Frequently Asked Questions
Who can participate?
Jr/Sr High trips: Must be at least 11 years old OR entering the 6th grade in the fall of the year that you are attending camp.
Sr High trips: Must be at least 14 years old OR entering the 9th grade in the fall of the year that you are attending camp.
- Due to liability, under-aged participants will be sent home at their own expense (NO babies or any children under the required age).
- Only registered participants are permitted at the lodging facility and on the project sites.
- No special skills are required.
Is there a required adult to youth ratio? Can extra adults go?
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.
- If you have extra adults over your 1-to-5 ratio, they can be part of your group or, if staff positions are open at your location, they have the option of serving on staff without paying the registration fee. Information about staff positions can be found on GroupMissionTrips.com under Join Our Team.
Are background checks required?
- Yes, Group Mission Trips 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 national and no older than two (2) years from the start of the mission trip. You choose your background check organization vendor or we do have a recommendation.
- 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.
- GMT requires a digital pastor authorization for every participant 18 years old and older in order for them to attend the mission trip.
- You may use any organization to run your background checks, but if you are looking for a reliable one, we recommend Clear Investigative Advantage. They can be reached at 1.888.242.2503.
What about transportation?
- Groups must provide transportation to and from the mission trip, as well as daily to and from the sites.
- All vehicles must be available for transportation to and from the sites. (Mileage or fuel costs are not reimbursed for any transportation costs.)
- Vehicles with a minimum capacity of six passengers are requested, with seat belts. While adults will be driving their vehicles, they typically will not be transporting a crew that includes their own youth members. Typically, the youth from your group will be traveling in other vehicles with their crews.
What’s the schedule?
Sunday
3-4 p.m. Check-in
4:30 p.m. Adult Meeting
5:30 p.m. Dinner gathering
6:30 p.m. Kick-off program (Meet your crew and get your project assignments!)
8 p.m. Evening program followed by youth group devotions
11 p.m. Lights-out
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday
6:30 a.m. Breakfast crew begins
6:45 a.m. Wake-up call
7-7:45 a.m. Breakfast and pack lunches
8:00 a.m. Morning program
8:45-3:00 p.m. Serve at project sites and have on-site lunch and devotions
3:30 p.m. Return to lodging for clean-up and free time
5 p.m. Dinner crew begins
5:30 p.m. Dinner gathering
6:30 p.m. Hospitality tasks AND Drama team Practice
7:00 p.m. Worship team practice
8:00 p.m. Evening program, followed by youth group devotions
10:30 p.m. Bedtime stories (optional)
11:00 p.m. Lights-out
Tuesday:
6:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Same schedule as Monday
3:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Youth group free time (dinner and devotions on your own)
8:30 p.m. Lodging facility is back open
8:30 p.m. Movie night (optional)
11:00 p.m. Lights-out
Friday:
7-8 a.m. Breakfast
7-9 a.m. Check-out, hospitality tasks, and depart for home
What will we be doing?
Be ready to tackle any project and expect to interact each day with local partners from the community. Crews typically serve at the same organization for the entire camp (or at the most 2 organizations), creating an environment where meaningful relationships develop.
Projects could include working with children at a day camp, serving at a food bank or homeless shelter, leading a Vacation Bible School, improving the homes of people in need, assisting the elderly, tutoring struggling kids, working with disabled children, facilitating a sports camp, and/or serving churches and other human service organizations in different ways. If there are any minor repair projects, we may ask your group to bring a few small hand tools and paint brushes.
Will our group be working together?
Our work crews are made up of six people with one adult and five youth–typically each person from a different church. We are happy to keep your group together if needed, just let us know. If the goal of your ministry is to have your youth meet new friends and develop social skills outside of your youth group, then there is no need to contact us–we’ll mix your participants to make crews.
What tools and other items do we need to bring?
Supplies: Groups are asked to bring (1) 5-gallon water jug and (1) family-size cooler (preferably on wheels) for every 6 people in your group. All other supplies are typically provided, but small items may be requested.
Personal Items: The full packing list is also located under the registered youth leader’s customer account 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 Christian mission trip.
What about safety?
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 nationally background-checked by their church every 2 years. Their pastor signs off that they meet Group Mission Trips’ requirements and are approved to attend.
- Every staff member has been screened, background-checked, and reference checked by GMT.
- 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.
- Participants are not required to do any work that they consider unsafe.
- 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.
- GMT staff visit crews so they are aware of where a crew is working and any issues in the area.
- Every crew has the direct phone number to the GMT office and directions to the closest hospital. If an injury occurs on the project site, and is not serious, GMT staff will contact the youth leader and coordinate any transportation needed. If the injury is serious, the adult on site will call 911 and GMT staff will offer support and ensure needed medical forms are delivered to hospital.
- Each crew will have a small first aid kit and a bigger one in each vehicle.
Where do we stay?
A Week of Hope can hold up to 100 participants and we house them all typically at a local church. Our staff transforms the facility into a home away from home–there will be a separate boy’s hall and girl’s hall, a space for meals, adequate bathrooms and showers, and a space for the programs.
Participants need to bring twin-size air mattresses, pillows, sleeping bags, or other bedding to sleep on 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 the groups and the size of the room.
Registered groups will have access to more information about their lodging facility under their customer account.
What is the menu? What if there are special dietary needs?
Meals will consist of hot breakfasts, picnic-style lunches, and hot dinners. All meals are prepared by participants on a rotating basis supervised by staff. Picnic-style lunches will be assembled in the mornings and brought to project sites. The first provided meal is dinner on Sunday and the last meal will be cold breakfast on Friday morning. IMPORTANT NOTE: Dinner is NOT provided on Tuesday, 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 available to youth leaders under their customer account and under Helpful Resources. 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. GMT is unable to guarantee there will not be any cross-contamination during meal preparation by staff. There will be a staff member available at camp who will be able to answer any questions about food.
What are the programs like?
- Focused on Jesus. 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, acting, reflecting…not just sitting and watching.
- Relevant. Through creative multimedia, thought-provoking sound and video, 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!
What if I need to add or cancel a space?
If you cancel a space before May 1st, you’ll just lose the $100 deposit. The entire fee is forfeited for cancellations made after May 1st.
Is there a dress code?
We request modest clothing choices in our Code of Conduct. While Group Mission Trips doesn’t have a formal dress code, we serve local organizations that do have specific requirements for volunteers. Don’t be turned away from your assigned project due to inappropriate dress!
- Pack plenty of t-shirts, longer shorts, capris or pants, and close-toe shoes.
- Please have your females bring a one-piece swimsuit in case they are assigned to a project site teaching a resident how to swim.
- Many of our partner organizations don’t allow volunteers to wear spaghetti straps, shirts that reveal the midriff, short shorts, or flip flops. And, of course, no clothing with offensive language or images.
What are hospitality tasks?
- Hospitality tasks are opportunities for participants to serve each other during the mission trip week.
- Hospitality tasks include: cleaning the cafeteria, restrooms, shower areas, and other common areas. Trash will also need to be taken out. The lodging facility will NOT have the services of a custodian.
- Participants will prepare and serve breakfast and dinner. A staff member will oversee the meal preparation, cooking, serving, and cleanup of all meals. Everyone participates!
- Meal shifts are divided into teams that will help prepare, cook, serve, and clean.
What’s included in the registration fee?
- Lodging during the camp.
- All meals, except for Tuesday dinner.
- Site selection and organization.
- Supplies and project materials for each project site.
- Bible-based thematic, fun, faith-building programs.
- Devotions to do before, during, and after camp.
- 3 highly-trained staff plus up to 2 volunteer staff to handle all the details.
- An online customer account full of camp information and resources to help prepare you and your group for camp.
- Unlimited customer support from professional and courteous staff.
- T-shirt and Mission Handbook for each participant.
What if someone in our group has to leave early or arrive late?
We ask that all participants arrive on time and stay for 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 impact other participants, partners, and work projects–so please check the schedule and make travel arrangements accordingly. Contact us if a situation arises.
Can participants be more involved?
- There may be a couple skits during the programs for any participants that enjoy acting.
- There will be a lip-sync battle during the week! If any participants, or your entire group, want to prepare a little something for this, the camp staff will just need to approve your song (at camp) beforehand.
Do participants have to have insurance?
- Personal health insurance is not required to attend, although highly recommended.
- If you carry personal health insurance, bring your info to camp. It is needed if treated at any health-care facility.
- All healthcare 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.
