Ramp it Up! with Yachad
is a summer program for high school students.* Students spend the week building an accessibility ramp for a lower-income homeowner with disabilities. Work is done under the supervision of a professional carpenter and counselor. Using team work, 4x4s and power tools, students develop leadership skills, learn about issues of poverty, civil rights and Jewish values of tikkun olam—repairing the world.
30 SSL/Community Service Hours!
Sign up! Download the application.
Sessions for 2009:
Session I:
June 22-26
Session II:
June 29-July 3
Locations and family situations to be announced in coming months. All locations will be located near a Metro and carpooling will be available as well.
$350 participation fee to cover ramp building supplies.
Selection Process
Yachad reviews every application to ensure the participants are a good fit for the program. It is likely that applicants will receive a call from the camp director to conduct a brief interview on the phone. There is a running acceptance and there is limited space in each session so we encourage you to get your application in as early as possible.
Testimony from Past Participants:
"I thought the entire program was well run and educational. I got something out of every activity we did. I learned valuable skills and made good friends"
-11th grade participant
"Besides helping people in need, I liked the community that we built amongst each of the participants. We were told on day one that we needed to work together or fail together. That was inspiring!"
-11th grade participant
"This program seems to have made a great impressin on her. Especially meeting the homeowners!"
-Parent of participant
Check out pictures and stories
from 2008 ramps:
Day 1 & 2
The house without a ramp
Learning how to use the tools
Working the jackhammer
Digging a footer |
Day 3 & 4
The group working on carpentry
Crafting the deck
Prepping for the concrete to be poured
Concrete pouring
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Day 5
Cutting deck wood
Reaching the hard spots!
The masterpiece almost done!
Watching Mr. Garcia use the ramp!
The gang right before the pizza party celebration!
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Day 1 & 2
Students learning to work the equiptment
Applying what they learned 
Starting to construct the frame.
|
Day 3 & 4
Drilling the post
Decking!
Waiting for concrete to dry.
|
Day 5
Finishing touches on deck.
Testing the posts.
Maria Mae using the ramp for the first time!
The group shot!
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Session III
Day 1 & 2
The house before the ramp
The group digs 12 footer holes by hand!
Filling footers with hand mixed concrete! |
Day 3 & 4
Let the cutting begin!
Lining up plywood to start to construct.
Referring to plans.
|
Day 5
Watching Mrs. Muse use the almost finished ramp!
The cake that Mrs. Muse and her family got for eveyone.
The group surrounding Mrs. Muse and her grandchildren. |
Special thanks to the architects who donated their time and skill to the program:
Michael Holt, Seth Garland, Lyndl Thorsen Youssef.
More information: 202 296-8563, RampitUp@yachad-dc.org
Sign up for 2009! Download the application.
View pictures and watch videos from last year's sessions:
Session I
Session II
Read stories from years past
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