What’s included in the registration fee?

Great question—because not every mission provider offers all this:

• Lodging
• All meals, except for one evening meal during which you and your young people will be out exploring the area
• Construction materials or project supplies, including delivery to project sites
• Theme T-shirt
• Development of thematic, fun, faith-building programs from the ministry experts at Group Magazine with the advice of Catholic ministry experts
• Pre-trip, during-trip, and post-trip prayers
• Comprehensive project preparation materials and online Leader Manual
• Program supplies
• Project selection, organization, and administration
• Highly trained camp staff
• Unlimited customer support from professional and courteous staff

Who can participate?

• No special skills are required…just a willingness to serve. The minimum group size is one young person and one adult of the same gender.
• At least 14 years old, or entering the 9th grade in the fall of 2009

What about adults?

Adults (age 21 and above) are a critical part of the mission experience. They provide safety, relationships, spiritual guidance, and discipline. And adults serve on project crews, shoulder to shoulder with young people. Bring a minimum of one adult for every five youth. If you register both males and females, bring at least one adult male and one adult female. If additional adults want to come, bring them, or have them apply at TheMichahExperience.com to serve as staff volunteers.

What's a typical day like?

• You'll rise at 6:45 a.m., eat breakfast, enjoy the brief morning program, and then you're off to a project site by 8:30 a.m.
• You'll serve at your project site until 3 p.m., hit the showers, kick back with free time, get ready for dinner, and eat at 5 p.m.
• Daily Liturgy
• Evening programs start at 7:30 p.m. followed by youth group prayer and free time
• Lights out at 11 p.m.

Where do we stay?

Most lodging is in local schools, churches, or community centers (accommodations vary by location). Accommodations will include areas for groups to room together by gender, a common eating area, and a program area. Showers will be available, though they may be indoor showers (locker room style) or may be outdoor semi-private, temporary showers. Have all campers bring a swimming suit so they're prepared for any showering situation. Participants need to bring their own sleeping bags, pillows, and a single or twin size mattress. Facilities may or may not be air-conditioned, so plan accordingly. Consider bringing a small fan. Cell phone coverage may or may not be available, but there will always be an emergency phone on site.

What about transportation?

You need to provide transportation for your group to and from your mission trip. Also, during your mission trip, the vehicles you bring will be used to provide daily transport to and from project sites. Please ensure the number of seats and seat belts in your vehicles match or exceed the number of people you bring to camp. Vehicles with at least six seats and seat belts are preferred. All vehicles, including chartered buses, must be available for transportation to sites.
If you intend to bring a large bus, please be sure your trip location can accommodate it. Check your trip description online or call our friendly Trip Advisors.
Out of consideration for other parishes, please do not bring 15-passenger vans which are a safety concern for some parishes.

How are crews organized?

• Adults serve on crews alongside young people. A typical "crew" is a group of six—five young people and one adult. Some projects require multiple crews or slight modifications of crew size based on local partner and community needs.
• Project crews usually include participants from different parishes. If you'd rather have your teenagers serve with your own group members, call us and we'll gladly accommodate your request.

How do you address safety?

• We complete multi-state criminal record searches on all camp staff. Plus, all registered adults (21 & older) must provide verification that they've been through their diocese "Safe Environment" training
• Only adults listed by their church as designated drivers are allowed to drive to project sites
• Every project site is inspected for safety before camp
• When needed, safety tips are included in project descriptions
• Each camp includes First Aid and CPR certified staff
• Projects requiring protective clothing such as shoes, hats, gloves, and sunscreen are clearly identified
• Adult supervision (a minimum of one adult for every five young people) is present at each project site
• Local medical facilities are identified, and crews each have directions and contact phone numbers

Safe Environment

The Micah Experience is committed to providing consistent safety measures at our camps. Each adult (18 years and older) who participates in a Micah Experience camp must provide verification they completed the "Safe Environment" training provided by their local diocese, together with a background check verification within the past three years.