How affordable is a YouthWorks mission trip?
YouthWorks trips are amazingly affordable. Most trips are within $198-$258 per person. Cost varies by location and can be found under the Mission Trip icon by clicking on a specific star on the map or by clicking Grid View on the map page. Cost per participant includes lodging, meals, project supplies, evening activities, a t-shirt, mission site leadership, promotion materials and preparation guides. Don't let the cost of a mission trip prevent you from arranging life-changing events for your youth! Scholarship opportunities are available. Call the Service Center at 800.968.8504 for details.

When can we go?
YouthWorks mission trips start on Sunday evenings and end on Friday mornings. Family mission trips start on Sunday evenings and end of Thursday mornings. Arrangements for sightseeing and recreational activities can be made for the time period prior to or following your mission trip. Check out each individual location on the website by clicking on a star on the map or call the Service Center for specific opening dates of mission sites.

Who can come?
Each YouthWorks trip is categorized as a junior high, junior/ senior high mix or senior high trip. Junior high trips are open to those students who will enter 7th grade in fall 2009 through students who completed 9th grade in spring 2009. Senior high trips are open to those entering 9th grade in fall 2009 and students who completed 12th grade in spring 2009. Junior/ senior high mix trips are open to those entering 7th grade in fall 2009 and students who completed 12th grade in spring 2009. Because of the YouthWorks' program and policies, agreements with ministry partners, and to be respectful of other groups, we do not allow students who are not in the the grades the mission site is for to come on the mission trip. YouthWorks mission trips are not offered for college students. The minimum group size is five. Refer to the Mission Trip icon and then the map for information on the age category of each specific site.

Can our adults go?
Yes! In fact, adult leaders play an important leadership role on our trips. A leader is to be at least 20 years of age and to be someone who is coming to minister to the teenagers in your group. We require a ratio of 1 adult leader for every 7 senior high school students, or a 1 to 5 ratio for junior high and junior high/senior high mixed trips. Because everything we do is geared towards youth, and we do not want to disrupt the work and feel of the week, we ask that you stay as close to this ratio as possible. If you bring students of both genders, you must have accompanying leaders of both genders. Each group will need to conduct a national (multi-state) criminal and background check on each adult leader who is attending the YouthWorks mission trip. Groups will need to provide YouthWorks with written confirmation that adult leaders have been approved to work with youth and children. Click here to get answers to frequently asked questions about Background Checks.

Who leads a YouthWorks trip?
YouthWorks has four staff members at each mission site. They are responsible for everything including food, lodging, ministry opportunities, work projects and supplies. They also lead cultural evening activities and nightly club times. Our staff is mission hearted, well trained and eager to serve!

How do we get there?
Each group is responsible for transportation (gas and mileage) to and from the mission site, as well as on site during your mission week. Groups traveling to Juarez and Tijuana are only responsible for transportation to the border. At these sites, your vehicle(s) will be left stateside while YouthWorks staff transport you and your students across the border. .

What is a bus accessible site?
Bus accessible sites are sites that we have designated as locations that are conducive to the possibility of groups traveling on buses. We do not allow buses at all of our sites because of safety, the needs of the community and the problem of parking. Even if a site is designated as bus accessile, we still require that you provide additional transportation for participants during the week. Buses are defined as any vehicle that is larger than a standard 15-passenger vehicle. Please contact the Service Center for specifics on transportation.

What do we need to cross the border?
US Churches: Per the U.S. Department of State travel webiste, "On June 1, 2009, the U.S. government will implement the full requirements of the land and sea phase of WHTI. The proposed rules require most U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry to have a passport, passport card, or WHTI-compliant document." To learn more, please visit this website. For Canadian Churches: Per the Canada Border Services Agency website, " The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) is a U.S. law that requires all travelers, including U.S. and Canadian citizens, to present a valid passport or other approved secure document when entering the United States from within the western hemisphere. The U.S. WHTI is being implemented in stages by mode of transportation. The new document requirements were implemented for air travel in January 2007. Final document requirements for those seeking to enter the United States at land or water ports of entry will take effect June 1, 2009.” To learn more, please visit this website. For ease of travel, we recommend that each person obtains a passport.

Where do we stay?
Groups are housed in a local church, school, community building or YouthWorks housing facility. Participants need to bring their own sleeping bags, pillows and sleeping pads or air mattresses that are twin-size or smaller (Mexico and Puerto Rico have slightly different requirements). All females and males sleep in separate rooms, including married adult leaders. Showers are available either on site or at a nearby location.

Are the sites safe?
All YouthWorks housing facilities are secure and all ministry opportunities are designed with students' safety in mind. All YouthWorks staff are CPR certified and First Aid trained.

Will we be working with other groups?
Unless your group reserves all of a weeks spaces (usually 50-72), your group will have the wonderful opportunity of serving alongside other Christians. Your youth will be divided into small teams and joined with students from other groups to do ministry.An adult from your group will always be joined with your students. Your students will have the great joy of getting to know others as they serve Jesus together.

What type of ministry will we do?
Every YouthWorks site is unique. Our rural, small town, reservation and Mexico sites give your students an opportunity to love and lead children in a Kids Club program and to visit with the elderly in the community. They will also bring hope to local residents by repairing/ painting or building new homes (Mexico Sites). Our city and urban mission sites partner with ministries that serve those in need. Each week offers a variety of services that might include working with homeless shelters, elderly homes, children's programs, home rehab ministries and more. Bring your students on a mission adventure this summer and see life change firsthand. To learn more about the specific ministry work at various sites, click on the star on the map under Mission Trips and then under Site Facts.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kid's Club

Frequently Asked Questions about Local Ministries

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