"Week of Hope" July 24-29th
for 9th-12th Students
Basic Trip INformation
DESCRIPTION: From the sparkling three rivers that give Pittsburgh its edge to its landmark fountain at the point of it all, water brings life to the City of Bridges.
The Pittsburgh area is home to many neighboring communities including New Kensington, Lower Burrell and Natrona Heights. Many people in New Kensington live below the poverty level, and struggle to make ends meet week-to-week. Some of the biggest needs include providing meals, clothing, and personal supplies for families.
The people of Pittsburgh are looking forward to your arrival. We hope to see you there!
DETAILS:
Transportation: We will be taking vans down.
Typical Day: A "typical" day involves serving others, "God Sightings", daily devotions, and inspirational/interactive worship programs. Your camp schedule will look similar to this:
Food: A total of 13 meals will be provided during the trip, beginning with dinner on Sunday evening. Meals will consist of continental breakfasts, sack lunches, and hot dinners. All meals will be prepared for you by lodging facility staff. Picnic-style lunches will be put together in the morning and you'll bring these with you to your project site locations when you depart in the morning. The last meal will be breakfast on Friday morning.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Dinner will NOT be provided on Tuesday. Youth groups will have free time that evening.
Lodging: You will lodge at a local school, community center, church or similar facility. Accommodations will include areas for groups to room together by gender, a common eating area, and a program area. Plan to sleep on the floor (so bring a single size air mattress). Showers will be available; however, they may be indoor showers (locker room style) or they may be outdoor semi-private, temporary showers. PLEASE, make sure everyone in your group brings a swimming suit to be prepared for any showering situation. The facilities may or may not be air-conditioned, so plan accordingly. You might want to bring a small fan. Pay phones may be available; however, there will always be an emergency phone onsite. Also, although cell phone service may be limited in some areas, feel free to bring your cell.
Cleanup: Participants serve one another by preparing and cleaning-up meals, and cleaning the facility.
PARTICIPANTS:
Age Group: For 9th-12th
Adult/Youth Ratio: We will bring a minimum of one adult for every five youth. Adults serve on project crews with young people.
Criminal Background Check: To provide the safest environment for young people, adult (age 21 and older) staff and participants must pass a national background check through a qualified service provider. Our church will purchase and retain the background checks, and send Group Cares verification that all adults are eligible to attend.
SERVICE PROJECTS:
Nature of Projects: Your group will partner with local churches, service agencies, and homeowners. And over the four days, your help will bolster the efforts of the ongoing work in these communities. You’ll learn new skills, serve in important roles, and have loads of fun as you: help people with projects in their home...assist the elderly…tutor struggling kids…conduct a backyard Bible club…serve at a food bank…staff an activities camp for disabled children…spruce up the grounds of a financially strapped social service agency…engage children at a day camp…and improve the community in other important ways.
Project Crew Structure: Project crews typically stay with the same project for the entire week, creating an environment where meaningful relationships develop. You and your group will make new friends while serving on project teams with people from other churches. Or, if you desire, we can keep you together with people from your own group…just let the Registration team know so we can make proper arrangements. The number of people working on a given project varies based on the project needs.
STAFFING: Your mission trip will be run by four ministry-minded staff, including two highly-trained, college-age leaders. Additional adults in your group (beyond the 5-to-1 ratio), may apply online for a volunteer position. If chosen as a volunteer staff member, your registration fee is waived. Many of our staff serve year-after-year because they have a heart to minister to church groups.
WHAT TO BRING:
Supplies: You may be asked to bring certain supplies, depending on project needs. Specific details will be provided later.
Personal Items: More information will be given out later. It’s pretty much what you’d expect—including a single size air mattress or foam pad for sleeping, water jugs and coolers, work gloves, sunscreen, and modest clothing appropriate for a Christian mission trip.
PAYMENT:
Deposit Amount: Per person deposits of $75 are required to reserve space, and are non-refundable. Forfeited deposits can’t be transferred to an account balance or to another group.
Payment Dates: $75 due no later than March 1st. Please pay using the above form. Balance due by May 14th. Any donations received by the church will be credited towards your account. For a an account update please contact us students@crbic.org
Cancellation: Deposits are non-refundable. Forfeited deposits can be used to add a new participant to your group, however, they can’t be transferred to an account balance or to another group. Registration fees, less deposits, are refundable when cancelled at least 30 days before the start of your trip. The entire camp fee will be forfeited for cancellations less than 30 days from the start of your camp. In order to open spaces for other church groups, missed payment dates will result in automatic cancellation of spaces and forfeiture of deposits.
The money for this trip will be raised by writing letters and fundraising. If a student or adult writes 10 letters asking for $30 each they will meet their goal!
DOWNLOAD THE LETTER WRITING FUNDRAISING GUIDE HERE.
Other Fundraisers: We will provide a small number of other fundraiser options. Personal fundraisers are allowed but must be down outside of the church to not overwhelm our church members with fundraiser requests.
Total Trip Cost: $275 (this includes your non-refundable $75 deposit)
Currently most info can be found on the details page - have a great question? Email us at students@crbic.org
PERSONAL ITEMS:
*Optional Items
AS A GROUP:
COMMUNITY GIFT: The community you are serving has a specific need and is asking for donations. Your group’s mission: have FUN collecting as much of the needed item as you can and bring it to camp with you!
Check on your customer account, under “Helpful Resources, and then Schedule, Menu and Packing”, to see your camp’s requested item. Your gift will be meeting a specific need in the community you are serving–thank you in advance!
WHAT NOT TO BRING:
CELL PHONES/IPODS/LAPTOPS/ETC.
For security reasons, it’s best to leave these items at home. However, we do understand that they are great for capturing moments, sharing life, and communicating back home. If you decide to bring any of these items, don’t let them distract from your experience. How can you be tethered to your devices and expect God to work in unexpected ways? If you decide to bring them, be sure to put them away during the programs and on your project sites.
Let Me Help You Fundraise!
It is fundraising time! You have two potential options. Pay the total trip amount yourself or do some version of the suggested fundraising outlined below. Need other ideas? I can help. Give me a call!
Total Funds due by July 1, 2022. See your individual fundraising spreadsheet for the amount due.
Have questions? Call or ask
Fundraising Guide:
Letter Writing Fundraising: Amount to raise $150+ = 15 letters receiving $10 each (suggested minimum goal). We suggest sending at least 20 letters. Who do you send your family christmas cards to?
Online Donations can be made here http://bit.ly/tripsupport
Don’t boil this all down to asking people for money.
Instead, let them know what God is doing, how he’s called you to join him, and how they can be part of it. People will give more willingly to vision than they will out of guilt. Throw yourself into that with prayer and sweat, whether the money comes quickly or slowly. In addition, be wise in who you ask to become a supporter:
The Lord may make raising funds really easy for you, or you may have to throw yourself into it with all you have. Either way, note that God will provide for you through the people around you and the sweat of your efforts. Trust him to build what you need, or else you’ll labor in vain.
On that note, good for you. Seriously...good for you.
If God has called you to a missions experience or trip, nothing can stop it. Every person he wants on that trip will be able to participate, whether or not they’re financially set right now. Your sweat is part of that, so now is the time to find some solutions to your financial hurdles.
Coffee Fundraiser: Amount to raise $70+ = 10 bags of coffee (suggested minimum goal)
Steps:
FAQ’s
Deposit paid: $75!
Total Amount to be Raised/Paid = $200
Minimum amount due: $275 (funds above 275 go towards other group members or as a donation to the organization we are serving)
