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Discover Rutherford County, N.C.
Grab a hammer and join a community-centered effort to improve housing in rural Appalachia! Working alongside the Rutherford Housing Partnership and Women Roofers’ Initiative, participants will contribute to hands-on home repair projects that address critical housing needs in Western North Carolina. While immersed in Appalachian culture, students will gain a deeper understanding of housing insecurity, community resilience, and the power of neighbors helping neighbors.
This team will travel to the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina to work with the Rutherford Housing Partnership, a 28-year-old 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization with a long history of addressing urgent home repairs that affect health and safety in Rutherford County communities. Hurricane Helene, which heavily impacted Western North Carolina in Fall 2024, highlighted the ongoing need for organizations like the Rutherford Housing Partnership, which support safe and reliable housing infrastructure in the Appalachian region of our state.
While being immersed in the culture of rural Appalachia, you will gain a better understanding of how housing insecurity and economic disparity affect rural communities here in North Carolina, and the nature of a community-centered response. This team will collaborate with the Women Roofers’ Initiative, a team of women born out of happenstance in 2002, to repair damaged roofs and elevate the safety of Rutherford County homes. Lodging for this experience is a shared space that uses air mattresses, and the team will prepare their own meals. Come prepared to use a hammer, climb on a roof, and immerse yourself in the Appalachian culture!
Making a positive impact in Rutherford County, N.C.
Explore our ASB Rutherford photo gallery.
Meet your Team Leaders
Our student Team Leaders are chosen in a competitive process to lead our ASB Experiences and have spent extensive time prior to the trip engaging with our ASB Team Leader Development courses. Team Leaders co-create the trip experience alongside professional staff in Student Leadership and Engagement. They learn how to plan all aspects of an ASB Experience, from the trip itinerary and reflection activities to risk management procedures and meal planning.
What’s included in the participant cost?
Program fees vary by trip, but are designed to cover most major travel and program expenses.
Included
- Meals
- Lodging
- Round-trip transportation via University vehicles (such as a 15-passenger van or a minivan)
- Cultural immersion activities
- ASB swag
- Program and administrative fees
Not Included
- Required immunizations or vaccinations (primarily for international experiences)
- International health insurance (only for international experiences)
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Travel Insurance
- Personal snacks and additional meals
What are the participant expectations?
- Attend all required ASB All-Community and Team events
- Teambuilder Night
- Pre-Trip team meetings
- Reorientation Night
- Meet financial and program deadlines
- Receive all required immunizations
- Respect community partners and local cultures
- This experience requires participants to be comfortable and able to spend long periods on a roof.
Application Competitiveness
Physical Intensity
Take the next step
The application process and timeline can vary depending on which ASB Experience you are applying for. As part of the application process for all ASB Experiences, interested students are required to attend an ASB Information Session. To set yourself up for success, we recommend reviewing the application information online, viewing our Frequently Asked Questions, and attending the required ASB Information Session. Contact our team if you have any specific questions or concerns.
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Last Reviewed On: 7/14/2026