REGISTER NOW

NEW 08 VIDEOS

{CAMP PREP CENTER}

{MISSION CAMP PREP}

why student life campgo
08 theme:the waygo
register onlinego
music playergo
what we believe go
request infogo
downloadsgo
contact usgo
camp ecardgo

FIND YOUR STUDENT AT CAMP THIS SUMMER.

NOT SURE WHERE YOU WANT TO GO THIS SUMMER? View our ENHANCED location map. More info and more options to find the camp closest to you! go >>

NEW FOR 2008 - CHURCH GROUP CONNECT! Choose what you want your group to do during the day-from area attractions to on campus options located at select locations. more >>

What is Student Life Mission Camp like?

• Worship, Celebration, and Family Groups are important parts of the day at camp. Worship services include drama by All Things To All People, praise and worship music, engaging teaching, and opportunities for students to be involved in worship.

• Student Life Camps are Christian education events designed for discipleship and training. Our goal is not to entertain, but to bring the teachings of Scripture to life.

• Mission Camp allows your church to serve as a group in one or more of the following fields:

  • Children

  • Elderly/Disabled

  • Construction

  • Physical Need

• Mission Camp is an effort to give student groups the opportunity to have a meaningful experience of serving others while at Student Life camp. Student Life Mission Camp will reach communities with the message of God’s love through service.

Does my entire church group have to participate in Mission Camp?

Mission Camp is designed as a team building experience for your church group. However, Student Life recognizes that different groups do have various needs. So, church groups can opt to have part of their group participate in the Mission track while the rest participate in traditional Student Life Camp. Church groups who have successfully divided their group in the past have typically separated them by age (i.e., junior high - Student Life Camp; senior high - Mission Camp). If you are interested in separating your group, please note that each division must have their own appointed group leader. We also recommend that you discuss the potential challenges of group separation with a member of the Student Life team prior to choosing a dual track option.
Please note: Mission Camp and Youth Camp are treated as two separate reservations. Churches wishing to choose a dual track need to do so when registering.

How is Student Life Mission Camp different from regular Student Life Camp?

• Mission Camps provide the option of doing service projects from 10:30-3:00 each full day of camp, instead of participating in Recreation and Family Group time. After Celebration, the group participating in the Mission Track will leave the camp and go to a predetermined work site during the time when other students attend Recreation and Family Group time. The student group still participates in all of the large group sessions with the rest of the students at camp, including Celebration, Worship, and Late Nite. The group also has a Family Group Bible Study from 6:00-6:45 in the evening time.

• The Mission Camp schedule will involve service activities for church groups while the normal camp schedule will still be in process for church groups not involved with Student Life Mission Camp.

• Youth Ministers and Adult Leaders serve an important role in preparation, leadership, motivation, and encouragement.

• Mission Camp Family Groups are made up of 9-12 students, one or two Student Leaders and one or two Adult Family Group Leaders from your church group. This allows for church groups to be involved with the mission opportunities throughout the day as well as Family Group activities during the evening.

Why is the price for Mission Camp higher than for traditional Youth Camp?

There are several factors that affect the registration price of Mission Camp. First, Mission Camp requires that Student Life hire more summer staff to oversee projects at each location. Not only are Student Life's summer staffing expenses greater, additional year-round staff have been added to handle the logistics surrounding mission projects. Lastly, Student Life equips each Mission Camp Team with additional equipment to supplement the supplies provided by churches. The additional staff, transportation, and equipment necessitate a greater camp fee.

What type of work projects will there be for the students?

Student Life wants to provide a wide variety of projects that fit well with the strengths and preferences of individual groups. Some potential projects are:

• Elderly/Disabled Ministry (nursing homes, etc.)

• Children’s Ministry (Backyard Bible Clubs, Boys & Girls Clubs)

• Physical Needs (Soup Kitchen, Clothes Closets, etc.)

• Light construction and painting

Will my group have a preference regarding the type of work project we are assigned?

Yes, each church group will be sent a mission site preference sheet that is to be filled out and returned to Student Life. Even though groups indicate the areas of their top choices, ultimate placement depends on several factors including group size, promptness of response, transportation, and most importantly, community need.

When will I find out my mission project?

Mission project assignments will be mailed out 6 weeks prior to camp dates.

We are bringing a large church group. May our entire group work together?

Student Life wants to provide a quality mission experience for each student and adult; thus, it often becomes necessary to divide larger groups into smaller teams. By splitting into teams, students and adults have a greater opportunity to maximize their skills and abilities. In addition, dividing into smaller teams also allows church groups to minister to more people in the community.

What materials and supplies will we as Youth Ministers be responsible for?

Because of the nature of the projects, the Youth Minister will be responsible for the following:

• Transportation to and from the project site

• Large Ice chest for lunches and drinks per Family Group (1 Ice chest needs to fit drinks and box lunches for 10-12 people) – Student Life will provide drinks along with box lunches.

• Large Water cooler for each Family Group (approx. 10 people)

• Pair of gloves (with their name on it) for each student

• Standard toolbox per Family Group

• Other materials related to the individual work project (The list of these will be communicated with project assignments 6 weeks prior to camp.)

• Students should also be prepared to wear closed-toed shoes (athletic shoes, work boots, and so forth) to their work site each day regardless of the type of work they will be doing.

What about transportation?

Each church group is responsible for their own transportation to and from work sites. Because transportation greatly affects work site group size and travel plans, Student Life needs to be aware of travel preparations before work site placement. Churches should also evaluate how transportation will affect group size and travel plans. (For example: Charter buses often limit the particular mission sites a group where a group can be placed. Please keep Student Life up-to-date on any changes to your transportation.)

�

What about the Family Group time?

�

Groups choosing the Mission Camp track have family groups consisting of only people in their church group. Part of the time on work site is used for Prayer time. When the group returns to camp, there will be time from 6:00-6:45 devoted to Family Group Bible Study.

�

Will my students get to interact with anyone personally?

�

Personal interaction depends on the nature of the project. However, we want to encourage students to have as much personal interaction with people as possible. While service itself is a means of evangelism, it can also be a good way to get into an evangelistic conversation.

What do we do about lunch?

Before the group leaves for their project, you will pick up box lunches and drinks on campus and take them with you to mission site. Your Mission Camp director will explain procedures for picking up lunches during the first night of camp at the Youth Minister’s meeting.

What will Youth Ministers do at camp?

Youth Ministers need to attend all Youth Ministers meetings during the week. Youth Ministers will serve as encouragers and motivators on the work site. They will work alongside students in order to build relationships with them. Each evening there will be a prayer and share time for Youth Ministers one hour before the worship service. This meeting takes place while the students are in Family Group Bible Study. For this reason, it is best for Youth Ministers not to serve as Family Group Leaders.

What is the adult-to-student ratio?

We request one adult for every seven students.

What will adult leaders do at camp?

Many adult leaders will be asked to serve as Family Group Leaders. Bible Study materials will be available online 5-6 weeks before camp to allow adequate time to prepare. Adult Family Group Leaders serve as motivators and encouragers during the mission project and lead the Bible Studies in the evening for their Family Groups. There is a Family Group Leaders Meeting each day to pray and focus on the theme for the evening.

�

What about sixth graders? Are they invited?

�

It is up to each church. If they're normally part of your group, they are welcome at Student Life Mission Camp.

What about children or preschoolers?

No programming or childcare is available at camp for children or preschoolers. However, because many Youth Ministers would like to bring their families, we will do our best to accommodate these situations for Youth Ministers only. Please note: Not all mission sites are suitable for young children.

Is there anything else I need to consider?

Yes, once your church has registered and paid deposits for Mission Camp, Student Life begins to work on your behalf to make promises to the community for service projects. Your registration and deposits are not only a commitment to Student Life but also a commitment to the community that we serve. Please do everything possible to avoid cancellations and drastic reductions of registration numbers once worksite assignments have begun.