| Ministering
since 1992, Reach Workcamps is a weeklong mission of service to low-income
communities. Working with local agencies and/or local churches, the camps
seek to make an impact on residents, communities, students and adult sponsors
who attend. It is a life-changing experience as campers participate in activities
that build community and self-esteem, encourages spiritual growth and enables
them to understand their role in combating poverty.
Who
can come?
Any students who will be entering grades 9 through 12 and their adult
sponsors, and young adults through age 20 can attend. Students entering
grades 7 and 8 can attend the Combination Workcamps. We do ask that there
be one adult age 21 or older for every five students, and at least one
adult for each gender.
Can
we bring children to the workcamp? We truly recognize that many youth
leaders have families with small children (newborn through elementary).
We believe however, that bringing children to the workcamp has the potential
of being a distraction to the overall purpose of our ministry for teenagers
and the daily flow of the week's events. Items such as food, lodging,
safety, insurance are all factors that have helped shape this decision.
So it is our policy that children are not permitted to attend a Reach
Workcamp.
Residents
Reach Workcamps organizes and coordinates the completion of basic home
repair projects for elderly, disabled, and low-income families. Each resident
is visited during the year before the camp by one of our staff to look
over the home and meet the person whom we will be serving. The construction
aim of the workcamp is to provide residents with a warmer, dryer and safer
home. The workcamp also helps to restore lost pride and hope in the residents.
In many cases, the repair work helps to reduce utility costs. It is a
priority of each Reach Workcamp to establish positive relationships between
residents and workcampers. Our workcampers are encouraged to spend time
talking with and listening to the residents they are serving. The relationships
that are established enable the workcamp to achieve one of its goals:
meeting the emotional and spiritual needs of the residents.
Cost
The full registration fee is $380 per person which includes:
-$50 per person registration fee
-Accommodations
-All meals (except for Wed. evening) from dinner on arrival Sunday evening
to breakfast on the Saturday of departure
-Supplemental health insurance
-Materials to be used for the resident's home
-Program materials
Adults
Each group must include at least one adult sponsor 21 years or older for
every five students. If the group represents both genders, there must
be a sponsor for each gender. Adults are key to helping us serve. Each
adult will be a part of a workcrew and is expected to help facilitate
discussions and encourage students in all parts of the project and activities
during the camp. There are also some volunteer positions needed at each
camp that help the Reach Staff with "behind-the-scenes" stuff.
If you would like to volunteer at a camp that your youth group is attending,
click here to print out a
Volunteer Application Form. This is different than the "normal"
adult position.
Accommodations
Each camp is housed at a local high school in the community we will be
serving. Restroom and shower facilities are all dependent upon the facility
at which we are staying, however, we do visit each school to see that
it is acceptable. We make a strong effort to make your stay as comfortable
as possible including privatizing the shower areas. Your group will be
sleeping at the school, which will be divided into men's and women's areas.
An air mattress will become one of your best friends here.
Meals
Reach will provide all meals from arrival Sunday dinner through breakfast
on Saturday of your departure. Wednesday is a half-day of work and the
afternoon is free for your group until evening program at 7pm. You will
be responsible for dinner Wednesday night.
Getting
Around
The vehicles your group brings to the camp will be assigned for transportation
to and from the worksites. We will request a vehicle information form
to be filled out so that drivers may be assigned to workcrews that will
need a lift. Reach will pay for any gas used to transport workcrews to
and from the worksite.
Projects
The projects will include basic weatherization, painting, repair and construction
of porches, steps, wheelchair ramps and outhouses, as well as many other
unique projects that may be assigned. The projects selected are appropriate
for the age group attending and each camper is assigned to a project with
their skill level in mind. All repairs are made at no cost to the residents.
Construction skills are not a requirement to attend a workcamp. A servant's
heart and a "go-get-em" attitude are the most useful tools to
bring to the workcamp. Experienced maintenance and home repair volunteers
make daily on-site visits to ensure quality workmanship and to assist
workcampers with the skills necessary to complete their projects. Click
here to see a sample Worksite Description that is given to each crew
in order to complete their work projects.
Worksites
are selected based on the following criteria:
- Obvious
need - either the home is in obvious need of repairs or the resident
physically can not complete needed repairs.
- Workcamper
safety - both the structural conditions and environmental conditions
are safe for the workcampers.
- Location
- All worksites are usually within 30 minutes driving distance from
the host school.
- Residents
- All worksites need to be occupied residential homes.
- Local
community agencies may wish to include additional criteria such as income,
specific area of the county, age groupings, etc.
Senior High participants
(9-12 graders) work in groups or “workcrews” of seven people selected
from all workcamp participants. The same workcrew works together all week.
Junior High participants (7-8 graders) at the combination workcamps will
work together in groups of 3-4 youth and an adult sponsor from their church.
They will then be teamed up with another junior high group from another
church of 3-4 youth and an adult sponsor, thus making a workcrew of 8-10
people.
Typical
Workcamp Day
6:30
am |
Wake-up
with some lovely Reach music |
6:30
am |
A
fully loaded breakfast |
7:30
am |
Morning
Program |
8:00
am |
Head
out for the worksites |
12:00
pm |
Lunch
and on-site devotions |
3:30
pm |
Return
to the school for a well deserved shower |
5:00
pm |
Dinner |
7:00
pm |
Evening
Program |
8:30
pm |
Youth
Group Reflections |
9:30
pm |
Free
Time |
10:45
pm |
Lights
out |
Included
during the day are On-Site Devotions that help each workcrew come together
and focus on Christ in their lives. Wednesday is a unique day in that it
is a half day of work. The afternoon is free for your group to go site-seeing,
swimming at the local pool or lake, play mini-golf, cow-tongue football
or whatever it is you want to do. Dinner is your group's responsibility
for Wednesday evening and upon your return, there is a talent show that
night for anyone, or group, to showcase their stuff. Youth groups are expected
to return in time for the Wednesday evening talent show.
Want more details on a typical day at Reach, click
here to see a Detailed Schedule with lots of pictures.
Registration
In order to reserve your place this summer at a Reach Workcamp, a $50
per person non-refundable deposit is required. Be sure to reserve enough
spaces for your group. If you would like to learn more concerning our
registration policy, or you would like to register for a Reach Workcamp,
click here.
When
did Reach Workcamps begin?
Reach Ministries International was incorporated as a non-profit organization
in the State of Colorado on November 25, 1991. Reach Ministries International
received its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service
on July 21, 1992. “Reach Workcamps” is a trade name used
by Reach Ministries International to represent all workcamp activities.
Reach
is interdenominational. It is not affiliated with any one church but serves
all Christian churches. An interdenominational eight member National Board
of Directors governs Reach.
Reach
held its first workcamp during the summer of 1992 in Madisonville, Kentucky.
Since then, over 25,000 junior and senior high school students and their
adult sponsors have attended a Reach Workcamp in thirteen different states
and Mexico. There have been a total of 92 Reach Workcamps since its birth.
Over the years, Reach Workcamps has experienced a 70% youth group return
rate.
We
are excited about the journey that God has lead us on, and look forward
to His future for Reach Workcamps!
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