Diocese of Chicago Mission Trip 2012 Information for participants 1
Mission Trip Packet Table of Contents Welcome Table of contents 2 Details 3 & 4 What to Bring 5 Medical & Other information 6 Mission Trip Covenant 2012 7 Mission Trip Meeting Dates/contact information 8 2
Dates Saturday, July 28 Friday, August 3 We will plan to arrive at 4:00 p.m. July 28, and will end early afternoon on August 3. Participants are asked to stay for the entirety of the Mission Trip in the housing provided. Part of the importance of a Mission trip is the community it builds by living IN community. We ask everyone to live and work in community for a week. We are not accepting drop in groups or people who want to come for one day or one project. Who may attend: High school aged youth (including incoming freshmen - those entering high school in the 2012 2013 school year), college students, and adults who will work alongside our young people on work sites. Adults are expected to follow the same rules as the young people. Housing Information We will be housed at: Hostelling International - The J. Ira & Nicki Harris Family Hostel, at 24 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago, IL 60605. (at State & Congress) Rooms have 8 beds. We will be housed by gender and age. High school students will be roomed with high school students, college students with college students. Each room has a private bathroom with shower. Adults will be housed in separate rooms, but close to the youth and college students. We have been assured that no one outside of our group will be assigned to our rooms in the hostel. The building is air-conditioned and has refrigerators. Individual lockers are provided in each room. Please bring your own lock for the lockers. All guests receive bed linens, towel and pillow. There in internet access and selfservice laundry on site. Parking The hostel does not have its own parking lot, but guests of Hostelling International receive a special rate at a nearby garage, at 63 E. Congress Parkway. The front desk will stamp your parking receipt in order to get the special discount of $28/24 hours for a car, $35/24 hours for full-size vans. Parking downtown is expensive. We encourage you to consolidate vehicles or arrive by train or bus to help keep the cost of your group's trip down. 3
Meals All meals will be provided starting with dinner on Saturday, July 28 through lunch on Friday, August 3. We will be doing some of our own cooking, may dine at restaurants and may have groups provide meals for us. Where are we going, what will we be doing? We will be working with local agencies in the Chicago area, ranging from our own Episcopal Charities Agencies, and possibly working with such as Ravenswood Community Services, Cathedral Shelter, the Primo Center, Holy Family School, St. Leonard s House, Shelter Care Ministries, to groups like Chicago Cares, Inspiration Café, Habitat for Humanity, We will have some time to explore the city of Chicago, with some known or more unknown attractions. Adults will be with groups at all times. Transportation CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) buses, El, trains Many times, we will be taking public transportation to work sites, dinner location, and recreational options. Weekly CTA passes will be available to all who register for the Mission Trip. Each person will be expected to keep their own CTA pass, and if lost will need to replace it out of their own funds. All youth will be supervised by adult when riding in any CTA vehicle. Vans Some of the time, some or all of our participants may ride in rental vans or SUVs. Adults Chaperones (over 21) will be asked to share in the driving. Other information: You are welcome to bring cell phones. We are not responsible for lost or stolen items. Cell phones are not suggested on the worksites (except for one of the adults at each site). Adults are happy to hold phones for safe keeping. We will have assigned times during the day each day where participants may use their cell phones. ipods and personal stereo equipment are optional. We are not responsible for lost or stolen items. Ipods are for use on the train or van ride only. There is internet at the hostel. We cannot guarantee security of computer or valuables. Bring them at your own risk! We encourage you to bring snacks to share for the trip. 4
Mission Trip What to bring Clothing: Many changes of clothing! Clothes you do not mind getting muddy or full of paint etc. Clothing that you don t mind throwing away. This should include at LEAST 1 pair of blue jeans and 1 long-sleeved shirt. Clothes that you can change into after returning to camp and showering. Lots of socks T-shirts Jeans! (a must!) Shorts Long sleeve shirts (its buggy) (cotton shirts) One or two decent outfit(s) to wear out in public. Bathing suit (no bikinis or speedos) (a one piece or tankinis for girls) Hats (baseball caps) Bandanas ***you can go to the thrift store to get old clothes to work in! Shoes: Heavy work boots (thick toed shoes) (MUST have closed toed shoes!) Other shoes (gym shoes/sneakers) Open toed shoes (will not be allowed on worksites, but you may travel in them) Shower shoes (flip flops) Toiletries: Towels (more than one) 2-3 Shampoo Soap Toothbrush/toothpaste Bedding: Sleeping bags and/or, sheets etc. (twin beds) (there is air-conditioning) (probably not allowed) Blanket Pillows Tools (optional) but if you have your own, you may want to bring them! Hammer Screwdriver set Tape Measure Other Flashlight!! Raincoat or poncho Sunglasses (a must!) Sunscreen Purell or similar hand sanitizer Insect repellent spray Books & Magazines for the train ride Ear plugs (for sleeping) (optional) Eye protection, such as safety glasses or goggles (optional, but recommended) Disposable cameras (optional) Work gloves (optional, but recommended) Snacks for the road and for the mission trip. Spending money for lunch on the road on the way there & back, and for any souvenirs 5
Medical requirements: Medical Information Please bring medication in its original container. Bring just enough for the time we will be on the trip with one extra. Please make sure NOT to check your medication in checked luggage! Everyone should have a tetanus booster shot within the past five years. We recommend the Hepatitis vaccine. What is this and what will we be doing: The Diocese of Chicago s 2012 Mission Trip is a ministry to the people in our own local communities. Volunteers participating in the activities of the mission trip will be expected to be involved in specific outreach, repair and building activities including, but not limited to: sorting thrift store items, serving meals to homeless guests, helping with day camps, gutting houses, cleaning debris, gardening/yard work, roofing, carpentry, dry walling, digging and building steps, plumbing, glasswork, insulating, painting, flooring, masonry, electrical wiring and other facets of repair, remodeling and renovation. These activities include, but are not limited to: the use of power tools such as saws and drills, as well as the use of hand tools. The foregoing activities will also require climbing with and without supplies, tools and materials as well as working in high places such as on roofs and other facets of construction work. Volunteers may, in their free time, engage in non-sponsored activities including sports activities of their choosing. Planned evening activities may include, but are not limited to: visiting the local community, traveling to visit places or people of regional interest. Note: Volunteers are not required to engage in any work or recreational activity in which they feel they are not physically able to safely participate. 6
Diocese of Chicago Mission Trip Covenant 2012 We together are responsible for the safety and conduct of all in our group (youth and adult volunteers) at all times (at Hostelling International, at work sites, recreational options, or in community). [TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER! AND ACT RESPONSIBLY.] Everyone is expected to act responsibly the entire time they are on the trip. You will be an outsider in a new environment and our actions will reflect on all those who come after. There might be occasions when you will have to modify your lifestyle or habits so as not to be offensive to the culture or tradition. Please be sensitive. Possession or use of illegal drugs or alcohol is strictly forbidden! Violators will be asked to return home immediately at their parent s expense. Smoking or use of tobacco products is prohibited in any facility used by the group. If needed, a designated area will be identified. Use of tobacco products is discouraged at the work site due to sensitivity and the potential of fire hazard. Underage youth are not permitted to smoke anywhere! Females are not permitted at any time in the males sleeping area. Males are not permitted in the females sleeping area, at any time. Strict 10:00 p.m. quiet time and lights out rule applies to all volunteers. We understand that inappropriate sexual behavior will not be tolerated, this includes: sexual misconduct, sexually explicit communication, sexual harassment, and sexual abuse. Acts of violence and aggression will not be tolerated. Firearms, air rifles or pistols, BB guns, replicas of firearms or any kind of weaponry (or replicas), knives, or fireworks are not permitted. Please use tools, supplies and materials, and other resources responsibly and for their intended purposes. Always keep the safety of others as a priority, as well as being sensitive to who you are serving. Attire - Discretion in clothing must be used at the center and in the community. Shirts must be worn at all times. When leaving the Camp or work grounds, modest shorts and T-shirts will be acceptable attire. Halter, spaghetti-strap, or tank tops, sports bras worn as an outer garment, sleeveless shirts, Spandex clothing, bike pants, or shirts and hats expressing alcohol/beer slogans and obscenities are not acceptable. Work attire - Shirts, long pants, and sturdy shoes (work boots are preferred) must be worn at the work site. Sweat pants, shorts, hospital scrubs, pants ripped out at the seams, half shirts, sleeveless shirts, sports bras and halter tops are just not acceptable. All volunteers (youth and adult) are expected to participate fully in programs, including meals, chores, meetings, evening gatherings, and special events. Volunteers will be asked to assist in center clean up, tool and supply organization, preparing meals, after meal clean up, loading or unloading of building materials, and other assorted tasks. All are expected to respect the physical property of the facility and the property of each person on the trip. EACH DAY you have agreed to put in a full day of work and to work the entire week! If you must leave the work site during the day, 2 adults must be left at the worksite and 2 adults must be in any car leaving the site with youth. In signing this Covenant, I am agreeing to abide by the rules and expectations of the group listed above. I understand that The Diocese of Chicago staff and adult volunteers reserve the right to terminate the participation of any individual that does not honor our covenant and does not abide by the rules and expectations of the group. Signature Date 7
Meeting Dates Trip Preparation Meetings and Fundraisers February 11, 2012 March 17, 2012 Mission Trip Informational Meeting Emmanuel, LaGrange, in the Swamp 10:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Make up Mission Trip Informational Meeting Emmanuel, LaGrange, in the Swamp 10:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Contact information Coordinators for the Diocese of Chicago Mission Trip: Chad Senuta 312-751-6722 office 913-620-0007 cell csenuta@episcopalchicago.org Jess Elfring 312-751-6722 jelfring@episcopalchicago.org Hostelling International Contact Info The J.Ira & Nicki Harris Family Hostel 24 E. Congress Parkway Chicago, IL 60605 (312) 360-0300 Emily Piga Group Sales Manager (312) 583-2216 epiga@hichicago.org www.hichicago.org 8