*** No Longer Accepting Applications ***

Sicily combines sun, fresh food, natural beauty, and enough history, art and architecture to satisfy even the most accomplished traveler. This service trip offers an entirely unique home stay experience – the entire group, together with our counselors, stay at a Sicilian family’s estate, in our own living quarters, giving us unparalleled insider access to the rich Sicilian culture.

Our project site is a farming estate constructed over 200 years ago and located in the midst of vineyards and fruit orchards on the foothills of Mt. Etna. The estate is being converted for use as an accommodation and cultural center for those in need from the lower-income areas of nearby Catania. We will be working on various projects involving the renovation and improvement of the property, both indoors and out.* The work is tough, but we are rewarded every day with spectacular views of the Sicilian countryside and the friendships that we make with each other and our warm Sicilian host family.

In addition to our service project, we will also take day trips to explore the treasures of Sicily. We’ll journey to the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento to admire some of the best preserved Greek temples in world, check out the unique Greco-Roman heritage of Syracuse, hit the beaches at the nature reserve in Vendicari, and trek up the massive volcano, Mt. Etna. This trip offers intimate contact with Sicily’s people and land, and has routinely provided a life-changing experience for all involved.

* Participants will be awarded with a certificate for 40 hours of community service work at the end of the summer.