Saint Luke’s Mission Experiences & Trips – Summer 2020
Next summer our summer trip schedule is changing.
There are multiple reasons for the changes outlined below. We want to get these dates to you so that you can plan ahead and be ready for the trip registrations to open in mid-September/early October.
Saint Luke’s had a juggernaut of a summer line-up. The Tartan Trot gives us unique opportunities for all ages to change the world, be changed by God, and experience God’s love in new ways. We want to be the best stewards of the opportunities God gives us. We must manage our resources (money, time, energy, spiritual life, etc.) well.
The new schedule will help us.
Here’s the schedule as best that we have at this point:
Goal 1: Eliminate back to back trips for specific age groups and leaders.
Going from one experience to a different one back to back is exhausting and leaves little time to do good reflective and anticipatory work. This past summer we had people away for 3 and half weeks in a row going from trip to trip. By the last trip, they were exhausted and not able to be fully present in the ways even they wanted to be. Not mention, the logistics of coming back from Honduras, for example, and the next morning leaving for Central Tennessee are complicated.
Goal 2: Honduras every year!
HOI is one of our oldest international partners. Now is the time to offer this fantastic trip every year. We hope that high school and college-age families will start to see this trip as an opportunity for families to serve together. Offering it every year (instead of every two years) around the same time allows for planning for families and more flexibility for the timing of that trip in people’s lives. It also makes planing with the organization easier if we can get on a regular schedule every year.
Goal 3: Better consistency with all our partners.
We believe that mission work starts with building relationships. This new schedule allows for more consistent relationship building with our partners, our people, and the people who we meet when we travel.
Note about Massanetta Springs and Mt. TOP shift:
Shifting from July to June with Massanetta helps with the back to back nature that comes with the new HOI every year. It allows us to shift Mt. TOP to early July to give space between HOI (a high school/college trip) and Mt. TOP (a middle school/high school trip). This shift helps us ensure that there are no back to back trips for the same age groups.
Also, it appears that Massanetta Springs has shifted their schedule to later in July, which means that Massanetta Spring and Montreat will always back up against each other. From a staffing standpoint, this is hard to be prepared for and recover from each week of being away.
It also means that our high schoolers serving in leadership at Massanetta Springs (as they get into the June cycle of leadership there) won’t come straight to Montreat from Massanetta Springs. They can fully experience both in healthy ways.
Montreat next summer.
Montreat is a week later next summer. This happens every few years based on how days of the week fall on the calendar. Housing a group our size is difficult, and we love the system we have going. Our current house is a gift to our group dynamics. To move back a week would jeopardize our housing, and we would have to find different options in years going forward. Right now we have the first refusal for the following year and don’t want to lose that. DeKalb County has not released its schedule. It may or may not be the week directly before school starts. It is not for other systems, as far as we can tell.
Special Note: These trips are made possible by proceeds of the annual Tartan Trot road race. Trip costs are offset by about 60%, and the cost for adults is fully covered. A huge thank you to all who support the Tartan Trot!
Your Waiver Links:
Adult- https://waiver.smartwaiver.
Minor- https://waiver.smartwaiver.
ADULTS COMING WITH US:
You are vital for the summer ministry! We love having you and all you do to help build healthy and supportive environments for our youth. When you travel with us you will be working hard, counting heads, checking in with kids, and, well, participating in the ministry. This is why we pay for your trip.
PAYMENTS/DONATIONS: The cost of your trip is covered, with the exception of personal expenses you incur. However, if you would like to donate to the trip that is awesome!
CANCELLATIONS: We need you on the trips. We anticipate and plan for a certain ratio of adults to youth for each trip. Please do not sign up for a trip unless you are sure you can go. Of course, we understand that things come up and can usually work through things. The earlier we know, the better.
Requirements for all trips:
- Saint Luke’s Presbyterian Medical & Liability Release For Adults (online)
- Background Check. If you have not had a background check done through Saint Luke’s in the past three years, we will need to do one. We are not concerned about a poor choice you may have made in college. We are doing our due diligence. These background checks are only seen by one staff person and then a pastor if an issue needs addressing. They will be kept in a locked location.
- Child Protection Training. This online training course is required for all adults.
IMPORTANT:
Deadlines: February 1, 2020: ALL FORMS COMPLETED (at least the forms we have to give you to fill out.) This will guarantee a spot for you on the trip. Some of our trips have a maximum number of people we can take, and these spaces are given on a first come first serve basis.
Required Forms: Each trip requires specific forms, they will be available on the slpres.org website when they are available.
Cost: Do not let the cost of a trip prohibit you from coming. If you’d like some help with trip costs please contact Phil Brown [email protected].
REGISTRATIONS AFTER FEBRUARY 1, 2020:
We will do our best to register you for trips after February 1, but cannot guarantee your space. To confirm space availability, all of your paperwork and deposit must be completed and turned in. Also, the total cost of your trip could increase by 10% or more depending on the policy of the organization we are traveling with. We cannot accept any registrations after April 1 unless there is a cancellation by another registered participant.
FINAL BALANCE DUE APRIL 15, 2020: Payments after this date will result in a 5% increase in the cost of the trip for every week late.
TRIP CANCELLATIONS: Your deposit per trip per person is non-refundable. We will do our best to refund the remainder of the balance to you. Refunds are based on several factors, including the amount we have already paid for registrations, the policies of the organization we go with, and the time remaining before we leave for the trip. If there is someone to take your place we will refund you the entire cost of the trip, once that person registers in full including any additional late registration fees.