FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs

Below are some answers to some of our most frequently asked questions. Please click on the question you wish to see the answer to, or you can print all questions and answers.

What are Group Workcamps Foundation missions like?
Who can participate?
Do you provide spiritual growth programs?
What time do we check in and check out?
What's a typical day like?
Is there free time to explore the area?
Can I arrive late or leave early?
Where do we stay?
What projects will we be doing?
Who will be on my project team?
How are projects chosen?
What should I bring?
What about electronic devices?
What transportaton do we need to provide?
What about safety?
What about criminal background checks for adults?
What about insurance?
How can I serve "behind the scenes" and what if I have extra adults?
How are the trips staffed?
How do I register?
When do I have to pay?
What does the mission trip fee cover?
What happens if the trip I want is full?
What if I need to cancel individuals, or my entire group?
Can I add people later?
What if my group has a special situation?

What are Group Workcamps Foundation missions like?

A Group mission experience is an action-packed week of meaningful service offering your group the chance to perform hands-on help for needy families and individuals while taking part in daily devotions and inspirational Christian programming.

Our primary goal is the spiritual growth of all participants.

Participants come from churches of many denominations across the country. For more than three decades, Group Workcamps has been bringing enthusiastic teenagers into communities across the United States, Canada and beyond to express Christ’s love by helping people in need. Thousands of families have received help they probably would not have had, thanks to people like you.

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Who can participate?

No special skills are required…just a willingness to serve.

Preteens: Ages 10-12 or entering the 5th grade in fall 2008.

Adult Participants (age 21 and older): Adults serve on project teams with kids. Bring a minimum of 1 adult for every 5 preteens. If you register both males and females, bring at least 1 adult male and 1 adult female.

We'll do our best to accommodate the special needs of participants. Simply call our Registration Team 1.800.385.4545.

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Do you provide spiritual growth programs?

Yes! You'll value and enjoy the daily programs designed by the ministry experts at Children’s Ministry Magazine. Surveys show it's a highlight of the week. We take the evening programs seriously…this is where campers connect their Christian faith to their service. The programs have been field-tested to ensure maximum impact and appropriateness for all Christian denominations. You'll appreciate fresh, fun, high-impact, interactive experiences that involve music, video, drama, stories, slides, and hands-on activities.

Programs are coordinated by a staff member, but you, your preteens and other participants will take part in sharing music and other program elements. So, if you play a musical instrument—bring it and take an active role in worship!

Evening programs lead directly into youth group devotion time, where you can add your individual touch to the program experience. Together, the evening programs and daily devotions help you shape your kids' service experience into a spiritual growth experience.

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What time do we check in and check out?

Registration/Check-In time is between 3-4pm on Sunday. Check-out time is 9am (or before) on Friday.

Please note, it's critical for all participants to be in attendance from start to finish of your mission trip.

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What's a typical day like?
A typical day involves serving others, "God Sightings", daily devotions, and inspirational/interactive worship programs. Your trip schedule will look similar to this:
- 6:45 a.m. Rise and shine!
- 7:15 a.m. Breakfast
- 8:00 a.m. Morning program
- 8:30 a.m. Depart for service project sites
- 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Serve in the community, eat lunch, devotions
- 2:30 p.m. Return to the lodging facility
- 4:00 p.m. Hospitality tasks, free time, meal preparation
- 5:00 p.m. Dinner
- 6:00 p.m. Games
- 7:00 p.m. Evening program
- 8:30 p.m. Church group devotions
- 10:00 p.m. Lights out
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Is there free time to explore the area?

An afternoon and evening is designated for your group to relax and explore the local area. Your group is free to decide how you want to spend the afternoon, although staff typically have some suggestions. Plan to purchase your own dinner while you are out exploring. Review the schedule in your Leader Manual (available in November) to discover the time set aside for exploration.

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Can I arrive late or leave early?

It's critical for all participants to be in attendance from start to finish. Arriving late or leaving early creates complications and negatively impacts the mission trip community--so plan to arrive on time for registration on the first day and stay through checkout on the final day.

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Where do we stay?

Most lodging is in local schools, churches or community centers (accommodations vary by location). Accommodations will include areas for groups to room together by gender, a common eating area, and a program area. 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 to bring 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.

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What projects will we be doing?
Your preteens will work with groups from other churches to perform meaningful, age-appropriate service for some very special people. We partner with numerous organizations and government agencies to meet the urgent needs of communities. You'll find out what specific projects you'll be doing when you arrive...projects vary by location and week based on the needs of the community. But, your kids may:
- help lead a vacation Bible school
- spruce up the grounds of a financially-strapped human service agency
- serve residents in assisted living facilities
- collect food for local food banks
- or, respond to community needs in many other ways
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Who will be on my project team?

To ensure adequate supervision, adults serve on project crews alongside preteens. A "crew" is typically a group of six (6) formed by at least one adult serving with five children. Some projects may require multiple crews or slight modifications of crew size based on local partner and community needs.

To provide the best possible supervision, children will be placed in crews with adults and other children from your church. Crews form your church will most likely be working on projects in different locations (your entire church group may not be together on the same project site) and, in some cases, may be joined by crews from other churches participating in the mission trip.

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How are projects chosen?

All projects are coordinated with people right in the communities where you serve--people who know where the real needs exist. To qualify for a project, individuals or agencies must have a need they can't meet on their own.

We partner with numerous organizations and agencies to meet the urgent needs of the community while providing a wide variety of meaningful service experiences. Your service will make a difference in the lives of those you serve.

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What should I bring?

The online Leader Manual (available in November) will provide a full list of what to bring. It’s pretty much what you would expect—including a single-size air mattress, workgloves, sunscreen, and modest clothing appropriate for a Christian mission trip.

Please don't bring alcohol, illegal drugs, expensive jewelry and clothing, computers, electronic games, toy guns, fireworks or firearms.

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What about electronic devices?

Experience has shown that use of some electronic devices (cell phones, iPods, MP3 players, etc.) on a mission trip become a distraction to the owner and disruptive to the experience of other participants. These devices often isolate participants and interfere with their ability to fully engage in the community. They can also present a safety hazard on worksites when people talk on their cell phones or listen to music through ear buds or headphones. In addition, many of these electronic items are costly and are easily lost, broken, or stolen. So, the Code of Conduct states:

I will not text message or use my cell phone, iPod, MP3 player, etc. on worksites or during worship programs. I may use my cell phone to call the camp office or respond to an emergency.

If misused, youth leaders, adult participants and Group Workcamps staff have the right to confiscate these electronic devices and give them to the appropriate youth leader to hold.

Many churches choose to impose stricter guidelines for their own group. Our recommendation for youth is to leave the electronic gear at home.

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What transportaton do we need to provide?

You’ll need to provide transportation for your group to and from your mission trip location. Also, during your mission trip, vehicles you bring will be used to provide daily transport to and from project sites. Please ensure the number of seats and seatbelts in your vehicles match the number of people you bring on the trip. Vehicles with at least six seats and seatbelts are preferred. All vehicles, including chartered buses, must be available for transportation to sites.

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What about safety?
Safety is a priority on your Foundation mission trip! Many precautionary steps have been taken:
- Group Workcamps completes national criminal background checks on all trip staff
- All registered adults (21 & older) must acquire national criminal background checks through their church, and verify a “clean” status to Group Workcamps.
- Only adults listed by their church as designated drivers are allowed to drive to project sites
- Every project site is inspected for safety before the event
- When needed, safety tips are included in project descriptions
- Each event includes staff who are First Aid and CPR certified
- Some projects may require protective clothing including shoes, hats, gloves and sunscreen
- Adult supervision (a minimum of 1 adult for every five preteens) is present at each project site…adults serve on project crews side by side with preteens.
- Local medical facilities are identified ahead of time with directions and phone number provided to participants.
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What about criminal background checks for adults?

To provide the safest environment for your preteens, adult (age 21 and older) staff and participants are must pass a national background check through a qualified service provider. Your church will need to arrange for a qualified service provider run a National Criminal Indicator Database Search that includes Social Security Number verification. Your church will purchase and retain the background checks, and send Group Workcamps Foundation verification that all adults are eligible to attend. Forms and details will be provided in the spring.

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What about insurance?

All participants need to have sufficient medical insurance. Each person must bring a copy of his or her insurance card with them. If you have participants without adequate medical insurance and/or if you desire to purchase trip protection insurance, you can purchase low-cost insurance online through our insurance partner…or you can purchase it from another insurance provider of your choice.

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How can I serve "behind the scenes" and what if I have extra adults?

Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Group Workcamps Foundation program…your help changes thousands of lives each summer! If you have extra adults going with your group (more than the 1-to-5 adult/youth ratio), or if you have a week or more you'd like to serve this summer, please consider serving on staff. As a volunteer staff member, your registration fee is waived and you can work in a variety of roles you may be gifted. Check out the "Join Our Team" section or call 1.800.385.4545, option 4.

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How are the trips staffed?

Your mission trip will be run by four ministry-minded staff, including two highly-trained, college-age leaders.

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How do I register?

Three easy options:

Web: Choose your location and click “Register for this trip” from the Trip Locations description. Use the secured online registration form and a credit card.

Mail: Print a registration form and mail it along with a deposit check to: Group Workcamps Foundation, P.O. Box 275; Loveland, CO 80539

Call: 1.800.385.4545, Monday-Friday, 8 am-5 pm (Mountain Time) and use your credit card

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When do I have to pay?

Because fundraisers can’t all happen at the same time, we’ve broken payment into three convenient steps:

Payment 1: A non-refundable deposit (typically $50 per person) is required to reserve space on a mission trip. Early Bird Registration lets you delay the deposit until September 30th, 2008.

Payment 2: 50% of your group’s balance is due March 15, 2009.

Payment 3: The remaining balance is due May 15, 2009 .

Registration fees are in U.S. dollars and can be paid by check, money order, or credit card. Registration fees, less deposits, are refundable when cancelled at least 30 days before the start of your trip.

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What does the mission trip fee cover?

Lodging
All meals, except for one evening meal during the time set aside for you to "explore the area"
Project supplies
Theme T-shirt
Development of thematic, fun, faith-building programs and daily devotions from the ministry experts at Children’s Ministry Magazine
Comprehensive project preparation materials and online Leader Manual
Program supplies
Project selection, organization and administration
Four ministry-minded staff, including two highly trained, college-age leaders.
Unlimited customer support from professional and courteous staff

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What happens if the trip I want is full?

All trips are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so it pays to register early. If you register for a trip that’s full, we’ll give you a waitlist option.

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What if I need to cancel individuals, or my entire group?

If you wish to cancel your group or reduce the number of participants, contact our Registration Team at 1.800.385.4545, option #3. When canceling a participant, the deposit will be forfeited. Forfeited deposits can’t be transferred to an account balance or to another group. However, forfeited deposits can be used to add a new participant to your group.

Registration amounts paid (less deposit amounts) are refundable when the Registration Team is notified at least 30 days before the start of your mission trip. The entire trip fee will be forfeited for cancellations less than 30 days from the start of your trip.

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Can I add people later?

Absolutely—provided your trip hasn’t been filled to capacity.

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What if my group has a special situation?

Please let our Registration Team know if your group has any special situation that may require specific accomodations/adjustments. (Examples include: youth or adults with disabilities, extreme dietary/allergy concerns, group/individuals that need to remain together, etc.)

You can reach our team at 1.800.385.4545, option 3, and we'll do our best to accommodate you.

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