Session 3: Campfires and Covenants

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1 Session 3: Campfires and Covenants Purposes - To continue making connections among all group members o Corollary: If you haven t already established work crews, the campfire conversations can help provide insight into various dynamics within your group. - To establish the guidelines for your group s interaction with one another, with ASP staff, and with the other people you ll meet on your trip Before the Meeting - Covenant conversations have already happened in a couple of your sessions. Collect the thoughts from the John 1 exercise and the Your trip starts here. exercise from Session 1 and the Stereotypes of Appalachia exercise from Session 2. Those give some great insights into what your desired outcomes are as well as how your group hopes to interact with others. - There a couple of effective ways to get your group thinking about their collective expectations for their trip before the meeting. (Certainly, there are more, but these two have been effective for me in the past.) o Option 1 Most labor-intensive: Distribute the Making this trip great! sheet more than a week before your meeting so each participant can provide thoughtful answers that aren t rushed by the time constraints of a meeting. o Option 2 Less work at the end but requires some advance work and communication: Create an online survey (Survey Monkey, etc.) with the Making this trip great! questions. Distribute the link with plenty of time for each participant to complete the survey. (Be mindful of students who may not have access to internet and accommodate them.) o Option 3 Least effective and least fun: Have copies of the Making this trip great! form ready for each person at the meeting and make time for them to fill them out and discuss. (This usually doesn t result in the most thoughtful responses.) For this variation, you ll need at least five pieces of flip chart paper or giant post-its. Each of them should have one of the questions written across the top. - 5 Covenant Construction Questions sheets - A way of randomly dividing your group several times throughout the meeting Session 3: Campfires and Covenants - 1

2 Materials (NOTE: All of the forms referenced here are available at the end of this outline.) - Depending on which method you use for your covenant conversation, you ll need different materials. o Option 1: At least 5 pieces of flip chart paper or giant post-its. Each of them should have one of the questions written across the top. Several markers for each piece of paper o Option 2: Print the answers you receive from the survey and collate the responses by question. Some survey companies have an option for downloading results into a spreadsheet. That makes it easy to cut into strips by question. o Option 3: A copy of Making this trip great! for each person At least 5 pieces of flip chart paper or giant post-its. Each of them should have one of the questions written across the top. Several markers for each piece of paper - Enough Campfire Questions printouts for your group to split into small groups of 4 or 5 and have one sheet per group - One copy of the ASP Mission Trip Covenant Sheet Every person will sign this one. - Enough copies of Volunteer Expectations, Rules, and Regulations ; 3-S s ; and Safety Manual for Volunteers so that they can be shared among members of your group while you discuss them. - Copies of the ASP Individual Packing List for each participant. Building Your Group: Campfire Conversations (18 minutes) This is an important exercise. It gives leaders an opportunity to observe how your group interacts. In addition, every person has a chance to participate and contribute in a small group. This helps build some momentum for the whole group conversations later in the meeting. - Divide your group into small groups of 4 or 5 randomly and have each group sit by a campfire. - Once the groups are settled, have them discuss the first question. Everyone should answer each question. - After 5 minutes or so (depending on how the conversations are going), switch the groups up and have them sit down at a campfire to discuss the second question. - Repeat that for the third question. Session 3: Campfires and Covenants - 2

3 Making this trip great! (18 24 minutes) Option 1 - Post the sheets of paper with the Making this trip great! questions around the room. - Have every person write their responses on the appropriate question sheet. (Encourage legible handwriting.) - After everyone has written their response on the charts, divide the group (again!) so that there is a small committee for each question. - Each committee should fill out a Covenant Construction sheet for their question. Option 2 - Divide the large group so that each question has a committee and give them the responses for their question. - Each committee should fill out a Covenant Construction sheet for their question. Option 3 - Have each trip participant fill out a Making this trip great! form individually. - Post the sheets of paper with the Making this trip great! questions around the room. - Have every person write their responses on the appropriate question sheet. (Encourage legible handwriting.) - After everyone has written their response on the charts, divide the group (again!) so that there is a small committee for each question. - Each committee should fill out a Covenant Construction sheet for their question. All Options - Once the committees have filled out their sheets, gather the whole group to discuss your group covenant for the trip. Building Your Covenant (18 24 minutes) There are several things that need to happen in this section, and each leader will have a unique way of approaching these conversations. Rather than providing a step-by-step approach to this, here are the elements that should be included in this part of the meeting: - Reminders of the group s goals from the previous sessions. Here is what we hope for this trip. We need to figure out how to make these things happen. Let s commit to these goals as a group. Session 3: Campfires and Covenants - 3

4 - Reports from the committees that reflect the group s collective response to the Making this trip great! questions. - A review of the content in ASP s Volunteer Expectations, Rules, and Regulations ; 3-S s ; and Safety Manual for Volunteers. Explain that every person on your trip is responsible to these guidelines and have them sign the ASP Covenant which you will return with your Final Trip Balance. - Keep notes on the ideas that emerge and collect them on a whiteboard, butcher paper, chalkboard, etc. Before the Parent Meeting, appoint someone to compose these ideas into the group s covenant. There is a sample covenant attached to this outline that came together by way of this process. (Thanks to Trinity Lutheran Church of Owatonna, Minnesota for granting permission to share it.) - Close this portion of the meeting in prayer: o God, you call us to be in community with one another. Bless us as we serve together, grow together, and share your love. Give us patience, enthusiasm, and compassion as we get ready to be your active people in the world! In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Nuts and Bolts - PACKING LISTS Now is a great time to distribute a packing list to your trip participants. It gives time for people to plan and make sure they have everything. Make sure to make any notes of additional items participants may need for the travel to and from your ASP center. - Give time at each meeting for questions and announcements about the logistics of your trip. For the sake of your group s cohesion, don t assume everyone just knows. Things to include: o Upcoming meeting dates o Upcoming fundraiser opportunities o Paperwork deadlines Session 3: Campfires and Covenants - 4

5 Who inspires you? Why? What gives you hope for the future of the world? What do you think God s hopes are for you as a result of being part of this trip and this group?

6 Covenant Construction! Call(ed) to Action Common Themes Why is this topic important? How does God call us to act because of these ideas? Session 3: Campfires and Covenants

7 (SAMPLE) 2017 High School Service Trip to West Virginia Group Covenant We know that we are each members of the Body of Christ each of us uniquely made and doing our best to live and learn as disciples of Jesus. As we travel, we approach this trip as Christian servants and representatives of Christ s church on earth and the Trinity Lutheran Church congregation. We will use our many gifts to contribute to the group s overall trip experience. Because many of us want to try something new, we agree to actively participate, encourage, and support each other while we make a positive difference in others lives, strengthen our relationships with God, experience new things, and have fun. We will all work hard as a team by communicating, making new friendships, and staying positive while working for God. We will support, motivate, and communicate as a team. We will help each other feel positive about this trip by how we treat each other, listen to each other, be flexible, act appropriately in public, pull our own weight and give our best efforts, encourage each other, and remain optimistic. We expect to show respect and hard work through actions not only through words. We will be kind and respectful toward people from other churches as well as the ASP staff. We will also abide by ASP s work center rules and guidelines for safety, stewardship, and sensitivity. Leaders will set a good foundation by providing a positive and encouraging environment. They will lead by example and be open to listening to anything. We will include the leaders in our conversations, at meal times, and during special activities. Safety and security are ultimate concerns for our group as we travel. We agree to travel in groups of at least three members. We also agree to be prompt for check-ins and meeting times. Out of respect for our bodies, we will take care of ourselves by respecting lights out times, eating well, and not engaging in dangerous stunts. We will not use drugs of any kind (including any form of tobacco, alcohol, or prescription medications used in a manner inconsistent with doctor s orders). If use is detected, the parents of the person involved will be notified immediately. Sample Covenant used with Permission from Trinity Lutheran Church Owatonna, Minnesota

8 In accordance with Trinity Lutheran Church s vehicle use policies, we will wear seatbelts at all times in a manner consistent with their intended use. We recognize that a large part of this immersion experience involves getting away from the clutter and noise that surrounds us daily. As such, we will leave cell phones at home. Necessary information will be communicated by way of leaders cell phones. All of us agree to the promises in this covenant with the understanding that violating its words or intent will result in a discussion with one or more adult leaders and possible disciplinary actions. Gross neglect of the terms of this covenant may result in an early trip home at the expense of the participant s family. (To be read in a Darth Vader voice.) This deal may be altered if situations warrant. Trip Participant Parent Trip Leader (on behalf of all adult leaders) Sample Covenant used with Permission from Trinity Lutheran Church Owatonna, Minnesota

9 Making this trip Great! Making this trip Great! I will use these unique gifts to help the group: I will use these unique gifts to help the group: This is how I will help make this trip successful: This is how I will help make this trip successful: I am most concerned about these things on our trip: I am most concerned about these things on our trip: When there is a disagreement, I hope that our group will: When there is a disagreement, I hope that our group will: The leaders on this trip will be amazing because I can count on them to: The leaders on this trip will be amazing because I can count on them to: