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General What To Bring

Housing Forms & Downloads

Registration Transportation

* Many of these answers can also be found in your camp handbook, available on the Son Servants Downloads page.

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General

1. What kind of projects do we work on with Son Servants?

Every trip has a construction element. The types of projects will vary from repairing homes to building foundations to painting to yard clean-up. The majority of our trips also have a children’s program for the local children. Please check for specifics on the Trip Details web pages. A major aspect of all Son Servants trips is to interact as much as possible with the people with whom we are working. We  really are there to show God’s love to the people in the communities in which we serving.  

2. What does the cost include? What is not included?

Cost includes housing, construction materials, meals, program, and a t-shirt for each participant. Transportation to and from camp is not included. Additionally, on domestic trips you will be responsible for transportation costs during the week (i.e. driving to work sites, etc.). At some camps there is a free day or planned recreational outing for which you are responsible. Please check your handbook for details about this. Your students will probably want to bring spending money – recommended amounts are in the handbook for your trip. 

3. What age students can come to Son Servants trips?

Trips listed as “Middle School” are intended for students in grades 6-8. We leave the decision about bringing rising 6th and graduated 8th to the discretion of the youth leader. Similarly, “High School” trips are for grades 9-12, with the decision to bring rising 9th and graduated 12th left to the youth leader. Remember, more than age, maturity is an important consideration. (For example, consider if your rising 6th graders have been away from home before.) Remember, Son Servants is counselor-centered, meaning you are responsible for your students at all times.  

4. What is the recommended counselor/ student ratio?

We recommend that you bring one counselor for every six students. Obviously, if you have female students, you need a female counselor and vice versa. 

5. When should we arrive and depart?

Domestic Trips – Please arrive between 3:00 and 5:00 on the first day of camp. We ask groups to leave by 9:00 AM on the final day, to ensure that our staff has time to get to their next location.

International Trips – We would encourage groups to arrive as early as they can. However, specific details vary according to the location. For example, on the Jamaica trip, camp is a 3-4 hour drive from the airport, so late flights result in very late arrivals at camp. As far as departures, again this varies depending on how far the camp location is from the airport. Please call the Son Servants office for more specific information. 

6. Do counselors/ chaperones have to pay?

Yes, counselors pay the same amount as students. 

7. Will medical treatment be readily accessible on these trips?

All of our locations are within a reasonable driving distance of a medical facility. In addition, we try to have a doctor or nurse as part of every camp staff. 

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Housing

1. Where will we be housed?

This varies greatly for each trip. Please see the web page for the trip you are interested in. 

2. Do we need to bring linens, sleeping bags, air mattresses, etc?

Every camp requires that you bring your own linens or sleeping bag. The need for air mattresses varies from camp to camp, so please check the Trip Details section of the website or the handbook for your camp. 

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Forms and Downloads 

1. Can we print the med forms off from the website?

The Son Servants office will send you the necessary medical forms. This ensures uniformity, which makes things easier for us. If you need an extra one or two, you can download them off our website, but we prefer the bulk to be from the ones we send you.

2. Do I really have to have each participant fill out two medical forms?

Yes, we need two ORIGINAL forms for each participant. One will be given to the Son Servants staff to keep on file and one will be for you to keep during your travel.  

3. Do we really have to have the forms notarized?

Yes, for all students under the age of 18. Please have the notary stamp BOTH copies of the med form. 

4. Do both parents have to sign the medical form?

On international trips this is especially important. We have had groups detained because only one parent had signed the form. Don’t ask us how the airport authorities know that two parents exist, but they do…they know these things. 

5. Do I need to send my medical forms to the office before camp?

No. Please bring BOTH copies with you to camp. One will be given to the staff and one you will keep for your return travel. 

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Registration 

1. How do I register for Son Servants?

A $75 per person deposit is required for all domestic trips. A $150 deposit is required for all international trips, including Tex/Mex. You can register online by clicking on the Registration button in the menu at the top of this page. Follow the steps to input your contact information. If you would like to pay by credit card you can do this by continuing the online registration process. If you prefer to pay by mail, you may print out the contact page when prompted and mail it to our office with a check. Important: We do not receive notification of online registration activity unless it is accompanied by credit card payment. In other words, filling out the initial information does not reserve spaces, nor does it notify us of your interest. The only way to ensure that your spaces are reserved is with a payment.  

2. Is my deposit refundable?

Our policy is that all deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable.

But what if I need to drop spaces after my initial registration? Do I lose that deposit money?

There are two drop dates that are important to remember. The first drop date is Monday, March 10, 2010 for all trips. If you notify us of dropped spaces PRIOR TO 5 PM on this date, the deposits for those spaces will be applied to your balance. After this date, you will lose the deposit for any dropped spaces.

The second drop date is 60 days prior to the first day of your event. After this date, your church is held responsible for the full cost of each dropped space. 

3. When is the balance due?

The balance is split into two payments. The first payment is Monday, March 10, 2010 for all trips. The final payment is due 60 days prior to your trip. 

4. Is there a deadline for registration?

We will accept registrations on a first come, first serve basis until the camp is full. Because many of our camps are small, we recommend registering in the fall to ensure your group will be able to attend the event of your choice. 

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Transportation

1. What are the transportation requirements for domestic trips?

Because each vehicle is used to transport workgroups to and from the worksite, each vehicle you bring MUST seat at least 10 passengers (such as a 12 passenger van). If you have 6 people, you will still need one vehicle that seats at least 10 passengers. If you have 15 people, you will need two vehicles that seat at least 10 passengers. Our insurance regulations do not allow us to use 15 passenger vans unless the back seat is removed. Therefore, we recommend and use 12 passenger vans. 
 
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What to Bring

1. As a group leader, what extra things do I need to bring?

Particularly on the domestic trips, we ask each church group to bring certain tools and other items (i.e. coolers) for use during the week. For a complete list, check the adult handbook for your trip. 

2. Are there any items my students shouldn’t bring?

Why yes, since you asked, there are. Please be certain that your students do not bring electronic devices such as iPods, hair dryers, cell phones, etc. There are several really good reasons for this. One, we want the students to experience a different way of life for these days on the mission trip – a life away from all the "noise" and distractions that fill our lives. Secondly, iPods and cell phones especially can cause students to isolate themselves from the rest of the camp and miss out on community building and fellowship. Lastly, these items are the surest to get broken, lost or stolen in a setting like this.

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