Mission Trip Packing List
Sample Trip Packing List
WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING (and not bring):
Driver’s License, School ID or Passport – all 18 year olds need a government issued ID (like a drivers license)
Photocopy of your insurance card
Money for your team shirt (ask your Advisor the cost)
Backpack for daily use/an overnight
Photo copy of Health Insurance card
Sleeping bag and pillow – (must be packed in your luggage, we will be sleeping on cots)
Personal toiletries (soap, deodorant, shampoo, toothbrush/toothpaste)
A shower towel
Shower shoes/flip flops
Heavy winter coat
Gloves, mittens, hat, scarf
Fleece/sweatshirt
Sneakers
Water bottle (important!)
Flashlight
Work boots – hiking boots are acceptable (if your child does not come […]
Mission Trip Sample Itinerary
Mission Trip Budget
Mission Trip Detailed Work Plan
Sample Trip Logistics Detail/Work Plan
Assign responsible parties and deadlines to each item in each category
Budget
Create/review/update budget
Collect and track trip fees
Develop materials for grant requests and/or fundraising plans
Create a list of cash needs for the trip
Contact the credit card company with travel details
Get cash from the bank and separate into envelopes
Set up fee and donation payment options with church office
Alert church insurance provider about the trip and determine if any coverage riders are needed for the trip.
Pre-Trip Events
Order boxes and items for “trip reveal” box
Schedule youth group seniors to pack and wrap boxes
Schedule youth group seniors to deliver the boxes
Make travel […]
Retreat Itinerary
Sample Retreat Itinerary
Senior/Freshman Mini-Mission Trip Schedule
Friday, October 25:
2:00pm TBD to pick up rental car
2:30pm Seniors and Freshmen meet at the church
3:26pm Board train and head to NYC
5:00pm Group orientation at YSOP
5:15pm Make dinner at YSOP
5:45pm Clean-up and welcome clients from the shelters
6:30pm Serve dinner and spend time talking and eating with clients
8:00pm Free time
10:00pm Worship service and vespers
11:30pm Lights Out
Saturday, October 26:
7:00am Rise and shine
7:30am Breakfast/clean up
8:45am Depart for shelters in teams for the day
12:00pm Lunch at sites
3:00pm Teams wrap up and head back […]
Fundraising Email
Draft Fundraising Email
Two weeks from today, [insert number of kids] mission fish will travel to Shaw, Mississippi for their winter mission trip. Shaw is a town of just 1,900 people, where the median annual household income is $17,000. 99% of the children in Shaw qualify for free or reduced meals at school.
Delta Hands for Hope is a non-profit organization founded by the Rev. Jason Coker. The mission is to provide services and activities for the middle and high school students of Shaw. Run by a single staff person, Delta Hands for Hope has provided over 10,000 meals to children of […]
Mission Trip Leader Thank You Letter
Sample Youth Leader Thank You Email/Letter
Dear [Name]:
Now that we’ve been back a few days and have had a chance to recover, I wanted to take a minute to thank you for what you have made possible for our kids, not just on the mission trip, but for the entire year.
Your service as a youth group leader is an incredible gift to our church. Your love of our kids and dedication to this program are truly inspiring. The transformations that occur are the direct result of your time, talent and the caring relationships that you form with your team and the […]
Fundraising Letter
Sample Fundraising Letter
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Dear ,
For nearly xx years, (Church name) has had a mission to create a community in which youth can experience and share the love of God. We believe that this is the pathway to abundant, flourishing life for our youth. We are thrilled that your family is a part of our community!
All year in youth group, we walk with Christ to create a community marked by […]
Mission Trip Thank You Email/Letter to Adult Volunteers-Contractors
Sample Thank You Email/Letter to Adult Volunteers-Contractors
Dear [Name],
Now that we’ve been back a few days and have had a chance to recover, I wanted to take a minute to thank you for what you have made possible for our kids on the youth group mission trip to [insert name].
Your service as a [contractor/volunteer] on the mission trips is an incredible gift to our church. Your love of our kids and dedication to this program are truly inspiring. The transformations that occur are the direct result of your time, talent and the caring relationships that you form with your team. You […]
Host Church Thank You Letter
Sample Host Church Thank You Letter
Dear Pastor [Name],
Now that we’ve recovered from our travels, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for everything that you did to make our mission trip a success. From our perspective, the mission trip was a tremendous success in every way and, a blessed opportunity to fellowship, worship and serve together. It was a life changing experience for all of the mission fish.
Pastor, I can’t thank you enough for all that you did for us on this trip. Not only did you welcome our kids into your church, but you and your congregation […]
Denominational Resources
Denominational Resources for Mission Trip Planning
CT Retreat Centers
Select Retreat Centers in Connecticut
Trinity Retreat Center
Episcopal retreat center. A ministry of Trinity Wall Street in New York City. https://www.trinitywallstreet.org/about/trinity-retreat-center
79 Lower River Rd, West Cornwall, CT 0679606796 917.750.6692, retreat@trinitywallstreet.org
Mercy by the Sea
Conference and retreat center connected to the Catholic order, the Sisters of Mercy. Offers spiritual direction. https://www.mercybythesea.org/
167 Neck Road, Madison, CT 06443-0191, (203) 245-0401, Contact: Diane Kopin at 203.245.0401, ext. 103 or dkopin@mercybythesea.org
Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center
Parish-based Catholic retreat center in the Passionist tradition. https://www.holyfamilyretreat.org/
303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, CT 06107, 860.521.0440, info@holyfamilyretreat.org
Copper Beach Institute
Independent, non-sectarian retreat center sharing a campus with Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center. Focus on mindfulness. https://www.copperbeechinstitute.org/our-campus
303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, […]