Regeneration Fall Retreat 2013 Parent - Student Information Packer

Transcription

1 Regeneration Fall Retreat 2013 Parent - Student Information Packer We are so excited for our Elevate ReGeneration Retreat! This packet is for both parents and students to read through. It is vital that both parents and students read the packet in its entirety before October 25th. Please take some time to CAREFULLY read over this packet as it contains critical information that will make your trip the most successful. We encourage both student and parent(s) to look over this documentation to ensure effective preparation. Not reading this packet could result in not being fully prepared, not being able to participate in certain activities, going to bed hungry Friday Night, or getting sent home. Reading through this packet will ensure you are prepared and will have a good time! If you have any questions in regards to the information in this packet, do not hesitate to contact Aubrey Mills at amills@church-redeemer.org or x Deposit/Final Payment The remaining payment cannot be done through the Online Registration System. Nor will it be automatically taken out of your account. You will need to bring the payment to the church. Please follow these steps carefully, if you do not follow these steps we will not be able to process your final payment. 1. Please fill out your check as normal with the remaining amount owed. 2. Please make the check out to Church of the Redeemer 3. Do not put your students name anywhere on the check itself or we will be unable to process it. 4. Put the check in an envelope with your students name on the envelope. 5. Also write "Elevate Retreat Payment, ATTN: Aubrey Mills" 6. Please note that all payments must be made no later than Wednesday October 23rd. You will receive a receipt via . If you have any questions about this process please do not hesitate to ask. Cell Phone Policy Students are allowed to bring their cellphones on the retreat. However, cell phones are an easy way to avoid socializing with the people around you. At the beginning of the retreat we will ask students to POWERED OFF their cell phones until further notice. If we see a student with their cell phone on after we ve asked them to turn it off, we will give one warning to turn it off. If we see it on again during a time it is not allowed to be on we will confiscate the phone until further notice.

2 Please talk with your student and make sure they take this policy seriously going into the trip. Phones can cause us to be antisocial in new environments. They also can be a distraction for what God may be trying to speak to you during the retreat. Remember, we don t just want it on sleep mode, it must be physically powered off. You may go through withdrawal for the first 2 hours, but you ll be fine! Parents Keeping In Touch There are two primary ways parents can see what s going on during the retreat. Facebook & Instagram. If you have a computer, checking our facebook page is the best way to see what s going on. Throughout the day we will post many snapshots of the students, what they are doing, fun poses, etc. If you have a smart phone, sign up on instagram and follow our Elevate Gaithersburg page or search the hashtage # madetoelevate to see whats happening. Facebook Page: facebook.com/elevategaithersburg Instagram Page: elevate_gaitherburg (Mobile) If you need to talk with your student in an emergency situation please call the camp. Otherwise, please check our social media sites to get the latest pictures on how they are doing. Sandy Hill Camp and Retreat Center: 3380 Turkey Point Road, North East, MD Phone: (410) Friday Drop Off Things to Know Dinner will not be provided Friday Night. Please eat before you come or pack a bagged lunch for the bus ride up. Check-In is from 4-5pm at the church. Please arrive early. If students are late beyond a certain point parents will be responsible for transporting students to the camp site. Please Check on the second floor through the MAIN church entrance. Another event will be going on at the church on the first floor - to avoid confusion please park near the main entrance and enter through the FRONT of the building. Students will checkin outside, drop off their luggage where directed, then will be allowed inside with their wristband. Parents are encouraged to say their goodbyes at the door - the retreat for the begins the moment the step inside the church! We encourage parents to say their goodbyes to the students at the checkin station and not to wait around for the buses to depart. Packing List Each student is allowed to bring ONE piece of luggage (Suitcase, duffle bag, etc.). Please pack your sleeping bag & pillow inside your large suitcase or duffle bag. If you don t have

3 a large suitcase or duffle bag, you must attach them somehow to your piece of luggage. This will make our loading and unloading process much quicker. We also cannot ensure that blankets or pillows will not get dirty as we unload at the retreat center on the ground. The following items are APPROVED/ ENCOURAGED to bring: Clothing and sneakers you can get dirty (PLEASE look at the weather for the weekend and bring proper Cold Gear/ Sweatshirt / Sweatpants / Rain Coat) Only APPROPRIATE clothes will be allowed on the trip. No profane, offensive, low cut/spaghetti straps shirts or low rise/tight pants can be worn. If the clothing worn do not follow this standard students will be asked to change. PARENTS: Please check with your students to make sure students follow these guidelines. Waterproof Flip flops for bathroom/shower facilities Pajamas (Appropriate) Trash Bag for dirty clothes and/or shoes Toiletries (toothbrush, soap, deodorant, etc.) Sunscreen, Bug Spray Small flashlight Towel Pillow Sleeping Bag Personal Medication(s) Bible, Pen, Small Notebook A White T-shirt they can get dirty for the Gauntlet Activity The following items are OPTIONAL to bring: Cell Phone Digital Camera Candy to share The following items are UNAPPROVED/DISCOURAGED: Immodest clothing (includes, spaghetti straps, low cut shirts, short shorts - shorts must reach the tip of middle finer when arms are extended downward at your side, etc) - Inappropriate content on clothing -Electronics (includes tablets, Nintendo DS, DSlite, 3DS, 2DS, Vita, PSP, etc) -Alcohol, cigarettes, or illegal substances -Sharp or dangerous items (includes pocket knives) Parents WILL be made aware of any inappropriate items. Medical Assistance We will have a designated medic with us at the retreat to assist with any needs.

4 Elevate Retreat Rules & Expectations We are going to experience God and have an amazing amount of fun on this retreat! However, in order to ensure everyone has a good and safe time we have some rules. Please read through these rules with your student so that you both know the expectation going in. Cell Phones Off unless directed otherwise Respect and Obey your Crew Leader Respect and Obey all Crew Leaders No girls in guys cabins No guys in girls cabins Never go somewhere without asking your Crew Leader First No talking or disturbing others during the Sessions Show kindness and respect to other students Be a Team Player. If a student is not cooperating we will first give them a warning. If issues continue we will call the parents and have them speak to the student. After that, if the student continues to be a disruption we will have to ask the parent to pick them up immediately. Programing & Activities Crews All of the students are broken down into Crews which consist of about six students and one adult leader. The students within a Crew will all be the same grade and gender. You will do several activities within the context of your Crew, however you will have plenty of opportunities to hang out with everyone else during the retreat too. So if you are not in the same crew as your friend, don t worry - you ll have plenty of time to hang out. Crew Leader You Crew Leader is a Adult Volunteer who has completed a background check, interviewed and been approved by Elevate Student Ministries to serve with our teenagers. Your Crew leader is already praying for you and is excited to meet you! Crew Checks At various times during the retreat you might head over the loud speaker Crew Check This means to find your Crew Leader Immediately. Care Cards During the retreat we will have a wall of envelopes available at a location TBA with paper and pens. Each student and leader will have a envelope with their name and crew # on it. The goal is that throughout the retreat, people will write encouraging notes to one another

5 and place them in these envelopes. Then on the ride home, each crew leader will give their students their envelops and have a great memento to take home with them. The Gauntlet The Gauntlet is designed to unite your crew, help them problem solve and coordinate together. Everyone will have unforgettable fun in the process. They can t complete the Gauntlet on their own, they must do it as a Crew. The Gauntlet is divided into 8 team building activities all over the camp which will be done in 15 minute intervals. You ll have 15 minutes to complete the activity - then everyone will move on to the next one. The Gauntlet will last for about 2 hours. Bring comfortable shoes...! At certain parts of the Gauntlet we will be throwing Color Run Powder at everyone (which is why you must wear White T-shirts.) The powder consist of flour, food coloring and corn cornstarch. Students with Asthma should use their best judgement and ops out of getting the powder thrown at them. Students with a gluten allergy should also talk to their parents and decide in advance weather or not to participate in the powder portion of the Gauntlet or not.