What do we do on this trip? First Community participants will build houses for low-income families in Baja California, Mexico. Our group will split into 15-person workgroups and each will build a house for a Mexican family from start to finish: we will lay the foundation on the first day and hand over the keys to a completed home on the final day. When not building, we will camp outdoors in tents at a secure campsite.

Why are we going to Mexico? There are people in need in every community, including here in Columbus. Traveling to Mexico gives high schoolers a global perspective on poverty, allows us to form international relationships, and invites us to immerse ourselves in a new culture. Participants will work hard, help one another, and think deeply about our call to service so we return home ready to put our faith into action beyond the trip.  

Who is invited on the trip & how many people can go? This trip is for high school students (grades 9-12). Their parents/guardians and current college students are also welcome. Other adults may register, but we will prioritize high school students if the trip fills up. We will be taking up to 55 participants this year, including First Community staff. If more people than that are interested, we may make adjustments.

Who do we work with? We work with Amor, an organization that has been building homes in Mexico since 1980. Amor works with local pastors to provide houses for those most in need. Amor has hosted hundreds of groups like ours to build over 17,000 homes. Learn more at Amor.org.

Where are we going and where do we stay? We will be living and working in Baja California, Mexico, east of Tijuana and just a few miles south of San Diego, California. Participants camp outdoors in tents at a secure campsite owned by Amor. Rain or shine, hot or cold, participants will live outdoors for the duration of the trip.

How long has First Community been doing this trip? This will be First Community’s 25th trip to Mexico through Amor.

What are the trip dates? Why those dates? The trip is Tuesday, March 19 – Wednesday, March 27, 2024. These dates overlap with Dublin, Upper Arlington, and Grandview spring breaks. By traveling mid-week to mid-week, we reduce flight costs by several hundred dollars per participant. We are also able to avoid a air travel congestion, flight delays, and border crossing traffic.

When does registration open and close? Registration opens Wednesday, October 18, 2023. A trip price increase (from $900/participant to $1200/participant) occurs December 11. Registration closes Sunday, January 21, 2024. It may close before January 21 if the trip fills up.

What is the trip fee? The trip fee is...

• Early Registration (October 18 - December 10): $900 per participant
• Late Registration (December 11 - January 21): $1200 per participant

What does the trip fee cover? Fees cover participant airfare, ground transportation, building materials, food, hotel, and Amor participant fee. The expense per participant actually exceeds the fee, but a portion of every participant’s expenses are covered by fundraising and grants.

Are there scholarship funds available? Yes! We do not want the fee to deter anyone from participating in the trip. Full and partial scholarships are available. Please indicate your need on the registration form.

Can I help provide scholarships? Yes! When you register, there is a place to contribute to our scholarship fund.

Is the trip fee tax-deductible? Yes! The full trip fee is a tax-deductible charitable contribution.

How can I reduce the cost of the trip for myself? One way to help reduce your trip cost is to ask loved ones to help sponsor your trip. You can ask friends, family, and neighbors to sponsor you, and we will provide a link for them to donate directly to your trip. Any funds they contribute to your trip are entirely tax-deductible.

Do we fundraise together for the trip? Yes! We will host a group fundraiser to help support the trip as a whole. This is how we keep the cost per participant low, when in reality, it costs more than that per person to attend the trip.

Do I need a passport? Yes, you must have a passport. You will not be permitted on the trip without one. Note that it takes 9-12 weeks to process a new or renewed passport. Please visit travel.state.gov to begin the process.

How do I get a passport? Please visit travel.state.gov to begin the process.

What if my passport expires soon? You may not travel with an expired passport. If your passport expires within 6 months of the trip, we highly recommend renewing. Please check your expiration date, especially if you are turning 18 soon; it may expire at age 18. It will also take 9-12 weeks to receive an updated passport.


Do I need a tent? What if I don’t have one? All participants will be sleeping outdoors in tents. Participants will bring their own tents in their luggage. You must have a tent, or a spot in someone else’s tent, prior to departure. If you do not have a tent, we can help coordinate borrowing one or helping match participants up in tents.

What kind of tent do I need? You will need a tent with a full-coverage rain fly. This will protect you from rain, cold, and high winds (all of which we will experience!). An example of the type of tent you’ll need is here; notice how the rain fly completely covers the tent: Kelty Salida.


What else do I need to bring? We will provide a detailed packing list to trip participants.

What is the weather like in Mexico? The weather in Mexico can be unpredictable because it’s a desert environment. It can be warm and dry, then turn rainy and cold; we have even seen snow on this trip! Please take the packing list seriously.

What vaccinations are required? We require a tetanus shot and a flu shot. We recommend a COVID shot, current COVID booster, and Hep A & B.

What medical personnel are attending the trip? We will have multiple physicians, EMT’s, and other healthcare professionals attend the trip to oversee participant medical needs.

Can I attend if I have food allergies? Yes! All allergies must be disclosed on the registration form so we can accommodate food needs.

What if I get sick or hurt and need medical care on the trip? Our medical team, which include physicians, EMT's, and other healthcare professionals, will oversee your medical needs if you become sick or injured. Additionally, we will work with Amor to help us care for those who become very ill, which may include sleeping in Amor’s staff housing. If needed, First Community and Amor staff will work together to coordinate travel back to the US for emergent medical care. Any First Community participant who needs to leave the group for any reason will be accompanied by an adult member of the First Community group. Amor and First Community create a detailed emergency medical plan prior to each trip.

If I need to cancel prior to departure, will I receive a full refund? Maybe not. As the trip nears, there will come a point when we will be unable to replace your name on the airline ticket and therefore we cannot issue a full refund if you cancel. Specifics will be determined on a case-by-case basis depending on when you cancel and if we can fill your vacated spot.

What steps are taken to keep participants safe? Safety is our highest priority. We always travel as a group, always ensure adult leaders are present with high schoolers, and never travel at night. Professionals from Amor will travel with us across the border into Mexico and stay with our group while in Mexico. Our campsite is secured by Amor staff.

Where can I learn more about safety in Mexico? We lean on Amor to inform our decisions regarding safety in Mexico. They live and work there year-round and are the experts on the community. If they have any concern about our safety, Amor will escort us out of Mexico. Find information here: Amor Safety.

Can I attend the trip but not fly with the group? If you are coming from Columbus, we strongly recommend traveling with the group. If you cannot travel with the group or are not coming from Columbus, please contact our staff so we can coordinate with you.

Can I bring a friend who has never participated in First Community programs? Yes! All high schoolers in grades 9-12 are welcome, as well as college students. Adults are also welcome, but we will prioritize high schoolers if the trip fills up.

Can I bring the whole family? Yes! Parents/guardians of high schoolers are welcome and younger siblings are welcome, too, as long as a parent/guardian is attending.