Pittsburgh, PA June 13 - 18, 2010 Junior/Senior High (ages 12+) Type of Trip: Community Service Trip Capacity: 99 Availability: Open Bus Accessible: Yes $199 per person

DESCRIPTION: Known nationally for its association with the steel industry, Pittsburgh is packed with honest, hardworking people whose solid character gives new meaning to the phrase "Steel City." However, the Pittsburgh area has an abundance of elderly residents as well as many individuals affected by unemployment. Some communities are still recovering from the harsh, drastic weather specific areas have been subjected to in the last few years. Your group's service will make a real dent in the need of "Steel City."

DETAILS: 
Transportation: You will 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. If you bring a large bus or charter bus, it must be available daily for transportation to and from sites. Not all locations can accommodate buses. If this location cannot accommodate a bus, it will be designated above.

Typical Day: A "typical" day involves serving others, "God Sightings", daily devotions, and inspirational/interactive worship programs. Your camp schedule will look similar to this:
6:30 a.m. Breakfast crew begins meal prep
6:45 a.m. Rise and shine!
7:00 a.m. Breakfast
8:15 a.m. Morning program
8:30 a.m. Depart for project sites and serve in the community, eat lunch, have devotions
3:30 p.m. Return to the lodging facility
4:00 p.m. Hospitality tasks/free time/meal preparation
5:30 p.m. Dinner
6:30 p.m. Music Team rehearsal or free time
8:00 p.m. Evening program
9:00 p.m. Church group devotions
11:00 p.m. Lights out

Food: A total of 13 meals will be provided during the trip, beginning with dinner on Sunday evening. Meals will consist of continental breakfasts, sack lunches, and hot dinners. Participants take turns preparing the meals and cleaning up. Picnic-style lunches will be put together in the morning and you'll bring these with you to your project site locations when you depart in the morning. The last meal will be breakfast on Friday morning. IMPORTANT NOTE: Dinner will NOT be provided on Tuesday. Youth groups will have free time that evening.

Lodging: You will lodge at a local school, community center, church or similar facility. Accommodations will include areas for groups to room together by gender, a common eating area, and a program area. Plan to sleep on the floor (so bring a single size air mattress). 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 everyone in your group brings 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. 

Cleanup: Participants serve one another by preparing and cleaning-up meals, and cleaning the facility.

PARTICIPANTS: 
Register As: A group (minimum of one youth and one adult of the same gender)

Adult/Youth Ratio: You need to bring a minimum of one adult for every five youth. If you register both males and females, bring at least one adult male and one adult female. Adults serve on project crews with young people.

Criminal Background Check: To provide the safest environment for young people, adult (age 21 and older) staff and participants must pass a national background check through a qualified service provider. Your church will need to arrange for a qualified service provider to 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.

SERVICE PROJECTS: 
Nature of Projects: Your group will partner with local churches, service agencies, and homeowners. And over the four days, your help will bolster the efforts of the ongoing work in these communities. You’ll learn new skills, serve in important roles, and have loads of fun as you: help people with projects in their home...assist the elderly…tutor struggling kids…conduct a backyard Bible club…serve at a food bank…staff an activities camp for disabled children…spruce up the grounds of a financially strapped social service agency…engage children at a day camp…and improve the community in other important ways.

Project Crew Structure: The size of project teams depends on the project and needs of the community. Regardless, you and your group will make new friends while serving on project teams with people from other churches. Or, if you desire, we can keep you together with people from your own group…just let the Registration team know so we can make proper arrangements.

PROGRAM: You’ll applaud the daily programs and devotions. Each evening, everyone will gather for a time of intimate, interactive, God-centered worship with music, Scripture, video, drama, and hands-on activities. Programs (designed by the youth ministry experts at Group Magazine) are coordinated by a staff member, but you, your group, and other groups will take the lead in sharing music (so bring your guitar and best song leader voices) and participating in other program elements.

STAFFING: Your mission trip will be run by four ministry-minded staff, including two highly-trained, college-age leaders. Additional adults in your group (beyond the 5-to-1 ratio), may apply online for a volunteer position. If chosen as a volunteer staff member, your registration fee is waived. Many of our staff serve year-after-year because they have a heart to minister to church groups.

WHAT TO BRING: 
Supplies: You may be asked to bring certain supplies, depending on project needs.  Specific details will be provided in your online Leader Manual.

Personal Items: A good list of what items to bring will be provided in your Leader Manual (available in November).

PAYMENT: 
Deposit Amount: Per person deposits of $50 are required to reserve space, and are non-refundable. 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 fees are in U.S. dollars and can be paid by check, money order, or credit card. Payment can be made online, by phone or by mail.

Early Bird Option: Early Bird Registration lets you delay the per person deposit until September 30th, 2009. Registration fees are in U.S. dollars and can be paid by check, money order, or credit card.

Payment Dates: Because fundraisers can’t all happen at the same time, we’ve broken the registration fee into a deposit and two payments. 50% of your group’s balance is due March 15, 2010, and the balance is due May 15, 2010. Registration fees are in U.S. dollars and can be paid by check, money order, or credit card.

Cancellation: Deposits are non-refundable. Forfeited deposits can be used to add a new participant to your group, however, they can’t be transferred to an account balance or to another group. Registration fees, less deposits, are refundable when cancelled at least 30 days before the start of your trip. The entire camp fee will be forfeited for cancellations less than 30 days from the start of your camp. In order to open spaces for other church groups, missed payment dates will result in automatic cancellation of spaces and forfeiture of deposits.

TRAVEL CONSIDERATIONS: 
Travel 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 purchas low-cost domestic and international insurance online through our insurance partner...or you can purchase it from another insurance provider of your choice.

$199 per person