- United States of America
About Program
Starting in Portland, OR and ending in Bellingham, WA, Drift West participants spend 3 weeks and 950 miles exploring the highlight reel of the Pacific Northwest. Geographic icons like the Hoh Rain Forest and Olympic National Park are punctuated by “megacity” celebrities Portland and Seattle, allowing riders to experience the area’s renowned topographic diversity in full.
Drift West’s five build days are just as impressive as the surrounding terrain and feature a different affordable organization at each stop. Smaller affordable housing organizations, like Makah Housing Authority and San Juan Community Home Trust who do local, specialized work, are a primary feature of Drift West and afford riders a variegated perspective of affordable housing issues.
Video and Photos
Program Highlights
- Build advocacy skills by connecting with varies communities across the U.S.
- Explore the pristine nature of the Pacific Northwest
- Experience a once-in-a-lifetime adventure while creating lasting friendships
- Join a cohort of 3,600+ civically engaged alumni
- Create impact through hands-on building for affordable housing projects
Program Impact
Bike & Build is so much more than just a yearly bike trip. From when riders sign up for a trip, to on the road, to post-trip impact, Bike & Build addresses affordable housing from many angles and throughout all aspects of our program.
Every Bike & Build rider participates in a curriculum designed to inform not only our riders, but also the community members that our riders meet during the summer. On the road, rider teams stop about every fifth day and riders trade their bikes for hammers or saws to help on an affordable housing build site with a local affiliate. Prior to the trip every rider must complete 15 hours of “sweat equity” volunteer work on a local affordable housing affiliate site in their communities. Our riders are very much ambassadors for the affordable housing cause. Riders prepare host presentations for the various church congregations and other community members who may host them overnight or for a meal in order to talk a little bit about the cause and why they are dedicating their summer to this cause.
