New Paris, Ohio 2018

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We offer trips for both junior high and senior high students. Participants who are at least 12 years old or entering 7th grade in the fall of 2017 can attend Jr/Sr High Workcamps. Participants who are at least 14 years old or entering 9th grade in the fall of 2017 can attend Senior High Workcamps. No special skills are required.

You must have one adult (21 or older) for every five students. If you have both males and females in your group, you must have at least one adult volunteer of each gender. The minimum group size is one young person and one adult of the same gender.

Group requires that all participants 18 years of age or older be screened and background checked by your church prior to attending.

Background checks must be multi-state and no older than two years from the start of the mission trip. You choose your background check organization vendor.

18-20 year olds are not considered "adults" during camp, however because of our commitment to safety, we still ask them to go through your church's screening process and have background checks run.

Group requires a pastor-signed Screening and Verification Form for each 18+ participant in order for them to attend the mission trip.

You need to provide transportation for your group to and from your mission trip. The vehicles you bring are used to provide daily transportation to and from work sites. We request that groups bring vehicles that can hold at least 6 people since our work crews are typically that size. If you intend to bring a large bus, call us first to be sure your trip location can accommodate it.

A "typical" day at Group Weekend Workcamp involves serving others, "God Sightings," daily devotions, and interactive worship programs. Your schedule will look similar to this:

Check-in: Friday between 2-4 p.m.

4 p.m First program, followed by the Adult Meeting
6 p.m. Dinner
7:30 p.m. Evening Program, everyone will get to meet their work crews!
9 p.m. Youth group devotions
11 p.m. Lights-out

Saturday and Sunday
6:30 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
4 p.m. Return to lodging for clean-up and free time
5:30 p.m. Dinner
7:30 p.m. Evening program
8:30 p.m. Youth group devotions
11:00 p.m. Lights-out

Monday:
6:30 a.m. Rise and shine! 
7:00 a.m. Breakfast, gather supplies and sack lunches
7:45 a.m. Morning program and then depart for work sites!
12:00 p.m. On-site lunch and devotions
12:30 p.m. Return to lodging facility to Check-out

You and your group 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.

Projects typically include painting houses, repairing porches, and general home repairs. Projects are based on what can be completed in two-and-a-half days for Weekend Workcamps.

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 a water jug are also needed for every 6 people--these keep lunch and water cold for participants while they are on their work sites. The full Tool List is located online for every registered group on their Group Page, under the Schedule, Menu, Packing tab.

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, work gloves, modest swimsuits, and modest clothing appropriate for a Christian mission trip.

Safety is our top priority!

• We require groups to bring 1 adult (21 or older) for every 5 participants that are under 21 years of age.
• We require participants that are 18 and older be screened and background-checked by their church. Their pastor signs off that they meet Group’s requirements and that they are approved to attend.
• Every staff member has been screened, background-checked, and reference checked by Group.
• For overall protection, we have separate shower times designated for participants that are 17 and younger from those that are 18 and older.
• We review safety procedures at camp—appropriate work boots, gloves and goggles are recommended.
• Participants are not required to do any work that they consider unsafe. Participants may be using a drill for screws, but no one under the age of 16 can use a power tool or drill for drilling holes. No one under the age of 18 can use a power saw.
• Our staff visits each work site at least twice by the time of camp and the first thing a crew will do when they arrive to their work site is check for potential safety issues.
• Although we do serve in needy areas, we require work crews to stay together at all times. No one should ever be left alone and all participants are back at the lodging facility by their designated check in time.
• Site Coaches and other Group Staff visit work sites every day so they are aware of where a crew is working and any issues in the area.
• Every work crew has the direct phone number to the Group office and directions to the closest hospital. If an injury occurs on the work site, and is not serious, Group staff will contact the youth leader and coordinate any transportation needed. If the injury is serious, the adult on site will call 911 and Group staff will offer support and ensure needed medical forms are delivered to hospital. Each work crew will have a small first aid kit and a bigger one in each vehicle.

Groups are typically placed into six-person crews for the work portion of each day. In most cases, this is one adult and five youth, each person from a different church. When groups allow us to intersperse participants into crews, individuals develop social and leadership skills, make new friends, and develop a closer bond with their own group. Please give us a call with any questions or special requests regarding work crews.

A Weekend Workcamp can hold up to 400 participants and we house them all typically at a middle or high school. Group 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 the programs.
Participants need to bring air mattresses, sleeping bags, pillows and 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 in their online Planning Center.

Registered groups are given a sample menu online on their Group Page under the Schedule, Menu, Packing tab. Meals will consist of hot breakfasts, sack lunches, and hot dinners. All meals will be prepared for participants. Picnic-style lunches will be assembled in the mornings and brought to work sites. The last meal provided will be lunch on Monday.

If you have a participant that has a special diet or allergy, share the sample menu with them so they can start planning. Please know that we do have peanut butter on the menu as an option and we are unable to guarantee that there will not be any cross-contamination during the preparation of the meals by kitchen staff. Participants are more than welcome to bring their own food items to fill in as needed during the weekend. There will be a staff member available who will be able to answer and and all questions about food.

Jesus-centered. Our goal 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 contemporary worship, 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 due:

March 15, 2017: Half of what is remaining is due.

May 15, 2017: The final half is due.

Payments can be made online, by phone or by mail.

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:

• Lodging during the week
• Nine meals
• Supplies and project materials for each worksite
• Bible-based, fun, Jesus-centered programs
• Comprehensive safety training
• Devotions to read before, during, and after your trip
• Highly trained, mission-minded staff
• Online Planning Center with forms, promotion materials, advice, and more
• Fundraising ideas and support
• Site selection and organization
• Unlimited customer support from professional and courteous staff
• Mission Trip handbook for each participant
• Themed T-shirt for each participant

Call us! If there's space available in your mission trip, we'll ask for necessary payment for each additional participant. If you have exhausted all efforts to re-fill spaces and just can't, call us to make cancellations. We'll adjust your balance accordingly. If you cancel a space before May 15th, you'll just lose the $50 deposit per space. The entire fee is forfeited for any cancellations made after May 15th, 2017.

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. Not to mention, that depending on the time of year, it is simply impossible for us to re-fill cancelled spaces.

We also recognize that unexpected events happen that can pull participants away from their original commitment. Please give us a call, we are happy to talk through ideas to recruit other participants and keeping your group intact.

If there is no other option but to cancel your group, keep in mind that registration fees, less the $50 deposits per person, are refundable when you notify the Registration Team by May 15, 2017. The entire mission trip fee will be forfeited for cancellations made after May 15, 2017.

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 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.

All trips are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so register early. However, if you register for a trip that's full, we'll give you a choice: Join the waiting list for your first choice, or register for your second-choice location. Call us. We're eager to help!

• Personal health insurance is not required to attend, although highly recommended
• If you carry personal health insurance, bring the appropriate information. It is needed if treated at any health-care facility.
• All health-care costs are the responsibility of the participants or his or her parent/guardian.
• If you have participants without adequate medical insurance and/or you desire to purchase trip protection insurance, you can purchase from any insurance provider of your choice.

Absolutely! Don't just take our word for it. Give us a call (1-800-385-4545) and we'd be happy to connect you with other youth leaders who have served with us.

The majority of a Challenge Workcamp is the same as a regular Workcamp. We do recommend prior Workcamp or construction experience for these camps because projects will be more construction intensive. Groups are asked to bring additional tools and there are more building materials purchased so Challenge Workcamps have a slightly higher price.