Want to know more about the Faith workcamp program? Here are some frequently asked questions.
What is workcamp?
Workcamp is an intensive week of community service offering youth an opportunity to perform hands on home repair projects for needy families. Many of these residents have seen their homes damaged by natural disaster and years of disrepair. Workcamp offers a fun, challenging, faith building mission adventure you’ll never forget.
Who attends workcamps?
High school students, college students, or anyone 14 years old and above.
How are work sites chosen?
Group Workcamps coordinates planning with a local community co-sponsor for each Workcamp. Co-sponsors include housing agencies, county commissioners, churches, community service groups, and others. The local co-sponsor knows the community needs, and provides Group with a list of needy residents in the area. Residents who qualify for home repairs must be unable to do or afford repair work on their homes. Typically, residents are elderly, disabled, or people with financial hardships.
How are work crews set up?
Work crews consist of six people, usually one adult and five youth. Participants are assigned to work crews based on their age, gender, and skills. Each member of the crew comes from a different church background but all members have the common bond of being Christians.
What about lodging?
Local schools are used for lodging, using classrooms for sleeping, the cafeteria for eating, and the gym for evening programs. Participants bring air mattresses, sleeping bags, or other bedding to sleep in classrooms. Sleeping quarters will be shared with people from other youth groups. The facilities may or may not be air-conditioned, so plan accordingly. Locker room facilities will be available for showering. Meals are prepared in the school cafeteria by local kitchen staff.
What is a typical day at workcamp?
• Workcampers start each day with an early breakfast and usually arrive at the work sites by 8:30 a.m.
• During the day, work crews leave the school and remain at their work sites. (Picnic lunches are taken by the Workcampers to work sites.)
• The workday usually ends around 3:30 p.m., and Workcampers return to the school, where they have free time for cleaning up, recreation, games, and resting until the evening mealtime.
• More free time following dinner leads up to an inspirational evening program— music, worship, prayer, drama, fun activities, and more.
• After the program, Workcampers have free time until evening devotions, and then it’s lights out.
What about the evening programs?
Evening programs are special at Group Workcamps. Each program is designed to cement the service learning experience with living out Christian faith. Each evening there is a program with great music, videos, games, drama and spiritually challenging presentations.
What is the price of workcamp?
The actual cost of attending Group Workcamps is $399 per camper. This cost pays for all materials used, food, lodging, and spiritual events. Additionally, each group has other expenses which include van rentals, excursions, and meals to and from the workcamp. Throughout the year, fundraisers help to offset the cost of the summer mission experience. These fundraisers, along with the support of Faith Presbyterian Church, help to cut the out of pocket cost to $90 per camper. However, Faith Workcamps offers scholarships to ensure no potential camper is turned away.
