and also includes all necessary forms with due

dates and financial arrangements. After

reading, prayerfully make a commitment that

each person who wants to attend will do

whatever it takes to get them on this retreat!

Thanks for your time,

Refuge Student Ministries

Welcome to the information packet for GoldRush 2012! Thank you for riding Air

Oakwood, we hope you enjoy your flight! It’s going to be an exciting ride!

GoldRush is a part of the student ministry at Perimeter Church in Atlanta.

What makes it unique? GoldRush is a conference for students, by students. It’s

entirely student-led. Yeah. Students speak, lead worship, facilitate small groups, the

whole deal (even pick up trash). Rarely, will students experience a conference more

relevant to their lives. Step into an encounter with truth, an encounter with the

Gospel, and most importantly, an encounter with the living God.

We have attended this retreat several times in the past, and it has never

ceased to tremendously impact our students! Students have accepted Christ, made

decisions to be more committed in their relationship with Christ, and some even

began to feel called to ministry! Please begin to pray with us now for God to show up

in an amazing way in the lives of our students during this weekend.

We are encouraging students to get signed-up and save their spot for this

incredible conference. Please take a few moments to read over the information in

this packet with your student(s). The packet will answer any questions you may have

HOW MUCH IS IT? Yep, always the first question. We ask that you would read through the details below

and we will cover that in a moment...

WHO CAN GO (Obviously Important)? Students who’ve completed grades 6th-12th.

WHEN EXACTLY IS IT? July 9th-13th - We will depart from Oakwood (Chickamauga Campus) Monday

afternoon. Departure/arrival time is TBA, though a tentative schedule is included on the next page of this

packet. (“Think. Do we have vacation?”)

WILL THERE BE ANY… YES! As always there will be plenty of CHAPERONES to supervise (We saw that

one coming.) The ratio is usually one chaperone for every three or four students. In addition, GoldRush

primarily takes part inside the actual church building of Perimeter Church who also has volunteers that

“keep an eye out for students.”

WILL OAKWOOD’S GROUP BE THE ONLY GROUP THERE? We are excited about participating with other

student ministries during GoldRush. Last year, GoldRush was able to minister to over 800 students.

However, students will only be interacting with students from other ministries during allotted times. (I.E.

– Worship Gatherings, Small Groups, Activities, ETC…) Chaperones will be present throughout each of

these. One of the unique experiences at GoldRush is that all week students will be a part of the same

student led small group with other students from all around Georgia and sometimes even further.

NOW, WHERE IS GOLDRUSH AT? Perimeter Church, 9500 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek, GA 30097

(2.5 Hours away, near the outside of Atlanta.)

HOW ARE WE GETTING THERE? Charter bus and vans. Students can bring one large suitcase and one

carry-on bag. (You can do it girls!)

A FEW WORDS ABOUT CLOTHING: Short shorts, revealing tank tops or pajamas are not allowed. It will be

summer, so prepare for warm weather. Though most of the conference is inside, students should: bring

some old clothes that can get dirty while we are doing service projects as well as swimsuits for our free

day. Swimsuits for females should be tankinis or preferably a one piece. NO bikinis allowed. We would

also suggests both guys and girls were t-shirts over there suits.

*Students, if a chaperone says to go and change, be mature and go change.

WHERE ARE WE STAYING ONCE WE ARRIVE? Hotel arrangements are set-up through Perimeter, so we

cannot specify a hotel at this time, however, we do know it will be a hotel. Therefore, students will not

need to bring towels, toiletries, bed linens, etc...

HOW MU…We’re getting there.

WHAT ALL HAPPENS AT GOLDRUSH? (Make Sure your student read these next few parts with you!)

GOLDRUSH 2012 TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

Monday, July 9, 2012 2:00 PM = Depart from OBC (Chickamauga Campus)

4:30 PM = Check in at Perimeter Church

5:00 PM = Check in to Hotel

5:30 PM = Grab Dinner

7:00 PM = GoldRush Kick-Off & 1st Main Session

8:15 PM = Small Groups

9:00 PM = Church Family Time

10:00 PM = Back to Hotel

Tuesday, July 10 - Thursday, July 12, 2012 8:00 AM = Breakfast

9:00 AM = Morning Worship

10:00 AM = Small Groups

11:00 AM = Seminars

12:00 PM = Lunch

1:00 PM = Missions (2 days)/Free Day (1 day)

6:00 PM = Dinner

7:00 PM = Main Session

8:15 PM = Small Groups

9:00 PM = Church Family Time

(Thursday Night: Concert of Prayer and GoldRush Celebration!!)

10:00 PM = Back to Hotel to Pack & Clean Up (Even stay up if your not just

completely exhausted!)

Friday, July 13, 2012 8:00 AM = Breakfast

9:00 AM = Head Home!

HERE’S THE DETAILS! We already touched on the small groups, but we want to fill you in on all that you’ll

be doing. (No really, parents make sure your students read this part.)

“the bricks” - The student ministry at Perimeter actually has its own building called “The Bricks.” It’s

awesome! It has a rock climbing wall, pool tables, ping pong, basketball, & plenty of spaces to just sit

back and relax. Also, there is a specific room for students to go and participate in several different

interactive prayer stations. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience.

Main Sessions/Morning Worships - These are both amazing times of praise, teaching, skits, videos,

etc.. and yes, it is all led and performed by students,

Church Family Time - This is when we as group get to come together each day and re-cap on all the

incredible things we are doing and learning!

Seminars - These are specific opportunities where students get to select which seminars they would

like participate in a topical study. In the past, seminars have covered topics such as: apologetics,

sharing your faith at school, dealing with parents who aren't saved, etc… Oh, and there is always a

“Guys Only” and “Girls Only” option,

Free Day - One evening during the week, our group has time to go to a specific place to simply have a

little extra fun and worship as we play! We will be going to White Water, so make sure to read the

section on clothing! We hold strong to making sure students understand there specific chaperone

knows there where-a-bouts at all times. Middle school students must always be with at least one

chaperone and high school students must always be in groups of 4 or more and ensure they check in

with a chaperone. We often have a central location where one chaperone stays for emergencies and

to guard extra personal items.

Missions - Another one of the coolest pieces of GoldRush is the opportunity to unite with God in

sharing the love of Christ in local neighborhoods and complexes (called the “International Village”) by

doing back-yard bible clubs/vbs-type projects with little kids! Students are apprehensive at first, but

fall in love with it and cannot wait to go again! The same standards for students and chaperones from

above apply to missions as well.

That was a real brief explanation, but overall there’s tons of stuff to do and it never gets boring!

WHAT DO WE NEED TO BRING? Bibles, pens, notebook, clothes, extra snacks (Please remember students

who may be allergic to PEANUT BUTTER! ) and that “special pillow” if desired.

ANYTHING WE DON’T NEED TO BRING? Glad you asked! NO fireworks of any kind. NO smoke bombs, or

anything sharp or dangerous for that matter. NO sports or paintball equipment. NO game consoles, NO

electronic devices. Music is provided and a big part of the week is building and bonding relationships!

WHAT ABOUT CELL PHONES? Students are discouraged from bringing cell phones. If necessary and

parents approve, students are allowed to bring a phone though they will not be allowed to spend long

periods of time talking with their friends back home.

*WE WANT TO BE FREE OF ALL DISTRACTIONS! REMEMBER JESUS AND HIS PURPOSE IN

THE LIVES OF STUDENTS IS THE FOCUS OF THIS WEEK!*

THIS IS MOST LIKELY NOT SOMETHING YOU’RE READING IN ONE SITTING! LOL!

FINALLY YOU MADE IT! THE FORMS & COST. Please understand we wanted these items last so you could

fully grasp the value of this retreat! It truly is so unlike any other!

FORMS: There are 3 forms that must be submitted NO LATER THAN MAY 30TH 2012.

Forms are encouraged and will be accepted any time before this date.

1. Event Registration, Permission, and Release Form. (OBC)

2. Student Registration Form for GoldRush 2012. (Perimeter) ~Front~

3. Rock Climbing Waiver. (Perimeter) ~Back~

COSTS: We are currently in tentative planning stages of fundraisers for all students to participate in.

Total Cost Breakdown:

Before May 16th, $199.00 (Early Bird Fee) After May 16th, $219.00 (Regular Bird Fee)

Initial Deposit Due April, 11th of $50.00 (This reserves a students spot.)

All Remaining Amounts (whether $149 or $169) must be submitted NO LATER THAN MAY 30TH 2012. The total cost includes:

- Conference Fees & Supplies (Name Tags, Retreat notebooks, T-Shirts, etc…)

- Transportation & Gas - Hotel Accommodations

- White Water Ticket - One Lunch

- All Breakfasts - One Dinner

- Fee for “the bricks” - Both Days of Missions

*The only additional cost students will only be responsible for are two lunches and two dinners.*

Financial Arrangements/Scholarships : Our heart is that any student that truly has a passionate

desire to be apart of this experience, we want to partner with, in enabling them to do so. That requires

significant effort on both ends. IF scholarships become available they will be given on a first-come, first-

serve basis. Meaning they will be given to students that have expressed a financial need and have

submitted all paperwork by the May 16th deadline. Students should have also shown diligent effort in

participation of any fundraisers available. These actions demonstrate the “desire” to go on this retreat.

Again thank you for prayerfully considering GoldRush 2012, if you have any

questions at all, don’t hesitate to email, call, or text.

Student Pastor -

Kelly O’Neal – kellyoneal@oakwoodbc.org or 423-619-6552

Director of Middle School & Student Events -

Mitchell Wooten – mitchellwooten@oakwoodbc.org or 423-718-8046