) to cross the U.S.–Mexico border. Make sure yours is current well before June.

Do I need construction experience?+

Not at all. Most volunteers have never built anything before. Experienced leaders guide every step, and there's a job for every skill level.

What's included in the cost?+

Your fee covers six nights of lodging, all meals, round-trip transportation, building materials, and trip leadership. Scholarships are available — just ask.

Is there a deposit?+

Yes — a $100 deposit is due with your registration and counts toward your total trip fee. The deposit is fully refundable until May 1, 2026, and non-refundable after that date.

What documents do I need to turn in?+

A complete packet includes your $100 deposit, a copy of a valid passport (or green card), a copy of your current medical insurance card, and the signed participant forms. Teens also need a parental permission & medical release; new adults need a driver's license, Youth Protection training, and fingerprinting.

Can teens attend without a parent?+

Yes. Teens 8th-grade-graduate and up may attend with the group. The May 20 meeting is mandatory for adults, and the May 27 meeting is for everyone.

Is it safe?+

We travel as a supervised group, stay in secure group lodging, and have led this trip for years. Safety briefings happen at the pre-trip meetings.

The 2026 trip is full.

Registration for June 14 – 20, 2026 is now closed — thank you to everyone joining us. The 2027 batch opens February 2027; check back then to claim your spot.

Register for 2026Closed2027 batch opens February 2027