Yesterday I posted a letter that I shared with students before a big youth conference.
Part of the takeaway (I hoped) was to give you a template to use on your trips. The other takeaway is how I see that letter now, fourteen years after I wrote it; It had at least one huge blind spot in it.
So here’s the other letter I wrote. This one was aimed at my adult volunteers:
Trip Checklist for adults
Thanks for being willing to step up and take on some leadership during this awesome weekend!!! Here are a few things to help you out!
Friday:
– Students should arrive no earlier than 11:15am. If you can, be there @ 11am.
– The vans will be picked up that morning by Bev and Rob. Each will have a cartop carrier that will need to be attached. Get on this right away as packing luggage will be tricky. Don’t let students claim seats until after luggage is packed.
– Hand out a copy of the letter I’ve written to each student before they leave.
– There will be a guy’s van and a girl’s van. The students will naturally want to mix this up, but let them know that for the ride there they will be this way (no exceptions – don’t let them whine you into it). The compromise is that on the way home we’ll let them mix it up if they do well during the conference.
– Pick a group of students that you will personally keep track of. This will help if you have any stops along the way (i.e. bathroom) and ensure that no one gets left behind (which would be reeeeaaaaalllllyyyyy bad).
– Use the trip as time to chat with students. Ask them to tell you “their story.” You can move on to surface level stuff (i.e. “What’s you get for Christmas?”) to deeper stuff (“So what are you hoping Jesus will do in your heart this weekend?”) Be more of a listener than a talker and the kids will click with you more easily.When you arrive:
– Look for me in the lobby. Do not check our students in – I will do that with you or make arrangements to assist you in that once they are there. Do not let students leave the group – if they need a bathroom, ask them to wait if possible.
– Once the group is checked in, make arrangements for food (where to meet – when – etc) and then they can go to their rooms. Go with them and get them settled. REMINDER: We’re asking students to not have any portable electronic gaming devices on this trip. Likewise, I’m challenging students not to use their TVs in their rooms.You’re awesome! Thanks for doing this!
Together,
Pastor Tony
Once again, do you see any blind spots? Does this help your ministry?
Thanks for loving students!
– Tony / @TonyMyles
Tony, i’m wondering how the “tech un-plug” went for your group?
Hi Marc! It actually worked well, and usually does. The only time it’s backfired on me was when we had a girl sign up for a trip once the day before we left. She took a completely aloof attitude toward anything we said, and we didn’t find out about her cavalcade of electronics until we arrived. It meant an awkward call back home to her mom about it and a line in the sand – “We want you here, but you there’s a reason for this trip. You saw this information in the paperwork before we left and chose not to speak up, so this is your responsibility to make right. Either choose to let the trip and its purposes be more important than your electronics, or mom’s going to have to drive to pick you up because you feel this is unfair.” She chose to stay, but the whole trip gave every leader grief and looked for any hint of hypocrisy in us. I learned later that a chat with parents is even more important than the letter to the students, especially if they’re new.
awesome! we took our youth down to Fl (from tn) for camp this year and i told them that all electronic devices would be taken up during the week unless there was a dire emergency. I also strongly suggested listening to God honoring music there and back on the vans. it doesn’t make much sense to be going to camp and listening to eminem on the way back right? If i ever do anything involving hotels, i’ll take your advice here on the post! especially with there being hbo free on almost every room. it helps to curb the temptation for all!
Tony, i’m wondering how the “tech un-plug” went for your group?
Hi Marc! It actually worked well, and usually does. The only time it’s backfired on me was when we had a girl sign up for a trip once the day before we left. She took a completely aloof attitude toward anything we said, and we didn’t find out about her cavalcade of electronics until we arrived. It meant an awkward call back home to her mom about it and a line in the sand – “We want you here, but you there’s a reason for this trip. You saw this information in the paperwork before we left and chose not to speak up, so this is your responsibility to make right. Either choose to let the trip and its purposes be more important than your electronics, or mom’s going to have to drive to pick you up because you feel this is unfair.” She chose to stay, but the whole trip gave every leader grief and looked for any hint of hypocrisy in us. I learned later that a chat with parents is even more important than the letter to the students, especially if they’re new.
awesome! we took our youth down to Fl (from tn) for camp this year and i told them that all electronic devices would be taken up during the week unless there was a dire emergency. I also strongly suggested listening to God honoring music there and back on the vans. it doesn’t make much sense to be going to camp and listening to eminem on the way back right? If i ever do anything involving hotels, i’ll take your advice here on the post! especially with there being hbo free on almost every room. it helps to curb the temptation for all!
Love this. Isn’t it crazy how the kids that we allow “last minute” or make the exceptions for are the ones who, well, you know.
Can’t wait to steal these letters for our upcoming events.
Love this. Isn’t it crazy how the kids that we allow “last minute” or make the exceptions for are the ones who, well, you know.
Can’t wait to steal these letters for our upcoming events.