The Blackstone River Valley has a long history in the world of manufacturing and commerce.
By the mid-1800s, Woonsocket was one of the largest textile manufacturing centers in the United States, but it did not escape the Great Depression. Industry was a draw for immigrants seeking to establish a better life for themselves. French Canadians first arrived in the 1840’s, followed by African American immigrants who began to arrive as a part of the Great Migration. Since the 1980s, many Southeast Asian, Latinos, and African immigrants have been calling Woonsocket home.
City revitalization began in the 1990s and has continued into the 21st century, including housing renovation projects as well as focused improvements to the greater community.
Help the residents of Woonsocket realize this future and bring the vision to reality as you become part of a greater purpose through home repairs for the people of the Blackstone Valley.
Date | Age | Availability | Price | Stay Informed | Register |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jul 19 2020 to Jul 25 2020 | Senior High (14+) | Available | $468 | Keep Me Informed |
Participants will stay in a facility that is *partially air-conditioned so you'll want to bring some fans. The lodging facility has indoor, open, showers for females. We are building outdoor showers for males with individual stalls. If you're worried about modesty, bring those swimsuits! Guys will definitely want to bring shower shoes. Everyone will be sleeping on floors, gender separate, so bring your air mattresses!
*Subject to change.
Projects include painting, construction of ramps and porches, and other home repairs. The impact you will have on an entire community will be truly powerful for you and your group.
This long-standing agency is affiliated with many others that serve around the country. They have been developing affordable housing for almost 30 years. Financial coaching and foreclosure prevention assistance are also in their expertise. This will be our third summer of partnership with this partner in Woonsocket.
Woonsocket is located just 30 minutes outside of Providence, RI.
Find unique dining and shopping experiences in Providence. Catch a Pawtucket Red Sox baseball game, visit the impressive Rhode Island School of Design art museum, or check out Providence's signature event WaterFire, an award-winning fire sculpture installation on the three rivers downtown.
Price: | $468 per person | ||
Deposit: | See Below |
Register June-October | Deposit of $50 per person is due October 31, 2019. |
Register November-March 15, 2020 |
Deposit of $50 per person is due upon registration. |
Register March 15, 2020-May 15, 2020 |
Deposit of $50 per person plus 50% of your group’s balance is due upon registration. |
Register after May 15, 2020 |
Your entire balance is due.** |
You can find additional information on specific locations by visiting this page.
Participants are placed on crews of six people- generally one adult and five youth- each person from a different parish. We will work with you and your Diocesan policies and protocols. If that means your group needs to stay together on crews, we will work with you to make sure we fulfill your needs. Call your Mission Trip Advisor with any questions.
Click HERE for a downloadable version.
When FAQs open you can right-click your mouse and save them to your computer or print them.
We offer trips for senior high students. Participants who are at least 14 years old or entering 9th grade in the fall of 2020 can attend Catholic Workcamps.
Yes, you must have 1 adult (21 years of age or older) for every 5 youth (20 years of age and under). If both boys and girls are registered in your group, you must have at least one male adult and one female adult registered for supervision at night.
Yes, Group Mission Trips is committed to providing a safe camp environment, so we require all camp participants who are 18 or older (yes, even students) to complete a national background check or to be in compliance with your Diocesan safe environment protocols and have a pastor’s digital signature on our Screening and Verification Form.
Yes. We strive to follow all aspects of the Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. We will also work with you and your Diocesan policies to make sure everyone at Group Catholic Workcamps is safe. Please contact us with any questions.
A "typical" day at a Group Catholic Workcamp involves serving others, "God Sightings," daily devotions, and interactive worship programs. Your schedule will look similar to this:
Check-in: Sunday between 12-2 p.m.
3 p.m First program, followed by the Adult Meeting
5 p.m. Dinner
7 p.m. Evening Program, everyone will get to meet their work crews!
8:30 p.m. Youth group devotions
11 p.m. Lights-out
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
6:45 a.m. Rise and shine!
7:00 a.m. Breakfast, gather supplies and sack lunches
8:00 a.m. Morning program and then depart for work sites!
12:00 p.m. On-site lunch and devotions
3:30 p.m. Return to lodging for clean-up and free time
5:00 p.m. Dinner
7:30 p.m. Evening program
8:30 p.m. Youth group devotions
11:00 p.m. Lights-out
Wednesday:
Same schedule as the other days until 12:30 p.m.
12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Youth groups have free time (dinner is on their own)
7:30 p.m. The Variety Show and Evening Program starts.
8:30 p.m. Youth group devotions
11:00 p.m. Lights-out
Check-out: Saturday by 9:00 a.m.
Liturgy Schedule
4 p.m. Monday
7 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday
8:15 p.m. Wednesday and Friday
Your participants will provide home repairs at no cost for elderly, disabled, and disadvantaged people who need your help. Project crews typically serve the same resident for the entire trip, creating an environment where meaningful relationships develop.
Most projects are designed to be completed during the trip, allowing your group to experience the satisfaction of a job well done. You’ll serve the needs of others through projects like... interior and exterior painting, building or repairing porches and wheelchair ramps, building or repairing steps, weatherization and other home repairs. No skills are needed!
Tools:
Each group is asked to bring painting and construction tools including rollers, gloves, hammers, circular saws, post hole diggers, electric drills, ladders, etc. A cooler and water jug is also needed for every 6 people--these keep lunch and water cold for participants on their work site. The full Tool List is located online for every registered group on their Group Page.
Personal Items:
The full Packing List is also located online for every registered group on their Group Page, but it’s pretty much what you’d expect. A twin-size air mattress and bedding for sleeping, water jugs and coolers for lunches, work gloves, and modest swimsuits and clothing appropriate for a Catholic mission trip.
Safety is our top priority!
A Workcamp can hold up to 400 participants and we house them all typically at a middle or high school. Group Mission Trips' staff transforms the facility into a home away from home–there will be a separate boy’s hall and girl’s hall, a cafeteria for meals, adequate bathrooms and showers, and either a gym or auditorium for programs.
Participants need to bring twin-size air mattresses, pillows, sleeping bags or other bedding to sleep on classroom floors. Youth groups are assigned to sleeping rooms together, gender separate. Sleeping rooms may be shared with other youth groups, depending on the size of groups and the size of the room.
Registered groups can see more information about their lodging facility online on their Group Page under the General Lodging tab. Trip Leaders are given the lodging facility’s address.
Meals will consist of hot breakfasts, picnic-style lunches, and hot dinners. All meals will be prepared for participants by kitchen staff. Picnic-style lunches will be assembled in the mornings and brought to work sites. The first provided meal is dinner on Sunday and the last meal is breakfast on Saturday. IMPORTANT NOTE: Dinner is NOT provided on Wednesday. Youth groups have free time this day and dinner is on their own.
For registered groups: If you have a participant that has to eat gluten-free--please let us know. We can have a few gluten free options at camp but need to have an accurate number to plan for. The sample menu is located on Your Group Page under the Schedule, Menu, and Packing tab. Share this with your participants so they can start planning. Participants with special diets or allergies are welcome to bring their own food items to fill in as needed during the week. Please know that we do have peanut butter on the menu. Group Mission Trips is unable to guarantee there will not be any cross-contamination during meal preparation by kitchen staff. There will be a staff member available at camp who will be able to answer any questions about food. Click here for a visual on accommodations for dietary restrictions.
Focused on Jesus. Our goal with Group Catholic Workcamps is to point people to Jesus. Programs focus on Bible passages and daily themes that challenge us to respond to Jesus in ways we will never forget.
Interactive. People learn better by doing. Participants will be involved in sharing, speaking, singing, acting, reflecting...not just sitting and watching.
Relevant. Through creative multimedia, thought provoking sound and video, and moving liturgies and prayer, programs are designed to reach everyone.
Fun. Relationship-building activities, games and having fun are part of every program. Expect to have a great time!
After you register by paying a $50 (non-refundable) deposit per space, there are 2 payment dates for the remaining balance:
March 15, 2020: Half of what is remaining is due.
May 15, 2020: The final balance is due. (All payments are non-refundable after this date.)
Payments can be made here online, by phone, or by mail.
Call us! If there’s space available in your camp, we’ll ask for necessary payment. If you have a cancellation, and you’ve exhausted all efforts to re-fill spaces, call us to make cancellations. We’ll adjust your balance accordingly. If you cancel a space before May 15th, 2020 you’ll just lose the $50 deposit. The entire fee is forfeited for cancellations made after May 15th, 2020.
Cancellations have a huge effect on the people we serve--it is devastating news to them when we have to cancel. Based on the number of registered participants, we plan for lodging, food orders, work materials and staffing–just for starters. Also, depending on the time of year, sometimes it’s simply impossible for us to re-fill cancelled spaces.
We recognize that unexpected events happen that can pull participants away from their original commitment. Give us a call, we are happy to talk through ideas to recruit other participants and keep your group intact.
If there is no other option but to cancel your group, call us by May 15th, 2020 to let us know. As long as you cancel by May 15th, you’ll only lose $50 per spot. All mission trip fees will be forfeited for any cancellations after May 15th.
We want your trip to be as easy on you as possible. That's why we provide the following so you don't have to:
We ask that all participants arrive on time and stay for the entire time. Every part of the program is valuable and helps guarantee a life-changing experience. We really try not to make too many exceptions to this because it does affect other participants, residents, and work projects. Please check the schedule and make travel arrangements accordingly. Contact us if a situation arises.
Absolutely! Don't just take our word for it. Give us a call (1-844-258-9616) and we'd be happy to connect you with other youth leaders who have served with us.
We're here to answer any questions you may have, just click below.
Or, browse through our FAQ section for more common questions.