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Map of Youth Mission Trips

 
FAQ

 

What is included in the price?

Cost per participant includes:

  • Housing
  • Meals
  • Project supplies
  • Site leadership
  • Gift given on Friday
  • Promotional, preparation and debriefing materials.

*An additional $10 per person evening activity fee is not included and is site specific. Ask your church trip leader if this applies to your trip. Students also have the opportunity to purchase a t-shirt from a ministry partner while on site (excluding Canada and Puerto Rico).

 

What are the age requirements for a YouthWorks trip?

YouthWorks has mission opportunities for students who have completed 6th grade in the spring of 2013 through seniors who have graduated in the spring of 2013. Each YouthWorks trip is categorized as a junior highl, mixed, or high school trip.

  • Middle School Trips – open to those students who have completed 6th grade in spring 2013 through students who completed 8th grade in spring 2013
  • High School Trips – open to those students who have completed 8th grade in spring 2013 through seniors who have graduated in the spring of 2013
  • Mixed Trips – open to those students who have completed 6th grade in spring 2013 through seniors who have graduated in the spring of 2013

The minimum group size is five. Each group needs to have the leadership of adults. Refer to the Trip Location icon and then the map for information on the age category for each specific site.

 

Who leads a YouthWorks trip?

YouthWorks has four to five 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! Each staff member is CPR and First-Aid trained.

 

Where do groups 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. All females and males sleep in separate rooms, including married adult leaders. Showers are available either onsite or at a nearby location.

 

Who else will be onsite?

Unless a group reserves all of a week’s spaces (usually 50-72), groups will have the wonderful opportunity of serving alongside other Christians. YouthWorks is a multi-denominational ministry. We love providing opportunities for teenagers from a variety of different Christian backgrounds and places to come together and serve. Youth will be divided into small teams and joined with students from other groups to do ministry. An adult from each group will always be joined with their students. Your teenager will have the great joy of getting to know others as they serve Jesus together.

 

Can I come with my teenager on this trip?

YouthWorks trips are geared for students who have completed 6th grade in the spring of 2013 through seniors who have graduated in the spring of 2013. However, we do require 1 adult leader for every 5 middle school students and 1 adult leader for every 7 high school students. Talk with your church’s Trip Leader to see if they need any additional adult leaders for the mission trip.

 

Where will my teenager be serving during the week?

Every YouthWorks site is unique. Our small town and reservation sites give your teenager 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 homes. Our small urban and large 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. To learn more about the specific ministry work at various sites, click here for Trip Locations and then click on Site Facts.

 

How does YouthWorks handle discipline issues?

We ask every youth to sign a Youth Covenant before coming on a YouthWorks trip. In signing this covenant, youth agree to fully participate in the mission week and follow the guidelines put in place by the staff. That being said, YouthWorks staff and other leaders will leave the discipline of your youth to the adult leaders from your church. If a situation arises that the YouthWorks staff members believe is irreparable, the involved youth will be transported home immediately at the expense of his or her parent or guardian. We sincerely hope that such a problem never occurs. Our intention is to work closely and prayerfully with Trip Leaders in making such a decision.

 

We does my teen need to cross the border into Canada?

For ease of travel, YouthWorks recommends that each person obtains a passport. However, also available to US groups is the U.S. Passport Card. It is a travel document that can be used to enter the United States from Canada (as well as Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda) at land border crossings. It cannot be used for air travel. The passport card is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book.
According to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, “U.S. and Canadian citizen children under age 19 arriving by land or sea from contiguous territory and traveling with a school group, religious group, social or cultural organization, or sports team, may also present an original or copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a Naturalization Certificate, or a Canadian Citizenship Card”. Read more here

Border Crossing Information
Canadian Residents
US Residents

 

Are students allowed to bring their cell phones?

Because we want nothing to distract students in this short week of serving others and because valuables are more susceptible to theft at a mission site, we ask that students do not bring to the site walkmans, discmans, portable radios or boom boxes, electronic games, lap tops, mp3 players, iPods, portable DVD players or any other device that could potentially isolate students from others. We also ask that students consider not bringing their cell phones. Students who do bring cell phones will only be allowed to use it during approved times. We understand that you may want your child to carry a phone in case of an emergency, however, we encourage you to contact the Trip Leader first. We ask Trip Leaders to bring their personal cell phones for parents to call if there is an emergency. You can also call the YouthWorks office at 1.800.968.8504 ext. 1 in the event of an emergency. This number will connect you to a YouthWorks representative and will connect you with site staff.

 

How do I contact my teenager in the case of an emergency?

We ask Trip Leaders to bring their personal cell phones for parents to call if there is an emergency. You can also call the YouthWorks office at 1.800.968.8504 ext. 1 in the event of an emergency. This number will connect you to a YouthWorks representative and they will connect you with site staff.

 

Are there mission sites that are able to accommodate teens with special needs?

Yes. While not all of our sites are handicap accessible, we want to do our best to help every teenager be able to come on a mission trip. We know that more students are facing allergies and dietary needs as well. Please contact the YouthWorks Service Center at 1-800-968-8504 ext. 1 to talk through how we can meet the needs of your teenager.

 

What should my child bring?

Check with your church’s Trip Leader for a packing list. Please note the section for items not to bring. Not only is YouthWorks not responsible if these things get stolen, but we also want to limit the distractions so that your teenager can fully engage in the ministry week. The Youth Covenant also addresses this. Check out the Forms link on the left hand side for forms.

 

Does YouthWorks provide any medical insurance?

YouthWorks does not provide any type of medical insurance. Each participant is expected to have their own insurance. You will need to provide 3 copies of your child’s insurance card to the trip leader to bring on the mission trip. There are organizations that provide trip medical insurance. Simply google "medical travel insurance" or "mission trip medical insurance" to find these organizations. One organization you can explore is http://www.sevencorners.com/.

 

What forms does my child need to turn in to our church’s trip leader?

Your student is responsible for turning in:

  • 2013 Participant Release Form - available in February 2013
    • With three copies of their medical insurance card
  • 2013 Youth Covenant - available in February 2013
  • Some sites will require additional release forms. Check with your child's trip leader to see if there are more.

 

Can I send mail to my teenager while they are on their mission trip?

Because youth are only on site for less than a week, and because not all sites receive mail at their direct housing location, we ask that you do not send mail to your teenager during their mission week. If you have something that you want your child to receive during the mission week, we suggest that you give the trip leader the item and that person can distibute the item during the week.

 

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