Question 1

Who can participate?

Accepted Answer

All Participants must have completed the 6th grade. Only registered participants are permitted at the lodging facility and on the project sites.

No special skills are required.
Adults who are ages 19 and 20 are welcome to attend as participants! Remember that only those that are 21 or older will be considered “adults” at camp and count in your 1 adult to 5 youth required ratio.

Question 2

Is there a required adult to youth ratio? Can extra adults go?

Accepted Answer

Mission Serve requires a 1:5 ratio for groups attending a project. That means that you need at least one male chaperone for every 5 males attending and at least one female chaperone for every 5 females attending the project. Adults must be at least 21 years old. Chaperones must spend the night at the lodging facility.

Yes, extra adults are encouraged and welcome to attend.

Question 3

Are background checks required?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Mission Serve requires and performs a background check on all participants and leadership 18 years and older prior to attending.

Question 4

What about transportation?

Accepted Answer

Groups must provide their own transportation to and from the project as well as daily to and from the sites.
All vehicles must be available for transportation to and from the sites. (Mileage or fuel costs are not reimbursed, with the exception of qualified construction personnel in their personal vehicles.)
Adult drivers will be assigned to each squad and will be responsible for getting their squad to and from the worksite.

Question 5

What's the Schedule?

Accepted Answer

7 Day Saturday Start Project:
Saturday:
2:00-4:00pm Registration
4:30pm Orientation & Adult Meeting
6:00pm Dinner
7:30pm Worship & Group Devotions
10:45pm In Rooms
11:00pm Lights out
Sunday:
8:00am Breakfast
9:00am First Squad meeting
10:00am Attend Local Church Service
12:00pm Lunch with Local Church
1:00pm Visit Worksite
3:00pm Evangelism Training
4:00pm Group Photos
5:00pm Squad Position Training
6:00pm Dinner
7:30pm Worship & Youth group devotions
10:30pm In Rooms
11:00pm Lights out
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday:
6:00am Breakfast
7:00am Great Send-off Monday Only
7:15am Departure for Worksite
4:00pm Return to lodging facilities
6:00pm Dinner
7:30pm Worship and Group Devotions
10:30pm In Rooms
11pm Lights out
Wednesday:
6:00am Breakfast
7:00am Departure for Worksite
1:00pm Return to Lodging Facility
2:00pm Afternoon Off
10:30pm In Rooms
11pm Lights out
Friday:
6:00am Breakfast
7:00am Departure for Worksite
4:00pm Return to lodging facilities
6:00pm Dinner
7:30pm Worship/Closing Celebration
10:30pm In Rooms
11pm Lights out
Saturday:
8:00am Head for Home
Six Day Projects – Sunday Start
Sunday:
2:00-4:00pm Registration
4:30pm Orientation and Adult Meeting
6:00pm Dinner
7:00pm Group Photos
7:30pm Worship and Group Devotions
9:30pm First Squad Meeting
9:45pm Squad Position Training
10:45pm In Rooms
11:00pm Lights out
Monday – Saturday: Same as 7-day project
Five Day Projects – Monday Start
Monday:
2:00-4:00pm Registration
4:30pm Orientation and Adult Meeting
6:00pm Dinner
7:00pm Group Photos
7:30pm Worship and Group Devotions
9:30pm First Squad Meeting
9:45pm Squad Position Training
10:45pm In Rooms
11:00pm Lights Out
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday:
6:00am Breakfast
7:00am Great Send-off Monday Only
7:15am Departure for Worksite
4:00pm Return to lodging facilities
6:00pm Dinner
7:30pm Worship and Group Devotions
10:30pm In Rooms
11pm Lights out
Friday:
6:00am Breakfast
7:00am Departure for Worksite
4:00pm Return to lodging facilities
6:00pm Dinner
7:30pm Worship/Closing Celebration
10:30pm In Rooms
11pm Lights out
Saturday:
8:00am Head for Home

Question 6

What will we be doing?

Accepted Answer

Your participants will provide home repairs at no cost for the elderly, disabled, and other individuals living in substandard housing. Squads typically serve with the same resident all week and are able to create lifelong relationships.
Most projects are designed to be completed during the trip, allowing your group to experience the satisfaction of a job well done. You’ll serve the needs of others through projects like re-roofing homes, exterior painting, building or repairing porches and wheelchair ramps, building or repairing steps, and other home repairs. No skills are needed!
At most projects, participants will also have an opportunity to serve in non-construction-based ministry.  This can include children’s ministry and other social-related ministries.

Question 7

Will our group be working together?

Accepted Answer

Our squads are made up of ten to thirteen people with at least two adults (male and female) and eight to ten youth–typically two people from each church. Most Mission Serve squads are mixed among the churches, however, we are happy to keep your group together if requested, just let us know.

Question 8

What tools and other items do we need to bring?

Accepted Answer

Tools:
Each group is asked to bring painting and construction tools including rollers, gloves, hammers, circular saws, electric drills, ladders, etc.
Personal Items:
The full Packing List is also located online in the Group Leader Manual. A twin-size air mattress and bedding for sleeping, work gloves, and small tools, as well as modest clothing, are the typical items needed.

Question 9

What about safety?

Accepted Answer

Safety is our top priority!
We require groups to bring 1 adult (21 or older) for every 5 participants that are under 21 years of age. We require participants that are 18 and older be screened and nationally background checked. Every staff member has been screened, background-checked, and reference checked by Mission Serve.
We review safety procedures at orientation—appropriate close-toes shoes/boots, gloves, and goggles are recommended. Participants are not required to do any work that they consider unsafe.
Although we do serve in needy areas, we require work crews to stay together at all times. No one should ever be left alone, and all participants are back at the lodging facility by their designated check-in time.
Local Coordinators and other Mission Serve Staff visit work sites daily, so they are aware of any issues in the area.
Every squad has the direct phone number to the Mission Serve staff and directions to the closest hospital. If an injury occurs on the worksite, and is not serious, Mission Serve staff will contact the youth leader and coordinate any transportation needed. If the injury is serious, the adult on site will call 911 and Mission Serve staff will offer support and ensure needed medical forms are delivered to the hospital.
Each squad will have a small first aid kit as well with them while they are at the worksite.

Question 10

Where do we stay?

Accepted Answer

Every project is different, but lodging is typically at a local school or a church. Mission Serve staff clears each room to accommodate the personal bedding each participant brings –there will be a separate boy’s hall and girl’s hall, a cafeteria for meals, adequate bathrooms and showers, and either a gym or auditorium for programs.
Participants need to bring twin-size air mattresses, pillows, sleeping bags, or other bedding to sleep on classroom floors. Youth groups are assigned to sleeping rooms together, gender separate. Sleeping rooms may be shared with other youth groups, depending on the size of groups and the size of the room.

Question 11

What is the menu? What if there are special dietary needs?

Accepted Answer

Meals will consist of hot breakfasts, lunches provided by local churches or made by each participant before leaving the lodging facility, and hot dinners. All meals will be prepared for participants by kitchen staff. Picnic-style lunches will be assembled in the mornings and brought to work sites. The first provided meal is dinner on the first day and the last meal is breakfast on Saturday. Dinner is NOT provided on Wednesday (for six- and seven-day projects), youth groups have free time this day, and dinner is on their own. Special dietary needs should be communicated to the Project Coordinator. Mission Serve will work directly with local staff and Project Coordinator to meet these needs.

Question 12

When are the payment dates?

Accepted Answer

January 15: $50 (non-refundable) per space.
The remaining balance for June projects is due by April 15 and for July projects is May 15. Any balance postmarked more than 15 days after the due date is subject to a $15 per person pena

Question 13

What if I need to add or cancel a space?

Accepted Answer

Please contact us.  If there’s space available at your project, we’ll ask for the necessary payment. If you have a cancellation, and you are unable to re-fill spaces, call us to make cancellations. We’ll adjust your balance accordingly. If you cancel a space before 30 days prior to your project start date, you will only lose the $50 deposit. The entire fee is forfeited for cancellations made after 30 days prior to your project start date.

Question 14

What if I need to cancel my entire group?

Accepted Answer

Cancellations have a huge effect on the people we serve. Many times, when groups cancel, that means that we have to let homeowners know we will be unable to work on their home. Based on the number of registered participants, we plan for lodging, food orders, work materials, and staffing–just for starters.
We recognize that unexpected events happen that can pull participants away from their original commitment. Give us a call, we are happy to talk through ideas to recruit other participants and keep your group intact.
If there is no other option but to cancel your group, contact us by 15 days prior to your project start date, to let us know. As long as you cancel by 15 days prior to your project start date, you’ll only lose $50 per spot. All mission trip fees will be forfeited for any cancellations after May 15th.

Question 15

What's included in the registration fee?

Accepted Answer

Planning logistics
Project leadership
Lodging
Project meals
T-shirt for each participant
Secondary accident insurance
Program materials
Praise Band
Speaker
Worksite preparation

Question 16

What if someone in our group has to leave early or arrive late?

Accepted Answer

We ask that all participants arrive on time and stay for the entire time. Every part of the project is valuable and helps guarantee a life-changing experience. We really try not to make too many exceptions to this because it does affect other participants, residents, and work projects–so please check the schedule and make travel arrangements accordingly. Contact us if a situation arises. No discounts will be given to any individual who must leave early or arrive late.

Question 17

What if the project I want is full?

Accepted Answer

All projects are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so register early. However, if you register for a project that’s full, we’ll give you a choice: Join the waiting list for your first choice or register for your second-choice project.

Question 18

Do participants have to have insurance?

Accepted Answer

Personal health insurance is not required to attend, although highly recommended. If you carry personal health insurance, bring your info to camp. It is needed if treated at any health-care facility.
All health-care costs are the responsibility of the participants or his or her parent/guardian. If you have participants without adequate medical insurance and/or you desire to purchase trip protection insurance, you can purchase from any insurance provider of your choice.

888.421.4408 info@mission-serve.com