Group
Welcome!
Thank you for accepting,
or considering, the responsibility of helping teenagers with this life-changing
opportunity to grow closer to God through service. Get ready for an
unforgettable, faith-building experience!
Spiritual growth is the
#1 goal of Group Camp, but we focus on the following priorities:
Group Camps carries out
our mission and priorities through hands-on service projects-helping elderly,
disadvantaged people, and needy communities. At a Workcamp, the
participants could work on projects including interior and exterior painting,
fixing porches and steps, building wheelchair ramps, mobile home skirting and roof
coating, or weatherization. At a
large Week of Hope Camp, teenage and adult participants will serve
elderly or disabled residents in their home by cleaning, doing yard work, deep
cleaning and organizing, or just spending meaningful time with them. At our
smaller Week of Hope camps, participants will prepare food baskets, put on
If you are a pastor,
youth leader, or volunteer adult leader, you already have your hands full. You
probably don’t have time to arrange this kind of experience for your group. It’s
a ton of work. That’s where we come in! Group Camps are expertly organized
from start to finish, enabling you to concentrate on providing your teenagers
with an unforgettable adventure. We work in cooperation with local sponsoring
agencies to handle all of the logistics. We plan the work, deliver all
materials, provide the food and lodging, design the
programs and devotions…so you can focus on the spiritual growth of your
teenagers!
You’ll work side-by-side
with people from several Christian denominations. For many, it’s the first time
they’ve experienced Christian service with people from other traditions. Our
camp environment helps people learn that we have more in common with people
from other churches than we have differences. The body of Christ will work
together to serve!
This is a week to be
enjoyed! You’ll make new friends, learn new skills, and be a positive role
model for Christian teenagers from throughout the country!
Adult/staff
team. As an adult participant, you are to be both mentor to youth as well as a mature partner with Group Camps
staff. Working together as a team provides a smooth, empowering community in
which young people feel supported, motivated, and loved. Adults are expected to
participant fully in all scheduled activities, serving as positive role models
for youth.
If you see something is
not safe, please correct the situation. If something inappropriate is happening
at the project site or school, such as profanity, putting people down, refusing
to work as a team, misusing materials (i.e. paint fights), being a negative
Christian witness to the residents/community bring served, you are requested to
correct the situation-even if it involves people from another group. Treat
teenagers and adults with equal respect. At the project site, you are to act as
equal members of the team- you won’t be the boss, you’ll be a partner who
encourages each young person. Allow youth to make decisions and help them to
take ownership in their projects.
Camp staff
have in the past, and will in the future, send youth or adults home for
inappropriate behavior. Please refer to the Code of Conduct to avoid confusion on
discipline guidelines.
Worksite
mentoring. You will work with teenagers from different
churches while on your worksite. During the week, avoid being the primary
decision-maker. Instead, help the youth to use good judgment and common sense
as you tackle your work projects together. You’ll help the youth grow in
maturity and develop self-esteem.
Your camp home is
typically a local high school or middle school. At some of the smaller Week of
Hope Camps it could even be a church. Whatever if may be, we will turn it into
a “home away from home” for the week. There will be a place for eating meals, a
gym, auditorium or sanctuary for programs, locker rooms or outdoor structures
for showering, and floors for sleeping. (Remember to bring your air mattress!)
Guys and girls are separated into different rooms for the week. Typically, your
group will be in the same room with campers from other groups.
For one week, you will be
living in a community where people are in need. School conditions vary. Most do
not have air conditioning. Sometimes your showers will be refreshingly cool. In
most cases, the community allows us to use the best facility available.
Programs. The
first day of your camp is a welcome day; during the programs on this day
you will have a chance to meet the camp staff,
receive your project assignment for the week and meet the crew you’ll be
working with.
The evening programs
throughout the week will build on the day’s activities and devotions.
Adult
meetings. There are
two scheduled adult meetings during the camp week. It’s important for all
adults to attend these meetings to learn guidelines and expectations for the
camp week, to ask questions, and to hear new information.
Daily
devotions. Group will provide you with devotions to follow
every day at your site. You will also receive devotions to use with your youth
group each night. Encourage everyone to
participate. Each devotion is carefully designed to
help everyone grow closer to God.
Free time! There will be free time each day after returning
from your site. You will be able to clean up, visit with others, or just hang
out with your group. Depending on your camp, there may be an afternoon or
evening free during the week, your group is welcome to use this time however
you chose! Make sure to check your
Lights
out time. Please respect everyone’s physical need for sleep
and respect the “lights out” time. It’s your responsibility to ensure all your
teenagers and adults are in your room by 10:30 p.m., with lights out at 11 p.m.
Check out. On the final day of your camp, your group will eat
breakfast, pack and load belongings, then clean your sleeping area. After a
room check, your group will be checked out by the camp staff.
Come prepared to serve
teenagers this week, and provide discipline and structure for them in their
faith-walk. Also prepare to be blessed abundantly!
Eat well. Encourage youth to eat and drink plenty of fluids.
Teenagers often get sick if they don’t eat of drink
enough.
Safety
first. Protect youth by staying alert for hazards and
unsafe situations. Also, no one is required to do anything that he or she feels
is unsafe or uncomfortable. If you do encounter an unsafe situation, alert your
camp staff to it immediately.
Medical
emergencies. Most camp medical problems are from “horseplay”!
However, instructions on how to respond to emergencies are provided at the
camp. All camps have medical facilities reasonably close for treatment if
needed.
Sun
exposure. Urge youth to wear proper clothing, such as
t-shirts, jeans or longer shorts and sunscreen.
Telephones
at camp. Feel free to bring your cell phone, although
wireless service may be limited in some areas. There is a possibility that
there could be a pay phone nearby, either at your lodging facility or “down the
road” from it. The camp office will have a phone, but it needs to be reserved
for office use and emergencies.
Valuables. Please
leave your valuables at home, or locked in your vehicle.
We would love to answer your questions! Contact us at 1-800-385-4545, option 3 or visit our website www.groupworkcamps.com.