Make Friends and Influence People

Are you a quick learner who would love to be more involved in Habitat Philadelphia? Looking to develop management skills? Or perhaps you've got a project at home that you've been meaning to start but wish you had just a little more skill.

Well, here is your chance!

Habitat Philadelphia is offering training for regular volunteers who are interested in raising their skill levels and helping Habitat Philadelphia build more houses by serving as crew leaders. Best of all, while you help us, you learn a new skill in more depth than would be possible on a regular build site.

You'll learn step by step what is involved in installing trim, siding and drywall as well as hanging doors and painting. You will also get training in teaching skills and managing volunteers. At the end you'll come out on site and volunteer leading a crew of fellow volunteers in your newly developed skill.

You don't need many prior skills, just a willingness to learn and share your newly developed skills. A list of courses and dates can be found below.

Installing Trim 101
Date: To be announced
Time: To be announced
Description: It's All in the Trim: Finishing Touches That Make the Room

In this course you will learn to measure, cut, and install door and window casings, baseboards and crown moldings. These tasks involve careful measurement and a methodical approach. If you are detail-oriented, already proficient in reading a tape measure and feel comfortable learning to use a finish gun then this is the training session for you!

Announcing Our 2007 Trim 101/Crew Leader Training Graduates

Painting 101
Date: To be announced
Time: To be announced
Description: All About Painting: Using Housing Interiors as Your Canvas

Painting trim, doors, walls and window sashes is all a part of finishing the interior of a house. Trim is typically the most time consuming but all of painting requires focused attention and a little technique. This will probably taught in smaller or individual session so let me your availability and we'll set up a time to get your trained on site!

Door Hanging 101
Date: To be announced
Time: To be announced
Description: Patience and Precision: Learning to Hang Doors

Hanging doors can be tricky but with patience, some tools and more patience, it is possible to learn! The tools involved are simple (typically a hammer, nail sets, framing squares and a few other things), however, hanging does require precision. If you follow instructions well and are organized and meticulous about your work then sign-up now!

Siding 101
Date: To be announced
Time: to be announced
Description: Exterior Finishes: Delving into Siding Installation

Don't forget about the exterior of the house! Installing siding involves working on the outside of the house and you should feel comfortable with heights. Siding typically arrives in sheets that interlock as you work your way up. You need attention to detail and a little patience for installing trim pieces. If this is you, email me to sign up.

Drywall 101
Date: To be announced
Time: to be announced
Description: Hanging Drywall: What Makes a House Look like a House

Installing drywall is not too difficult but learning to screw it into place involved some practice. Drywall is what makes the inside of a house really look like a house. It's actually a half inch layer of a material called gypsum set between two thick sheets of paper. Drywall comes in sheets and is relatively heavy so a little muscle, patience and skill is required to hang it properly. Ready to get started?

If you are interested in signing up for any of these trainings, please email the volunteer coordinator or call 215-765-6000 ext. 10. To sign-up for courses you must be a Habitat Philadelphia Volunteer. New to Habitat Philadelphia? Find out how to become a volunteer.