PREPARATION PACKET
Upper Sand Mountain Parish
June 2-8, 2013
SCHEDULE
SUNDAY, JUNE 2
8:00 am Meet in FFUMC parking lot
8:30 am Depart for Mission Trip
12:00 pm Lunch stop in Cleveland, TN (Eastern Time Zone)
1:15 pm Arrive at Hiwassee Outfitters for Tubing the Hiwassee River
5:00 pm Depart for Upper Sands Mountain Parish
6:00 pm Dinner in Chattanooga
7:00 pm Arrive at Upper Sands Mountain Parish (Central Time Zone)
Move in, team building, orientation.
MONDAY, JUNE 3 – THURSDAY, JUNE 6
7:00 am Wake Up
7:30 am Breakfast
8:15 am Morning Team Meeting / Devotional
9:00 am Arrive at Ministry Center – Work Project Prep
9:15 am Arrive at Work Site
4:00 pm End Project – clean up, return supplies and equipment
4:30 pm Free Time – Showers, cards, games, relax.
6:00 pm Dinner
9:00 pm Group Devotional and Debrief
11:00 pm Lights Out
Wednesday Night – Local Concert and Worship Service
Thursday Night – Dinner hosted by a local congregation
FRIDAY, JUNE 7
7:30 am Breakfast
8:00 am Leave for Aquarium
10:00 am Arrive at Aquarium (Eastern Time Zone)
1:00 pm Lunch in Chattanooga
3:00 pm Incline Railroad to Lookout Mountain
5:00 pm Go to Hamilton Place Mall for hanging out and dinner
8:30 pm Return to Upper Sands Mountain Parish (Central Time Zone)
9:30 pm Group Devotional
12:00 am Lights Out
SATURDAY, JUNE 8
8:00 am Breakfast
8:30 am Pack up, Clean up
9:30 am Depart for Franklin
12:00 pm Arrive at FFUMC
QUESTIONS??
What is Upper Sand Mountain Parish?
Upper Sand Mountain Parish is a cooperative ministry of eight small membership, rural United Methodist
Churches serving nearly 1000 square miles of Southern Appalachian Alabama.
The cooperative seeks to strengthen member congregations that they may better serve their members, and to
provide local and global opportunities for them and others to become involved in service and community
development ministries.
What Are The Projects?
Our projects have not yet been assigned by Upper Sand Mountain Parish, but will more than likely consist of a
few of the following mission areas:
Repairing Low Income Homes: This includes minor home repairs like painting, window repair, and replacing
roofing , flooring, and porches.
Gardening and Gleaning Vegetables: Many of the local farmers allow mission teams to glean in their gardens to
save produce from being wasted, and participants will have the opportunity to be involved in all aspects of
farm management, from planting to harvesting.
Canning and Preserving at the Better Way Cannery: Mission teams take the food that is gleaned from local
gardens and prepare it to be canned and distributed to the hungry.
Day Camps or VBS: This is a weekly program that provides outdoor fun including recreation, stories, crafts,
music, and food to local children in low income areas. (May work here one ½ day)
Where do we stay?
We will be housed at either Holland’s Chapel or Forest Hill Ministry Center. There are bathrooms, showers, a
fellowship hall where we’ll sleep, and a full kitchen. We’ll work as a team to cook each of our meals.
UPPER SAND MOUNTAIN PARISH GUIDELINES
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No alcohol, drugs, or illegal substances
No knives, chains, or any other items that may be used as a weapon
Give your best effort on the work site
If you do not know what to do, ask before taking action.
Don’t assume you know the entire plan. Ask before you do anything in addition to what you have been
instructed to do.
Wear modest clothing – shoulders covered, fitting shorts that are near the knee, and close-toed shoes.
Use sunscreen during outside work and play
No foul language
Keep workplace and living space sanitary, safe, and secure.
Don’t criticize, gossip, or start rumors.
Have fun and spread God’s love with cheer.
TO BRING
Space is limited in the vehicles, so please pack as light as possible Also, soft bags are preferred over
hard case luggage.
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Bible
Notebook
Pen or Pencil
Work Clothes – can get dirty, paint-covered, etc.
Casual clothes for evenings
Swimsuit (tubing the Hiwassee River
Water Shoes (old tennis shoes or sandals that won’t come off)
Closed-Toed Shoes
Hat or Bandanna
Pair of Work Gloves
Pillow
Towels
Toiletries
Sunscreen
Bug Spray
Sleeping Bag or sheets
Air Mattress
Cards, Board Games, etc.
Water Bottle
Phone charger
Small string bag or backpack to carry to work site
Rain jacket
Money for 3 meals and any extra snacks or drinks during the week or souvenirs
TEAMS
We will divide into teams that will help lead and organize aspects of the trip.
1. Food: Organize and lead meal prep. All participants will rotate cooking and cleaning duties. This team
organized and makes sure it all gets done.
2. Fun: Plan and lead evening community building games or activities, affirmation bags, etc.
3. Faith: Plan and lead morning devotion and evening sessions that include sharing, debriefing, and
worship.
FRANKLIN FIRST YOUTH GROUP BEHAVIOR GUIDELINES
1.) What the leader says goes. If a leader asks or tells you to do something, do so without questioning or debate. If you
disagree with the adult seek an appropriate time to discuss their decision. If you feel uncomfortable with this, explain the
situation to the youth leader in charge.
2.) No spectators allowed: The success of a retreat, event, or program hinges on full participation by everyone. This
includes games, meals, sessions, discussions, worship services, etc. You will get out of an experience what you put into it.
3.) Be in the right place at the right time, with the right people: Be at each scheduled activity on time and prepared.
Once there, you are expected to stay until the event or activity is over. Stay within specified boundaries. While out in
public, meet back at the designated time. You should always be with at least one other person. If leaving the designated
boundaries, you must be accompanied by an adult or have specific permission from an adult. Check back in with that
same adult when you return.
4.) NO PURPLE: Guys stay out of girls rooms and girls stay out of the guys rooms. NO EXCEPTIONS. Also, romantic
physical contact is inappropriate. This includes kissing, prolonged hugging, and sitting on laps.
5.) Lights out: This means the lights are out, you are in your bed, you are silent, and you are actively trying to fall asleep.
6.) No-no’s: fireworks, tobacco products, alcohol, illegal drugs, non-approved prescription drugs, excessive amounts of
over-the-counter drugs.
7.) Turn ‘em off/ turn ‘em in: We always recommend (and occasionally will require) cell phones and electrical devices
(ipads, ipods, etc) be left at home. If brought to an event or on a trip, all devices should be turned off and put away
during all programming. These devices will be collected each night at lights out and returned the following morning. This
allows youth to be respectful of roommates privacy, reduces temptation to stay up all night, and encourages youth to
connect with their roommates.
8.) Respect the property: Leave things better than you found them. Clean up after yourself and others. No intentional
damaging or vandalizing property will be tolerated. If you do break something on accident, please let a leader know.
Accidents will happen. If we know about them in a timely manner, we can usually take care of the issue rather easily.
Damage that is discovered later can cause serious issues for the trip leaders and the youth group. Leave other group
members’ property alone.
9.) Respect Others: Do not bully or pick on other group members. Degrading or profane talk is unacceptable.
Remember you are a representative of Christ, and may be the only exposure some person may ever have to Him. Act
accordingly. Respect your fellow youth members and treat them as the creation of God they are.
10.) Respect Yourself: You are a creation of God. He loves you and values you. See yourself as loved and valuable.
Dress appropriately. Take care of your body by keeping clean and eating and drinking healthy. Live a life that serves and
honors God.
I, ________________________, have read and understand all rules and guidelines. I promise to abide
Youth name
by them and encourage others to as well.
Youth Signature ___________________________
Parent/Guardian Agreement to Transport Home
I have read the trip rules and guidelines and will encourage my youth to abide by each of them. If my child breaks any
rules, I pledge to accept any reasonable disciplinary actions the trip leaders may impose, including paying for any and all
travel expenses of my child if it is decided that they should be sent home early.
Parent Signature _____________________________________