Join Habitat for Humanity’s RV Care-A-Vanner Program to Make a Difference While Traveling!

Join Habitat for Humanity’s RV Care-A-Vanner Program to Make a Difference While Traveling!
Learn more about this great way for RVers to give back.

By: Brooke Baum, GoLife Editor

What if your next RV adventure could offer more than a change of scenery? Habitat for Humanity’s RV Care-A-Vanner program gives RVers the opportunity to learn new skills, meet like-minded travelers, and help build safe, affordable homes for families in need.

The RV Care-A-Vanner program is always looking for more volunteers, and no prior construction knowledge is needed to participate! 

What is the RV Care-A-Vanner Program?

Over the past fifty years, Habitat for Humanity has helped more than 65 million people globally by providing access to decent housing. Rather than simply providing homes, Habitat operates on a partnership model in which low- and moderate-income families work alongside local affiliates and volunteers to build or rehabilitate their homes, which they purchase through interest-free mortgages. Volunteers play an essential role in this process by contributing their time and skills to help reduce construction costs.

Habitat’s RV Care-A-Vanner program was created to offer RVers the opportunity to volunteer with a build during their travels. If you have been looking for a hands-on way to give back to local communities while traveling, helping families build homes may just be the ideal option for you! 

Whether it is a part of your journey or the destination, joining a Habitat build project through the RV Care-A-Vanner program is a meaningful and memorable way to give back while traveling. While volunteering, you can meet and work with other like-minded volunteers and the families who will get to call the house you are building a home.

What is Expected of an RV Care-A-Vanner Volunteer?

Most RV Care-A-Vanner builds last approximately two weeks and involve eight to 20 volunteers. If you would like to dedicate more time, you can search for other opportunities in the same area and sign up for multiple builds. Builds are happening across North America in every season, and there is always a need for volunteers! (View the build schedule here.)

RV Care-A-Vanner volunteers must have a self-contained RV, but Habitat will arrange for RV parking during the build—which will include at least minimal electrical hookups, access to water, and a nearby dump station, depending on the location. However, this is not an opportunity for free camping; participants cover their own travel expenses and camping fees. 

All participants must also have a background check, and Habitat has a system to assist you with this. It is also a necessity to have an email address and internet access to maintain contact for the volunteer program.

Habitat provides construction supervision and instruction as well as all building materials, power tools, and ladders. However, you should bring closed-toe work shoes, work clothes, a refillable water bottle, and a good attitude!

Projects may include new home construction, renovations, critical home repairs, and other building activities. Days generally begin with a devotional and safety briefing, followed by job assignments and approximately six to seven hours of work, including breaks. 

There are additional volunteer opportunities with the Disaster Rebuild Team, Collegiate Challenge mentoring program, as well as administrative and advocate roles. If you want to get involved but aren’t sure what role would be the best fit, be sure to reach out to [email protected]! 

You can also make a donation online through their site.

For fiscal year 2026, the RV Care-A-Vanner program accomplished 173 build projects with 1,006 participants and 52,464 hours worked. That resulted in 458 families served and $1.9 million in labor saved!

Why is Being an RV Care-A-Vanner Such a Great Opportunity for RVers?

Ty Jones, New Member Coordinator for the RV Care-A-Vanner program, recently took some time out of her busy schedule to share more about this great volunteer opportunity and answer some of our community’s top questions. She has volunteered in her current role for nine years in addition to regularly participating in builds with her husband Larry.  

As a fully volunteer-run program, Ty and her colleagues are deeply dedicated to the mission and give generously of their time. Her Program Manager, Mary Vandeveld, recently received recognition for her 25 years of dedicated volunteer work with the organization!

Ty shares that the RV Care-A-Vanner program has been an ideal retirement solution for her and her husband as they travel in their 2014 Winnebago Forza. They were worried they would miss the sense of accomplishment they experienced by working hard in their careers, so they were excited to learn about this unique volunteer option from their son who was volunteering at a Habitat for Humanity build. They already had an RV, so it was a great fit.

With her 60th birthday around the corner, Ty wanted to prove to herself that she could take on a new challenge! She didn’t even know how to use a hammer on her first build project, but she practiced until she became confident. Now she teaches other new volunteers how to use a variety of tools, including the saw!

Ty shares that being part of the RV Care-A-Vanner program has been extremely fulfilling for them and brings a lot of meaning to their life. It also helps them stay active and fit while facilitating lasting connections with like-minded people.

Many other volunteers are also in retirement age, but the average age of volunteers has started to get younger since many people are working from home in their RVs and looking for a way to add more meaningful interactions to their travels. With so many build projects to join, it is a wonderful way to find inspiration for your next RV destination!

The RV Care-A-Vanner program welcomes a wide range of RVers from different backgrounds and skill levels. No prior carpentry knowledge or skills are needed, and safety is the top concern at the build sites. So, if you are a complete beginner and want to learn how to use a hammer or a saw, this is a great way to learn! However, there are also other ways you can help on-site or in admin roles if using tools feels too intimidating at first.

How to Sign Up for the RV Care-A-Vanner Program

Are you ready to join an RV Care-A-Vanner build? Here is how to sign up:

Step 1 – Make sure you meet the necessary requirements

• Have a self-contained RV with holding tanks.
• Can pass the required background check.
• Have an email address and internet access for program communications.
• Be aligned with the mission to help families in need.

Step 2 – Find a Build to Join

Visit the official RV Care-A-Vanner program page on the Habitat for Humanity website to learn more and browse upcoming volunteer opportunities. You can filter the search by location, type of opportunity, and date.

Click on each potential option to review the individual project details to narrow down the search. Be sure to check that the location, dates, type of work, and RV camping arrangements work for you. If you plan to volunteer as a couple, family, or group, also be sure there are enough volunteer spaces available. Opportunities are added regularly, so check often if there is a certain area you are hoping to volunteer in.

Once you select the project, follow the registration link to sign up. Note that registration is first-come, first-served. First-time participants will also need to create a username and password when registering.

Important Reminder: Participants should wait for confirmation before finalizing travel plans.

Step 3 - Prepare for the Project

After registration, volunteers receive a welcome letter approximately four to six weeks before the build. It includes directions, parking arrangements, contact information, and other important details. For questions, email [email protected].

How Can Winnebago Owner Groups Get Involved?

Winnebago Industries is proud to support the RV Care-A-Vanner program and has enjoyed having the team share about their volunteer opportunities at Camp Winnebago (previously GNR). However, individual GoLife Community owner groups are also welcome to reach out to the team to work with them at their next event!

The Camp EKKO planners reached out to invite the team to their recent rally and coordinate a fundraiser. The group was thrilled to raise $25,000 for the RV Care-A-Vanner program, which goes directly to safety equipment and other building supplies. Ty and her team also gave daily chats about the program and loved getting to engage with the EKKO community.

If you are planning an owner group meetup, you can reach out to Ty directly ([email protected]) to coordinate a fundraiser or request a member of the RV Care-A-Vanner team to attend. Smaller RV owner groups could also find build projects to participate in together! 

Do you have additional questions about the program? Leave them in the comments and we will work with Ty and her team to provide feedback!