group mission trips 2014 catalog

2014Youth mission trips

making jesus real every summer

jesus-centered serviceexperiences for teenagers

Inspiring Community Service Trips

Powerful Home Repair Trips

Life-Shaping International Trips

w w w . g r o u p m i s s i o n t r i p s . c o m

WHAT’S INSIDE

Choose Your Trip 4

Explore the Map 6

Expect Jesus 8

2014 Theme 9

Hear From Youth Leaders 10

The Top 3 Reasons to Do a Youth Mission Trip

Getting Approval From the People Who Matter Most

Why Partner With Group Mission Trips?

Community Service Mission Trips 12

Home Repair Mission Trips 20

International Mission Trips 28

Book Your Trip 35

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Build Meaningful Relationships

Your youth will encounter jesus

HERE IS WHAT YOU GET:

• Easy pre-planning and an organized experience. We

sweat every detail so you can spend quality time with

your teenagers.

• Spiritual growth. Last year a whopping 94% of

students said they grew closer to God through their

experience with Group Mission Trips.

• More fun than you’ve ever expected. You and your

group will have a great time as you travel, hang out,

work, worship, and meet new friends.

• Unmatched inter-denominational Christian worship

programming, pre-tested with youth and leaders to

help your students grow closer to Jesus and to each

other.

• Team-building opportunity, so your youth group

members can draw closer to one another in a unique

ministry setting.

• Leadership by mature, trained staff you can trust.

Our leaders are the best of the best: trained, thoroughly

screened, and passionate about helping youth grow in

their faith.

At Group Mission Trips, our priority is

making your mission trip powerful and

life-changing for your students, and

seamless and easy for you. We work

hard to cover all the bases for you,

so you can maximize time with your

group.

Plan now to give your students a

powerful spiritual growth experience next summer!

Call our group Mission trips advisors at

800-385-4545or visit

GroupMissionTrips.com

Brent

Jory

RobinBri

Robin

Jake

See page 12

CommunityService

mission trips

2

At Week of Hope, your students learn Christ-like empathy and compassion for others while preparing meals at a

homeless shelter, serving disadvantaged children, visiting with lonely elderly

residents, and more.

choose from

3jesus-centeredservice optionsfor teenagers!

Take Me Out to the Ball GameParents, volunteers, and youth can work concession

stands at local stadiums. Companies like Aramark Inc.

pay nonprofit organizations 10% of the inventory

that is sold at each game. Find a local event center,

get a crew of people, and raise some money. A youth

group in Houston, TX, raised $43,000 during the

course of one Houston Astros season.

fundraising idea

Starting at only $229

C H O O S E F R O M O V E R

120 trips

4 Learn more at GroupMissionTrips.com

5Week of Hope and Workcamps 800-385-4545 • Lifetree Adventures 800-747-2157

internationalmission trips

Lifetree Adventures will take your group around the globe to provide help and

learn what it means to meet God’s call by serving others in great need around the

world.

home repairmission trips


S E R V E I N

Haiti, Puerto Rico, Peru, and many other locations

See page 28

A Workcamp is a big, high-energy mission trip where your group will work hard repairing homes for people in need,

and experience the amazing power of community to accomplish God’s work.


C H O O S E F R O M O V E R

40 locations

See page 20

One-of-a-kind Global Mission ExperienceDesigned to Grow Your Faith

Fort CollinsNorthern CO

Austin

San Diego

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE LIVES?

Albany, NYBrighton, TNBuffalo, NYBurlington, NJCentralia, ILChandler, OKCumberland, MDDanville, ILDinwiddie, VAEvansville, INGlenwood, MNGuilderland Center, NYHamilton, OHHammond, INImperial, PAKanawha County, WVKittery, MEMaysville, KYMescalero, NMMidland, MI

AlaskaCosta Rica

CubaHaiti

HondurasIndiaIsraelPeru

Puerto Rico

Mifflintown, PAMilford Center, OHMonument Valley, UT Northern CO Flood RecoveryOak Grove, MOOkanogan, WAParsons, KSPensacola, FLPhilipsburg, PAPocahontas, VAPort Huron, MIRacine, WIRed Lake, MNRochester, NYScranton, PAShamokin, PASpring Grove, PATioga Center, NYValdosta, GAVirginia Beach, VAWaterloo, IA

Austin, TXCharleston, SCCincinnati, OHFort Collins, COGrand Rapids, MIIndianapolis, INKenosha, WIManassas, VA

Minneapolis, MNNashville, TNNewark, NYOrlando, FLPittsburgh, PASan Diego, CASt. Louis, MOYork, PA

Community Service Youth Mission Trips

Home Repair Youth Mission Trips

International Mission Trips

Monument Valley

Okanogan

Mescalero

Chandler

Parsons

Glenwood



Manassas

Newark

St. Louis

Kenosha

Nashville

Cincinnati

Grand Rapids

Pittsburgh

Indianapolis

Charleston

Orlando

York

Minneapolis

PERU

ISRAEL

HAITI

PUERTO RICO

CUBA

Evansville

Racine

Hammond

Milford Center

Oak Grove

Waterloo

Danville Hamilton

Midland

Brighton

Maysville

Pensacola

Valdosta

DinwiddieCentralia

Port Huron

Red Lake

Virginia Beach

Kanawha County

Pocahontas

Cumberland

Spring Grove

Imperial MifflintownBurlington

RochesterAlbany

Buffalo

Guilderland Center

Tioga Center

Scranton

Kittery

PhilipsburgShamokin

COSTA RICA

HONDURAS

ALASKA

Spiritual Touch-Point 2

Crew Devotions

During the day, crews take a break at their worksites to sit, enjoy a quick bottle of cold water, and dig into what the Bible says about the daily theme.

The Jesus-centered questions asked during Crew Devotions do more than just challenge teenagers to grow in their faith. They also transform serving a handicapped child or painting a porch from work into worship.

Your teenagers will spend time with Jesus like

never before. And they won’t dread that time,

because it’s woven into the entire day through

four spiritual touch-points that occur naturally,

as if Jesus were simply a natural part of the day

(which he is!)

when Will My teenagers Connect With Jesus at a Group Mission Trip?

1

2

3

4


The Morning Programs

These brief, wake-you-up gatherings focus students on God—and set expectations for the day: that God will be there...that they’ll serve him...and that great things will happen—expectations that God is delighted to meet, day after day.


Youth Group Devotions

Each evening, just before lights out, you’ll meet with your kids to talk through the day. To debrief what they’ve experienced...what it taught them...and what it means in their walk with Jesus.

Your team members will come to these devotions bursting with stories they can’t wait to share. They’ll tell you how they’ve seen God at work, explain what they’ve learned about Jesus, and quietly share what they’ve discovered about themselves.

And you’ll have stories from your own day to share, too, because on a Group Mission Trip you’re an active participant—not an observer who’s busy organizing the next meal or scrambling for supplies.


The Evening Programs

The Evening Program is an interactive worship experience that is carefully crafted—and field-tested—to ensure that your youth come face-to-face with Jesus. Through singing, dramas, compelling video, and guided activities, students make connections that prompt deep, lasting growth—growth they’ll take with them to live out back home.


2014theme

Jesus is always on the job. He never stops repairing us, never

tires of transforming us into the people he wants us to be-

come. And he’s always eager to work through us, transforming

those whose lives we touch.

This summer, your youth group will experience “Repair” in un-

forgettable ways. We’ll look at stories of transformation. Some

of these stories come right from the pages of the Gospels. No

one who encountered Jesus came away unchanged. That was

true then—and it’s true now. You’ll see your kids welcome the

Jesus who wades into pain and fear to bring healing and hope.

You’ll see them open themselves in new ways to Jesus’ desire

to repair what’s broken as only he can.

Another story your youth will dig into is their own. Each of us

is right in the middle of our own story with Jesus. During this

incredible week of service and spiritual growth, students will

experience Jesus at work in their own lives—repairing them,

right now.

Your teenagers will also become stories of transformation, as

they literally change the lives of those around you. As they

repair the tired, weather-worn home of a thankful resident or

repair the hope of a child at day camp, they’ll discover that

Jesus is repairing them…drawing them closer to him…healing

what’s broken…opening their eyes to see him as never before.

Through fast-paced evening programs and depth-inspiring

devotions, your group will encounter Jesus. The real Jesus.

The blood-and-bone carpenter King who understood how to

repair a fractured table leg—and a shattered life. And who was

willing to do both.

You’ll leave your Group Mission Trip with a new story to share.

A story of repairs made where you needed them most—where

you might not have known you needed them at all.

And you’ll never be the same.

Give one week to a Group Mission Trip and see what Jesus can

do in—and through—you and your group. Watch him swing

the hammer and obliterate walls, clear out what’s broken, re-

build what was once fresh and new.

Be a story of transformation.

FREEpre-trip curriculum

Your students will experience life-changing spiritual growth. “My kids—both the youth group and my biological kids—have experienced amazing spiritual growth on mission trips,” says Gregg McCaslin, a veteran min-ister of youth and discipleship. “We think we’re going to do good things for oth-ers, but the entire time God works on us, too.”

TOP

3reasons to do a youth

mission trip

But unless your church leaders, adult volunteers, parents, and stu-dents agree, it’s going to be one empty church bus sputtering off on a mission trip next summer.

Here’s what veteran youth leaders have discovered about getting all those people excited about a Group Mission Trip…

Church Leaders

She knows it sounds too good to be true, but youth Pastor Jill Wen-ker had zero problems getting her pastor and church leaders on

board with a Workcamp mission trip.

“I showed them the Workcamps video from Group Mission Trips—and that won them over,” she says. “I stressed that safety is Group’s priority, that adult volunteers have to pass background checks, and that experts go from site to site to make sure things are going well. That’s all it took.”

We’ve found that’s all it usually takes—and we’re happy to send you the same video that warmed the heart of Jill’s church leaders.

Getting Approval From The People Who Matter MostYou’ve seen the light! You’re all-in for taking your teenagers on a youth mission trip.

You’ll super-size relational time with your group.Much of the “ministry” time we usually spend with teenagers is actually struc-tured programming. That’s fine, but not typically where the good stuff hap-pens—where kids open up about their lives.

A mission trip builds in long stretches of relational time—and when you let a mission trip organizer handle the details, you’ll experience the trip alongside your kids.

“All the organization is done,” says youth pastor Jill Wenker of her mission trip experiences with Group Workcamps. “I can go through the week with my kids rather than leading the camp.”

McCaslin points to the road trip as another benefit of mission trips.

“Youth groups can do things in their own neighborhoods—and should,” he says. “But there’s bonding that happens on a mission trip. The road trip to and from the Workcamp is great for our kids.”

1

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3You’ll shift to a servant-focused ministry.“We first went on a mission trip in 2001 because I had a small, floundering youth ministry,” says Wenker. “A youth ministry friend told me, ‘You’ve got to go to a Workcamp. It’ll transform your group’—and it did.”

Wenker says many of her students grew up in the church and “inherited” their faith from parents and Sunday school teachers. “When they go to a Workcamp, my kids’ faith becomes their own,” she says. “Kids get the message Jesus died for them, that God loves them, and that they can share God’s love with the world.”



Adult Volunteers

“Their big question was about construction skills,” says associate pastor Adam Just. “Once they understand there are experts to help supervise repairs and that their role is to be with the kids, they’re OK.”

The good news: We’ll help you reassure your adult volunteers by pro-viding clear, detailed job descriptions so they know what to expect…and just how rewarding their week at a Workcamp will be.

Parents

“Workcamps promotes the fact that worksite safety is a top priority,” says volunteer youth leader Dan Hemberger. “And it’s true—Group backs it up.” The training and safeguards provided on a Group Mis-sion Trip go a long way toward reassuring parents.

A parents’ meeting about a month before the mission trip can also be a great forum for addressing parental concerns.

“They care about safety—and where their kids are staying,” says Adam, who has that information in hand courtesy of the materials provided by Group.

Students

This one is easy: simply ask.

Share the materials we’ll give you with your youth. Let them see how they’ll change lives, serve God, and make a difference in the lives of specific people in specific ways.

Then ask your youth group which Group Mission Trip location looks like a winner and stand back—you won’t believe how fast they catch the vision.

And then watch what happens as God works in and through them.

We’re happy to send you the tools you’ll need to cast the vision in your church. Call us today at 800-385-4545.

WhyPartner With Group Mission Trips?

Nobody has done youth missions longer.We’ve learned a thing or two during our 37 years of organizing youth mission trips—and it shows.

“Everything is thought out from start to finish,” says associate pastor Adam Just.

That means from the moment you decide to pitch the idea of a mission trip to your students—and your church board—Group’s experienced staff is there for you with the tools you need to cast vision, build enthusiasm, and raise funds. They will also walk you through our online resources for planning and registration, and set you up with mission trip-focused devotionals that will prepare your teenagers for their experience.

Nobody is better at keeping first things first. Mission trips aren’t about fixing houses. Or cleaning alleys. Or hugging orphan kids.

All that happens, but more important is the spiritual growth of everyone involved—and Group Mission Trips goes the extra mile to

encourage that growth by building in compelling morning devotions, worksite devotions, and powerful evening experiences. Plus, you go home with ready-to-use sessions to debrief what your group experienced.

Nobody gives you more for your money. “I’ve talked with youth ministers who use cheaper providers,” says Gregg McCaslin, a veteran minister of youth and discipleship. “All they get for their money is someone lining up places to work. Group provides it all—support, planning, programming, leadership, volunteers, and lining up all the details. It’s all done and it’s done well.”

You’ll be satisfied, too. Let us prove it to you.Contact Group Mission Trips by visitingGroupMissionTrips.com or by calling800-385-4545.

With dozens of organizations lined up to help you organize a youth mission trip, why pick Group Mission Trips? Try these three reasons on for size…

50,000 students.

1 mission.


Five days of service. A lifetime of rewards.

Week of Hope is an affordable summer mission trip packed

with practical acts of love and service. Your students

will build meaningful connections as they serve people

through local ministries and nonprofit organizations.

Teenagers will learn Christ-like empathy and compassion

for others as they meet the spiritual, physical, and

emotional needs of disadvantaged children, youth, and

adults. As students serve in the name of Jesus, they’ll

develop friendships with the people being served, with

teenagers on other teams, with members of their own youth

group, and, most importantly, with Jesus. Denominational

differences disappear as like-minded youth work together

for a common purpose. It’s awesome to watch!

Week of Hope meets the needs of all age groups—

wherever those needs exist. Projects might include:

• Providing meals to the homeless

• Tutoring poor or struggling children

• Helping to lead a day camp for kids

• Organizing a home or sprucing up a dilapidated home

• Painting a room or deep-cleaning a home

• Working with disabled children

• Sharing stories with a lonely elderly person in an

assisted-living facility

Your team’s acts of kindness will mean the world to the

people you serve. But the impact on your students will go

even deeper. Spiritual growth is a top priority at all of our

camps, and through meaningful worship and devotions, the

lessons learned will take root in the hearts of your youth.

Each day, students will enjoy meaningful, thematic

worship and devotion times, plus opportunities for

devotions. They’ll spend time together and connect more

deeply in their Christian faith. Programs are led by a

well-trained staff—but you and your youth will have the

chance to serve by leading parts of each worship program,

including worship music. (Feel free to bring guitars, drums,

harmonicas, banjos, and great voices!)

Turn the page and take a closer look at this year’s Week

of Hope mission trips. Your group will be immersed in the

experience of being “others-directed” instead of self-

directed, and challenged to live as Jesus did—in authentic,

sacrificial relationships.

community service youth mission trips

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Community service mission trips

Bri,Group Mission Trips

Advisor

Learn more by calling Bri at 800-385-4545

Fort Collins, CO $266

San Diego, CA $229

Cincinnati, OH $252

Grand Rapids, MI $262

Indianapolis, IN $262

Kenosha, WI $252

Minneapolis, MN $252

St. Louis, MO $262

June 15 - 20

June 22 - 27

June 29 - July 4

July 6 - 11

July 13 - 18

July 20 - 25

July 27 - Aug 1


What about trips for

Preteens?Preteen Week of Hope is a great mission experience that your 10- to 12-year-old students will never forget! Helping younger students explore their faith is one of the most important and fulfilling responsibilities you have as a leader. Research suggests that by the time they’re 13, your kids’ basic value systems are set for life. We created Preteen Week of Hope trips to respond directly to this aspect of your ministry.

June 15 - 20Fort Collins, CO

June 29 – July 4Charleston, SC July 6 - 11Minneapolis, MN

July 13 - 18York, PAOrlando, FL July 20 – 25Pittsburgh, PAKenosha, WI

July 27 – August 1Austin, TX

dates & locations

WEST south

midwest

northeast

Choose a Preteen tripduring these weeks:

All Week of Hope locations are offered these seven weeks:

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Austin, TX $262

Charleston, SC $266

Nashville, TN $266

Orlando, FL $229

Manassas, VA $266

Newark, NY $266

Pittsburgh, PA $262

York, PA $262

Jr/sr high



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”Group Mission Trips are by far the best way to go for a youth mission trip!

The work is so organized that you only have to think about getting the work

done and building relationships with your crew and the resident. Worship is

outstanding every night! For our youth group there is no other way to go!”

SCARLETT DOWDY, YOUTH WORKER IN MOUNT AIRY, NC .

fundraising ideaAll-U-Can-Eat-Spaghetti DinnerThe key to an All-U-Can-Eat Spaghetti Dinner is opening

your church doors to the public—more people means

more financial support. Ask local businesses to donate

any needed supplies—sauce, meatballs, noodles, bread,

dessert, and/or paper products. The youth and volun-

teers serve, and some can play music or perform skits.

It’s customary to ask for a $10 minimum donation per

person, and $5 per child under 12. But make sure to

price things to ensure you make money.

At Week of Hope, campers provide helping hands to local nonprofit ministries. Your group may serve meals to the homeless, work with disabled children, or share stories with a lonely elderly person. Whatever role your students fill, their service will be felt in the community and will be a shining example of God’s love.

serving a community community service youth mission trips

day camp programsPlay games with children, and send the affirming message that they matter.

nursing homesServe the forgotten in long-term nursing care facilities.

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homeless sheltersServe hundreds of hungry homeless folks.

recovery programsServe nonprofit agencies that couldn’t operate without your help.

ASSISTED-LIVINGFACILITIES

Give attention and love to disabled children.

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What’s included in the registration fee? We want your trip to be as easy on you as possible. That’s why we provide the following so you don’t have to:

• Lodging during the week

• All meals, except for dinner on your free night

• All supplies and project materials for each worksite

• T-shirt for each participant

• Development of Bible-based, thematic, fun, faith- building programs

• Devotions to read before, during, and after your trip

• Highly trained, mission-minded staff

• Comprehensive online Planning Center and project preparation materials

• Fundraising ideas and support

• Site selection and organization

• Unlimited customer support from professional and courteous staff

• Mission trip handbook for each participant (a personal devotion book and guide for the week)

• Access to Simply Youth Ministry’s TOOLS, the ultimate task manager for youth workers

Who can participate? We offer trips for preteen, junior high, and senior high stu-dents. For preteen trips, participants must be at least 10 years old or entering the fifth grade in the fall of 2014. For junior/senior high trips, participants must be at least 12 years old or entering the seventh grade in the fall of 2014.

How many adults should we bring?Adults (age 21 and above) are a critical part of the experi-ence because they help provide safety, relationships, spiri-tual guidance, and discipline. Please bring a minimum of one adult for every five youth.

How are crews organized? A typical “crew” is a group of five young people and one adult. Each crew usually includes participants from a vari-ety of churches so students can meet new people. Call us and we’ll gladly accommodate your request.

What about transportation? You need to provide transportation for your group to and from your mission trip. And during the week, the vehicles you bring will be used to provide daily transport to and from project sites.

Where do we stay?Most lodging is in local churches or schools. Accommoda-tions will include areas for groups to room together by gen-der, a common eating area, and a program area.

What happens if the trip I want is full?All trips are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so reg-ister early. However, if you register for a trip that’s full, we’ll give you a choice: Join the waiting list for your first choice, or register for your second-choice location. Call us. We’re eager to help!

When do I have to pay? Fundraising takes time, and sometimes more than one ef-fort, so we’ve broken your trip costs into three convenient payments:

REGISTRATION DEPOSIT:• A nonrefundable deposit of $50 per person is required at the time of registration to reserve space on your trip.

PAYMENT #2 - MARCH 15, 2014• 50% of your group’s remaining balance is due.

PAYMENT #3 - MAY 15, 2014• Your remaining balance is due.

Can Group Mission Trips provide references?Absolutely! Give us a call (800-385-4545 option 2) and we’d be happy to connect you with other youth leaders who have taken teenagers on a Week of Hope mission trip!

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what to know


A TYPICAL WEEK OF HOPEDAY 6:45 am Rise and shine

7:00 am Hot breakfast

8:00 am Morning program

8:30 am Depart for projects

3:30 pm Return to camp

5:00 pm Dinner

7:30 pm Evening worship program

8:45 pm Youth group devotions

9:30 pm Free time

11:00 pm Lights out

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let’s chat!Give your students a powerful

spiritual growth experience next summer!

give jory a call800-385-4545

or visit


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Jory,Group Mission Trips

Advisor

”Last year at Week of

Hope, I served at Project

C.U.R.E. and it was an

amazing experience.

This warehouse shipped

medical items across the

globe. Not just new items

that were donated, but

discarded items that we

recycled and also pieced

back together. Week of

Hope makes a difference.”

RICH HOUSE, .YOUTH WORKER IN CINCINNATI, OH .

37 years.

1 mission.


Workcamps are weeklong mission trips where your youth

group will work hard repairing homes for people in need,

while experiencing the amazing power of community to

accomplish God’s work.

Workcamps are high-energy and action-packed, yet powerful

and life-changing. The camps are big: Sometimes upwards of

450 youth participate, creating lots of energy and excitement

throughout the entire week.

At Workcamps, teenagers come together to serve individuals

and communities while building strong, long-lasting

relationships with their friends and youth leaders. In six

short days, hundreds of students from youth groups across

the country repair and transform homes—and strengthen

and transform their own faith.

One way their faith gets built is through daily challenges to do

something they may not have done before: painting a house,

using a chop saw or drill, or doing some other task that can

make students feel a little uncomfortable and vulnerable—

exactly where God can speak to them.

Workcamps began in 1977 as a home repair project in

Loveland, Colorado, in response to the tragic flood of the Big

Thompson River the previous year. In July 1976, more than

12 inches of rain fell within three hours near Estes Park,

overflowing and flooding the river. Ultimately, the river

became a raging wall of water that destroyed hundreds of

houses, washed away miles of roads, and killed more than

140 people—the worst natural disaster in Colorado history.

After that flood, Thom Schultz, founder of Group Publishing,

asked church youth groups from across the country to come to

Colorado and help rebuild the homes and lives of the flood’s

victims. Over 300 youth and their adult leaders responded,

working on more than 50 home repair projects.

And so the first Workcamps experience was born. Thom saw

a dramatic change in the hearts of youth and adults serving

the flood’s victims, and realized that the challenge of helping

others in need could ignite and strengthen the Christian faith

of teenagers and adults.

Since then, about 300,000 people have participated in

a Group Mission Trips experience—logging more than 6

million volunteer hours. These participants have gained

a new understanding and deeper faith in Jesus by serving

others.

The mission opportunities keep growing, and the same

passion that prompted Thom Schultz to launch the first

Workcamps continues to help teenagers from all different

Christian denominations grow closer to God and take on the

challenge of service by helping people in need.

Turn the page to see more than 40 Workcamp locations where

your youth can serve next summer—and give your teenagers

a God-centered summer experience they’ll never forget!

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home repairmission trips

Brent,Group Mission Trips

Advisor

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Learn more by calling Brent at 800-385-4545

Maysville, KY June 22 - 28 $449

Kanawha County, WV June 29 - July 5 $449

Pocahontas, VA July 20 - 26 $449

appalachia

Pensacola, FL June 15 - 21 $429

Valdosta, GA July 6 - 12 $429

Brighton, TN July 6 - 12 $439

Virginia Beach, VA July 13 - 19 $449

south

20

senior high camps

Monument Valley, UT June 22 - 28 $429

Mescalero, NM July 6 - 12 $399

Parsons, KS July 20 - 26 $439

WEST

Hamilton, OH June 15 - 21 $449

Hammond, IN June 22 - 28 $439

Racine, WI June 22 - 28 $449

Milford Center, OH July 6 - 12 $449

Oak Grove, MO July 6 - 12 $449

Waterloo, IA July 13 - 19 $449

Midland, MI July 13 - 19 $449

Glenwood, MN July 13 - 19 $439

Red Lake, MN July 20 - 26 $439

midwest

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dates & locations

Northern ColoradoFlood Recovery June 22 - 28 $459

FULL

FULL

FULL

FULL

FULL

FULL



Okanogan, WA June 22- 28 $399

Chandler, OK July 13 - 19 $449

Evansville, IN June 15 - 21 $439

Danville, IL July 6 - 12 $439

Centralia, IL July 20 - 26 $439

Port Huron, MI July 20 - 26 $449

Dinwiddie, VA July 27 - August 2 $449

Albany, NY June 29 - July 5 $459

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Youth for HireAdvertise for odd jobs like yard work, house cleaning, or painting within your church. Begin accepting and coor-

dinating jobs, times, and crews to complete each project. TIP: Asking for donations will oftentimes net you more

money than a set price.

Cumberland, MD June 15 - 21 $459

Spring Grove, PA June 15 - 21 $459

Imperial, PA June 22 - 28 $459

Mifflintown, PA June 22 - 28 $459

Burlington, NJ June 29 - July 5 $459

Rochester, NY June 29 - July 5 $459

Buffalo, NY July 6 - 12 $459

Guilderland Center, NY July 6 - 12 $459

Tioga Center, NY July 20 - 26 $459

Shamokin, PA July 20 - 26 $459

Kittery, ME July 27 - August 2 $469

Philipsburg, PA July 27 - August 2 $459

Scranton, PA July 27 - August 2 $469

northeast

Fundraising Idea

jr/sr. high camps

FULL

FULL

FULL

FULL

FULL

FULL

FULL Work Camps are filling up! If you are interested in a camp that is full, call to

be placed on the waiting list. There are still 30+ camps with space available.

Call now to find the right camp for your group!

Fresh paint keeps houses from rotting and becoming unsafe.

Workcamps give youth groups a chance to serve people in need through home repair, basic construction, and painting—but students also build strong relationships with their friends and youth leaders. Sometimes more than 450 teenagers participate in a camp, which fuels the enthusiasm and excitement throughout the entire week!

transform homes & lives

Before

After

fresh coats of paint

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Dangerous steps are transformed into a safe patio for families.

A safe wheelchair ramp gives a disabled person the freedom to live life.

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Before

After

Before

After

new, sturdy porches

safe wheelchair ramps

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what to know

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What’s included in the registration fee? We want your trip to be as easy on you as possible. That’s why we provide the following so you don’t have to:

• Lodging during the week

• All meals, except for dinner on your free night

• All supplies and project materials for each worksite

• Themed T-shirt for each participant

• Development of Bible-based, thematic, fun, faith- building programs

• Devotions to read before, during, and after your trip

• Highly trained, mission-minded staff

• Comprehensive online Planning Center and project preparation materials

• Fundraising ideas and support

• Site selection and organization

• Unlimited customer support from professional and courteous staff

• Mission trip handbook for each participant (a personal devotion book and guide for the week)

• Comprehensive safety training at the beginning of the week

• Access to Simply Youth Ministry’s TOOLS, the ultimate task manager for youth workers

Who can participate?We offer trips for both junior high and senior high students. No special skills are required.

How many adults should we bring?Adults (age 21 and above) are a critical part of the experi-ence because they help provide safety, relationships, spiri-tual guidance, and discipline. Please bring a minimum of one adult for every five youth.

How are crews organized?A typical “crew” is a group of five young people and one adult. Each crew usually includes participants from a vari-ety of churches so that they can meet new people.

What about transportation?You need to provide transportation for your group to and from your mission trip. And during your mission trip, the vehicles you bring will be used to provide daily transport to and from project sites. If you intend to bring a large bus, check with your trip advisor to be sure your trip location can accommodate it.

Where do we stay?Most lodging is in local schools or churches. Accommo-dations will include areas for groups to room together by gender, a common eating area, and a program area.

What happens if the trip I want is full?All trips are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so register early. However, if you register for a trip that’s full, we’ll give you a choice: Join the waiting list for your first choice, or register for your second-choice location. Call us. We’re eager to help!

When do I have to pay?Fundraising takes time, and sometimes more than one ef-fort, so we’ve broken your trip costs into three convenient payments:

REGISTRATION DEPOSIT:• A nonrefundable deposit of $50 per person is required at the time of registration to reserve space on your trip.

PAYMENT #2 - MARCH 15, 2014• 50% of your group’s remaining balance is due.

PAYMENT #3 - MAY 15, 2014• Your remaining balance is due.

Can Group Mission Trips provide references?Absolutely! Give us a call (800-385-4545 option 2) and we’d be happy to connect you with other youth leaders who have taken teenagers on a Workcamps mission trip.


A TYPICAL WORKCAMPS DAY

6:45 am Rise and shine

7:00 am Hot breakfast

8:00 am Morning program

8:30 am Depart for projects

3:30 pm Return to camp

5:00 pm Dinner

7:30 pm Evening worship program

8:45 pm Youth group devotions

9:30 pm Free time

11:00 pm Lights out

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Plan now to give your students a

powerful spiritual growth experience next summer!

give jake a call 800-385-4545

or visit


”Our youth group has been

on a Workcamp mission

trip every summer since

2006! Our youth receive

the joy of serving others

in need while making life-

long friends in the process.

God is most definitely at

work during the entire

week, and it is truly a joy to

behold!”

DON BROAD .YOUTH WORKER IN CARMEL, IN .

Jake,Group Mission Trips

Advisor

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7 destinations.

1 mission.



Broaden your horizons and serve those in need! Join

groups from other churches to live out God’s love

internationally as you and your students minister to

those in need.

You and your youth will make an eternal difference in

the lives of people you serve. You may build a church,

play games with needy children, help feed entire

neighborhoods, or teach good hygiene to people who

want to learn.

You’ll encounter poverty firsthand. You’ll see the pain

that true need brings. And you’ll better understand the

daily struggles facing much of the world’s population.

As your teenagers engage with people in need, they’ll

develop a heart for service—and a deeper desire to

pursue God.

At Lifetree Adventures, we’ll help you plan the most

meaningful short-term mission trip your youth group

has seen, all with relative ease on your part. We’ll

provide you with everything from itinerary planning

to specific service-project plans once you’re there.

You’ll get great fundraising ideas and secrets, all the

marketing materials you’ll need to recruit for your trip,

and even tips on what to pack and what to leave at

home.

Whether you’re traveling to earthquake-stricken Haiti

or the rainforests of Peru, we’ll be with you every step

of the way to provide meaningful service in the name

of Christ. You’re a busy leader, so it ’s our goal to lift

some of the weight from your shoulders when it comes

to planning an international short-term mission trip.

You’re probably not an expert in the country where

you’ll serve, but we are experts in the locale where

you’ll be serving. We’ll book you and your group to

stay in safe, quality accommodations. We’ll have

translators to help you communicate with the local

people. We know the transportation system and we

understand the local culture and customs. And one of

our personal trip leaders will accompany you and your

group every step of the way.

You and your students will be supported by our well-

trained staff as you enjoy faith-building programs

that help your teenagers translate their international

service adventure into life-changing spiritual growth.

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internationalmission trips

CALL 800-747-2157 OR VISIT LIFETREEADVENTURES.COM

Peru 2014$1,199 per person(price does not include airfare)

Dec. 28, 2013 – Jan. 4, 2014 July 5-11 •June 7-13 July 19-25 •June 21-27 • August 16-22

Are you ready to sail into the Amazon rainforest to build a

church for a Shipibo tribe? Join Lifetree Adventures as we

partner with a local congregation in Peru whose ministry is to

bring the Gospel to these remote areas of the jungle. You can

be part of a team that makes a dry church building possible

for these new Christians. You’ll have the opportunity to meet

and work alongside these villagers and play games with their

children. No special skills are required—just bring a willing

heart and a desire to serve these amazing people. You’ll enjoy

delicious and safely prepared food as you stay onboard an air-

conditioned riverboat for your journey up the Ucayali River.

You’ll grow closer to Christ as you and your friends discover

the joy of ministry service at the “ends of the earth.”

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dates & locations

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Puerto Rico 2014$599 per person(price does not include airfare)

March 8-15 July 5-12 •March 15-22 July 12-19 •June 14-21 August 2-9 June 21-28 •

Although Puerto Rico has been a U.S. territory since 1898,

if you serve on one of Lifetree Adventure’s 2014 mission

trips to Caguas Puerto Rico, you’ll feel you’ve ventured

into a whole new culture. Your impression of Puerto Rico

might be of the beautiful port city of San Juan or the lush

white beaches, and these impressions are true. What’s also

true is that tremendous need exists for the people living

20 miles away from the thriving tourist capital of the Carib-

bean. You’re invited to serve with other youth groups as we

extend the love of Jesus to the people of Puerto Rico. Your

labor of love to repair homes, beautify parks, or serve kids

with disabilities will leave an eternal impact on the people

of Puerto Rico. No passport or special construction skills

are required...just a heart of love and hands of service.Israel 2014 (women only)

$2399 per person(price does not include airfare)

Nov 1-12

Join Lifetree Adventures and Susan Lawrence of Pure Purpose on the adventure of a lifetime! On this women’s only mission trip,

you’ll meet other women who are passionate about their faith journeys and are searching for God’s presence and will in their lives.

You’ll not only get to know Jesus and each other as you journey through Israel, but you’ll also serve alongside other women as you

humbly meet the needs of so many people throughout the area. Many Jews stream into Israel as their Promised Land, and they

need support as they get settled. And like any country, many people need help providing everyday food and safety. You’ll serve

alongside other women who have ongoing relationships throughout the country, and you’ll build enduring friendships along the

way. Invite God to challenge you and grow your faith as you serve in Israel and walk where Jesus walked.

Dates marked with a • are considered full. Please call Robin for possible availabilities or to be placed on a waiting list.



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Haiti 2014$699 per person(price does not include airfare)

March 8-15 June 14 - 21 • Nov 1-8March 22-29 June 21-28 •June 7-14 • July 5-12 •

Haiti still needs your help. Come serve with Lifetree Ad-

ventures as we partner with an outstanding ministry that

provides critical services for Haitians. Our ministry partner

runs vocational training as well as pre-natal, delivery, and

post-natal care for Haitian women. They need help cleaning,

maintaining, and building facilities that will allow them to

deliver this life-saving and eternity-changing care for their

neighbors. We’re looking for youth groups with a desire to

serve the tangible facility needs of our partner so they can

continue to reach out in the name of Christ to provide servic-

es that matter for Haitians. You’ll be inspired by the stories

of women who were able to deliver a healthy baby in a clean

facility without cost. You and your team will grow closer to-

gether as well as closer to God while you meet the urgent

needs of our partner.

Honduras 2014$799 per person(price does not include airfare)

March 15-22 June 21-28

Rural Honduras is a place of great beauty as well as significant

poverty. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch devastated the community

of Choluteca, in southern Honduras. The city has been in re-

covery mode ever since, and our friends in ministry have been

a vital part of the rebuilding effort. They are looking for youth

groups to help further many aspects of their ministry, includ-

ing construction of homes and orphanage buildings, as well

as constructing beds for children that do not have one. After a

short bus ride, you and your team will spend a week living in

quality dorm-style accommodations and extending the love

of Christ to the families of Choluteca. Please come with a flex-

ible spirit, a willing heart, and eager hands to extend the love

of Christ to the beautiful people of Honduras you’ll meet. You

will experience a great sense of accomplishment as you com-

plete a construction project that will safely house a family for

years to come.

Costa Rica 2014$799 per person(price does not include airfare)

June 14 – 21 • July 12 - 19

Costa Rica is both one of the premier tourist destinations of Central America as well as a country wracked with challenging poverty.

Many families struggle as they live in shacks in the hillside surrounding the capital. You and your team are invited to serve with

one of our ministry partners who are extending love in tangible ways to their neighbors. Your group might build homes in a hillside

neighborhood or help in a community co-op organization that provides services for their neighbors as well as translates Scripture

into their native tongue. You’ll be inspired by the jaw-dropping beauty of the rain forest, but you’ll be even more moved with love and

compassion as you get to know the beautiful Costa Rican people and experience pure life, or as they say in Costa Rica, “Pura Vida.”

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One-of-a-kind Global Mission ExperienceDesigned to Grow Your Faith

Alaska 2014$799 per person(price does not include airfare)

July 12 -19

Alaska has both breathtaking scenery for tourists and hope-

draining challenges for some of its elderly year-round resi-

dents. Your youth group is needed to bring hope in the form

of landscaping and home-repair projects for older families

who are no longer able either physically or financially to

care for their own property. You’ll build a strong sense of

community with your team while you tackle these meaning-

ful service projects. By the end of the week you’ll be receiv-

ing as much blessing as you’re giving while you serve in the

name of Christ. Please come both to give your heart away

and to have your breath taken away by the amazing beauty

of both the land and the people of Alaska.

Cuba 2014$1499 per person(price does not include airfare)

March 8-15 June 14 - 21March 22-29 June 21-28June 7-14 July 5-12

In 1959, Castro’s revolution completely transformed Cuba’s culture and government, and the church was greatly affected. But, in the

last decades, God has been at work, and the Church has been growing. And while the relationship between Cuba and the United States

has had a troubled history, Americans are permitted to travel to Cuba for certain purposes- including religious, humanitarian, and edu-

cational. We have partnered with strong local ministries in Cuba to give you and your group a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to serve,

partner, and make a difference in Cuba..

SAMPLE ITINERARYSaturday: Travel to your destination city and

transfer to your lodging for the first night

Sunday: Experience worship in a different

culture and get to know the ministry partner

Monday: Begin service projects

Tuesday: Continue to serve

Wednesday: Serve some more

Thursday: Keep serving

Friday: Complete your project and have

some fun in the afternoon

Saturday: Journey home


How do I book my mission trip with Lifetree Adventures?Just call any one of our expert mission trip planners at 800-747-2157.

Is airfare from North America included in the Lifetree Adven-tures price?

No, the Lifetree Adventures price does NOT include airfare from North America. In-country transportation is provided in the trip price. In Peru, our price includes the airfare from Lima to Pucallpa.

What travel documentation do I need? All U.S. citizens need a valid passport to enter a foreign coun-try and return to the United States. It must be valid six months beyond your intended stay and have 1-2 blank pages remain-ing. A passport is not required for trips to Puerto Rico.

Visas are not required for most trips. For full information, please ask your mission trip planner at time of booking.

Is there an age requirement?Our trips are family-friendly, so kids can serve along with adults. The minimum age is 12 years old when not accompa-nied by a parent or guardian. When parents are present, chil-dren as young as 7 may attend.

What’s your policy on deposits, payments, and cancellations?To reserve space on a trip, a nonrefundable $100 deposit is due when you register. Final payment is due 60 days before departure. Please visit our website for complete details of our cancellation policy.

Are all meals included in the cost?Most meals are covered as part of your registration. Please see the detailed itinerary of your Lifetree Adventures trip for any exceptions.

How strenuous are the activities?While some adventures are more physically strenuous than others, most Lifetree Adventures trips will include at least four 8-hour service days in hot and humid environments. Team mem-bers should feel comfortable spending multiple days working outdoors and standing most of that time. Temperatures may be hot and humid, so you’ll want to wear cool clothing and a hat, and drink plenty of water. Service projects consist primarily of con-struction work, but some trips include ways to help that aren’t as physically strenuous. You’ll have the chance to work at the level of physical exertion with which you’re comfortable.

What types of meals are served?Most meals will be provided by our ministry partners, who have been carefully trained to prepare safe and nutritious meals for our teams.

Are the trips safe?The safety of your group is a top priority for us, as we’re sure it is for you. In all the areas we serve, we take extra precau-tions to make sure your group is as safe as they can possibly be. Guided by our local, experienced ministry staff partners, we avoid situations that are inherently dangerous. We’re also proactive by choosing lodging facilities and transportation that are safe and reliable. If you have specific safety related questions about a particular location, your mission trip plan-ner will be glad to talk with you about those specifics.

Are tips included in the cost?Lifetree Adventures covers gratuities for all included meals and activities, such as tips for porters, housekeepers, drivers, activity providers, local experts, and dining room staff.

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go global!

give robin a call800-747-2157

or visit

lifetreeadventures.com

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what to know

Robin,Lifetree Adventures

Advisor

STATEMENT OF FAITHWe believe the Bible is the inspired, authoritative Word of God. We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father,

Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, in his virgin birth, in his sinless life, in his death on the cross, in his bodily

resurrection, in his ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in his personal return. We believe people receive forgiveness of sin

and eternal life through a relationship with Jesus.

First and foremost, our mission trips are about spiritual growth.

Something exciting happens in these unique environments.

Your students will step out of their comfort zones and into a

place where—alongside their peers—they put their faith into

practical action! They’ll also experience powerful, innovative

evening programs. We never take shortcuts that would jeop-

ardize the spiritual impact on your youth. Year after year, our

programs consistently challenge and inspire young people to

grow in their faith with Jesus Christ.

In 1976, Colorado sustained a catastrophic flood. The follow-

ing year, Thom Schultz, founder of Group Publishing, orga-

nized church youth groups from across the country to come to

Colorado and help rebuild the homes and lives of the flood’s

victims. More than 300 teenagers and their youth leaders, just

like you, arrived in Colorado and worked on over 50 repair proj-

ects. That same year, Group Cares (formerly Group Workcamps

Foundation) was established as the nonprofit division of Group

Publishing. Since then, 300,000 mission trip participants have

racked up more than 6 million volunteer hours serving people

in need.

Since that first event, one thing remains true: We strongly be-

lieve in providing opportunities for teenagers to grow closer to

Christ through serving others either in their own backyard or

halfway across the globe.

Today, Group Mission Trips has grown and offers several unique

multi-day mission trip experiences that take place in the

spring, summer, or fall:

Week of Hope Focuses on providing trips that build friendships and mean-

ingful connections while caring for children and the elderly.

Through heartfelt experiences and acts of kindness, youth will

share the love of Jesus and bring hope to the lives they touch.

WorkcampsWeek-long, home-repair mission trips where youth work hard

repairing homes for people in need, while building strong rela-

tionships with friends and youth leaders.

Lifetree AdventuresTravel to Peru, Haiti, Puerto Rico, or one of several other amaz-

ing destinations—and share the love of Jesus globally!

Group Mission Trips is the Leading Provider of Christian Youth Mission Trips. We leverage 37 years of expertise to guarantee well-planned, stress-free mission trips for you. Group Mission Trips are designed

to give you an opportunity to spend your time in ministry—not administrative details! Our experience in mission trips helps us

refine the process and eliminate the hassles of trip planning. We take care of the details so you can focus on what matters most:

the spiritual growth of your students before, during, and after the trip.

why we exist



REGISTER NOW!Here are your three easy options for registering:

Call 800.385.4545 Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm (Mountain Time)

Register with your credit card on: GroupMissionTrips.com

Fill out the registration form and mail with a deposit check to:

Group Cares 1515 Cascade Avenue Loveland, CO 80538

Starting September 30, 2013, a $50 nonrefundable deposit is required from each participant. Deposits are not transferrable to camp balances. Please only register the number of participants you intend to bring. However, you can add more participants until the camp reaches its capacity by calling your Registration Team 1-800-385-4545, option 3. Upon registration you’ll be asked to sign our Terms and Conditions to complete the registration process.

CHOOSE A GROUP MISSION TRIP

[ ] Workcamps [ ] Week of Hope [ ] Lifetree Adventures

SELECT YOUR MISSION TRIP

First Option Date Fee

Second Option Date Fee

RESERVE SPACE

Please register a minimum of 1 adult for every 5

students. If you register both males and females,

sign up at least 1 adult male and 1 adult female.

PRIMARY CONTACT

Name

Please Send Correspondence to: [ ] My Church [ ] My Home

Address

City State Zip

Daytime Phone Email Address

CHURCH INFORMATION

Church Name

[ ] My church has attended a previous

Group Mission Trip

CHECK YOUR PAYMENT OPTION BELOW

[ ] Early Bird Registration

This special offer lets you hold your spot and

pay no deposit until September 30th, 2013.

[ ] Check Enclosed to Group Cares $

Check #/MO #

[ ] Please contact me for my credit card

information to finalize my registration.

Space for participants under age 21

+Space for adult participants

=Total registered participants

321Sign up now and challenge your teenagers with a week of Christian service and fun!

GIVE YOUR STUDENTS A JESUS-CENTERED

EXPERIENCE THEY’LL NEVER FORGET.

GROUP MISSION TRIPSc/o Group Cares1515 Cascade AvenueLoveland, CO 80538

NON-PROFITORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDBOLINGBROOK, IL

PERMIT 1917

To register call (800) 385-4545 or visit GroupMissionTrips.com

9011734

group mission trips 2014 catalog

Documents

group mission trips

international mission

youth group members

mission trip powerful

youth leaders

home repair mission

highenergy mission trip

c h o o s e f r o