Chattanooga
Nicknamed the "Scenic City," Chattanooga offers a combination of gorgeous natural beauty and warm southern
hospitality. Located at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, and with the Tenneessee River running
through it, Chattanooga has beautiful scenery and lots of opportunities for exploration and adventure. This small
city has been influenced and shaped by the culture and history of Native Americans and the
Appalachians.Chattanooga has received national praise for its riverfront redevelopment and its affordable
housing program. At the same time, poverty is still a reality in the community, and there are many needs among
Chattanooga's people and its natural environment. There are also many active social service organizations
within the community.
Community Experience
The partnerships in Chattanooga offer YouthWorks two fairly unique opportunities for service. The first is our
partnership with four local recreation centers where we facilitate Kids Club programming each week. These
centers become a "home away from home" for Chattanooga's children during the summer, and we are so glad to
bring some extra fun and love into their days. The second is our partnership with a few land preservation
organizations that help to keep the Chattanooga area beautiful. This is a wonderful opportunity to get your
hands dirty caring for God's creation. One such site, Audubon Acres, is listed as a "National Trail of Tears
Site," so its preservation is important to United States history. You will also have the opportunity to spend time
with the elderly. In the evenings, your group will explore the well-known Lookout Mountain, enjoy swimming
and playing at Chester Frost Park, attend a worship service at our housing site and host church, and spend time
with new and old friends at a community cookout. You will meet some memorable people in Chattanooga –
people who love the city and love sharing it with YouthWorks groups.
Service On Site
During half the week, your students will lead Bible lessons, games, reading time or crafts with community
children. During the other half of the week you will partner with local organizations which meet different needs
within the community; you may serve all or part of the week at a food shelf, clothing distribution center, soup
kitchen, children’s ministry, or elderly care facilities.
YouthWorks Relationship
YouthWorks has been serving in Chattanooga since 2000. While we have had several different housing partners
over the years, we're thankful to have had some very longstanding relationships with a number of our service
partners.
What if I don't know how many people to plan for?
We can help you through this process. Adding spaces can happen at any time as long as we have availability. There are some
deadlines for when decreasing spaces, please check out the Registration Process for more specifics.
How much does a YouthWorks trip cost?
YouthWorks trips are affordable. The Chattanooga Trip will cost us $260.00 per person. Cost per participant includes:
 14 meals
 Project Materials and resources
 Program Resources
 Evening Activities
 Lodging
 Staffing – Recruitment & Training
Who can come?
Registrations for a YouthWorks mission trip must be made through a church or organization. Because of YouthWorks’ program
and policies, agreements with ministry partners and to be respectful of other groups, we do not allow individuals who are not in
the appropriate grades to attend the mission trip. Minimum group size is five.
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Each YouthWorks trip is categorized as a junior high school, mixed, high school, Church-Wide, or Family.
2015 Middle School trips are open to those students who have completed 6th grade in spring 2015 through students
who completed 8th grade in spring 2015.
2015 High School trips are open to those students who have completed 8th grade in spring 2015 through seniors who
have graduated in the spring of 2015.
2015 Mixed trips are open to those students who have completed 6th grade in spring 2015 through seniors who have
graduated in the spring of 2015.
Can our adults go?
Yes! In fact, adult leaders play a key leadership role on your youth trips. A leader needs to be at least 20 years of age and be in a
role of leadership with your teenagers.
What is the adult to youth ratio requirements on youth trips?
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1 adult leader for every 7 students (High School trips)
1 adult leader for every 5 students (Middle School trips)
1 adult leader for every 5 students (Mixed trips)
Do you require background checks on your leaders? What about students?
Yes. Each church group will need to conduct a national (multi-site) criminal background check and sex offender registry check
on any participant (adults or students) that is 18 years and older. Church groups will then provide YouthWorks with written
confirmation that every participant 18 and older has been approved to work with youth and children.
Are the sites safe?
Safety is of the utmost importance to our organization! We want participants to feel safe throughout the entire week, and we
want parents and church leadership to know that we take every precaution in order to ensure their safety. With that said, we do
rely on Adult Leaders and youth to help the YouthWorks staff in maintaining the safety policies and procedures for their
mission week.
Will we be working with other groups?
Yes. It’s a great opportunity to make new friends from new places. The only way this would not happen is if your group were to
register for the whole week (all of the spaces on site).
Will our group be serving together or will we be split up?
If your group is larger than seven people and has more than two adult leaders, you will most likely be split into different
ministry/work crews for the week. Each crew will have anywhere from 7 – 15 people with 1 – 3 adult leaders depending on the
needs of our service partners, the size of the group on site, and the number and size of vehicles available. Ideally, each crew will
be comprised of youth from different churches along with an adult leader from each church.
Where do we stay?
Groups are housed in a local church, school or community building. Participants need to bring their own sleeping bags, pillows
and sleeping pads or air mattresses that are twin-size or smaller (Puerto Rico has a slightly different requirement). All females
and males sleep in separate rooms, including married adult leaders. Showers are available either on site or at a nearby location.
What is Kids Club?
Kids Club is an energetic, engaging ministry for our community kids. The purpose of Kids Club is to demonstrate the love of
Jesus to the children in YouthWorks’ communities while giving your youth an opportunity to serve in a meaningful way.
What will we do at Kids Club?
Kids Club is geared to kids ages 5-10 and runs Monday through Thursday every week once school is out of session. The
community kids will be taught about the love of Jesus through a summer-long curriculum authored by YouthWorks. In addition
to the learning Biblical truths through story, the kids will play games, make crafts, spend time reading and sing energetic songs.
What is the role of our youth at Kids Club?
Your youth will hold the primary responsibility to lead the programmatic details of Kids Club. They will lead the games, songs,
crafts and the presentations of Biblical truths. Our staff will equip and empower them to do so by providing the necessary
materials, guides and direction.
What is the role of adult leaders at Kids Club?
The role of adult leaders is multi-faceted. One responsibility at many of our sites will be to transport community kids to and
from the Kids Club site. Adult leaders will assist the Kids Club staff in providing direction for the youth as they plan and
implement the afternoon’s activities. Another way to support the ministry of Kids Club is to help with crowd control and
discipline of the community kids.
Will we be able to give a Gospel presentation?
The message of God’s love is an integral part of our summer-long curriculum. Though we do not give a formal gospel
presentation, community kids are given the chance to interact daily with the story of God’s love for them. The YouthWorks’
staff working with Kids Club throughout the summer will be able to give you a clear picture of how the weekly stories tie
together to present a consistent message. What you do while on site will play a crucial role in teaching the kids about Jesus’
love for them and His desire to be loved by them in return. We will work together to go beyond simply telling them of this love
– we’ll show them His love as well.
Who comes to Kids Club?
The kids that come to YouthWorks Kids Clubs are from a variety of backgrounds, and Kids Clubs vary in size depending on the
community. These kids have not necessarily grown up in a church, and many come from tough family situations. As a result,
Kids Club may feel a little chaotic compared to children’s programming at your own church. Our staff will help you understand
the particular needs of the kids at your Kids Club and the best way to show them love and care.
Where is Kids Club held?
Our first choice is to host Kids Club at a local church, which allows for a powerful partnership with the community. Other
possibilities include community centers, parks or even our housing site. Transportation to Kids Club can be a challenge if kids
do not live within a safe walking distance of the Kids Club location. In those cases, your adult leaders will most likely be asked
to transport kids in your vehicles between Kids Club and the homes of the children.
How can / should we prepare for Kids Club?
The best way to prepare is to come with an open heart and mind so you can be a part of the ministry to community kids that
happens all summer long. An overview of the Kids Club curriculum will be available in April to give you an idea of what Kids
Club will look like and the weekly themes and scriptures that community kids will interact with throughout the summer. During
your Pre-Trip Call with your Site Director, you will find out more specifics about what Kids Club will look like during your
mission week. This call also gives you an opportunity to ask if there are any additional craft supplies or other materials that you
can bring and donate to the ministry for summer use. Once on site, your Kids Club staff person will lead you through the
planning and preparation process for your week.
Where will we be serving?
It is our privilege to partner with organizations already at work serving the needs of people within the community. We want to
help these organizations do what they do every day of the year by providing them with volunteers. Our partnerships include
working with the elderly, children, individuals with special needs, people who are homeless or in transition, or serving through
hands-on labor with food banks, community gardens or neighborhood revitalization projects. While we place a priority on
relational service ministry opportunities, we are also pleased to serve behind the scenes through manual labor; many
YouthWorks participants will experience a little of both.
Do we work with only Christian organizations?
We love to partner with organizations that have a faith-based focus, but we also value what other non-profit organizations are
doing in our communities. Our hope is to provide volunteer support to local organizations (service partners) that share our
desire to love and serve the people of the community. We are blessed when we can be part of the story of what God is doing in
a community whether His work is being done through a secular or faith-based organization. Of course, YouthWorks does not
endorse its partners beyond providing volunteer support, so participants will not be asked to distribute fliers or solicit gifts or
donations for any of our local partners.
Will we be able to evangelize or share the Gospel with people?
We certainly want to be able to share God’s truth and love with the people in our communities; however, some of them have
seen a great deal of aggressive Christian evangelism, and we also understand that many of our ministry partners rely on
government funding that limits traditional evangelism. It is because of this that while we encourage participants to be open
about their reasons for serving, as well as in sharing their faith, we believe that this sharing is most meaningful when it is done
primarily through our actions and within the context of relationships that have been built during the week. We serve as the
hands and feet of Christ and in turn He uses us to impact others for the Kingdom.
Who determines where we will be serving?
Full-time Regional and Area Directors along with summer staff will be responsible for choosing appropriate service
opportunities for your week of ministry. The trip leader of each group will be asked to place each person from their group on a
ministry, or work crew, with the input and help of site staff leaders.
When will we find out what we will be doing specifically?
You will not know specifically where you will be serving until after the Adult Leader’s meeting on Sunday night.
Will we have to drive to our service locations?
Yes, you are responsible for your transportation to the service location each day. You may be at one place all day or serve at one
place in the morning and at a different place in the afternoon. You will be given maps and thorough driving directions to and
from each location, back to the housing site, and to emergency facilities. In some cases, YouthWorks staff may be available to
escort you to your service location.
What are Work Projects?
Work Projects are a tangible way for you and your youth to serve the community through the painting of homes, yard work
and other simple projects. Our goal for Work Projects is to create a meaningful work experience where youth can make a
difference with their skills and abilities while also building relationships with families and neighbors.
What kind of work will we be doing?
We seek to meet needs in the community through various types of Work Projects. Ultimately we want to do projects that are at,
not above, your teenagers’ skill level. This allows youth to take ownership of a project. Although we often paint homes, other
projects may include yard work, community beautification, building cleanup or any other project that will serve individuals in a
community.
When we do paint homes, a painting project consists of scraping old paint, filling holes with insulation, caulking windows and
applying a fresh coat of paint to a home. You may be involved in any or all of the painting process and may or may not
complete an entire house during your time. Painting is a relatively easy task and is something in which youth can be successful.
Done well, it can create a real sense of pride both by the painting crew and the homeowner. Occasionally, we encounter leadbased paint at a project; however, our staff are trained to take extra safety precautions during lead-paint scraping in order to
follow health and legal standards.
How does YouthWorks choose which people to serve?
We work alongside members from the community to identify those in the greatest need. Possible community partners include
local churches, tribal councils, local government agencies and other key members of the community in which we are serving.
First priority is given to the elderly and the housebound as they are unable to do work like this for themselves. Second priority
is given to the impoverished, unemployed or the underemployed that have significant physical needs hindering the resources
they have to complete a project like this without help.
Are supplies included?
All the supplies are included in the price of your trip.
Can we help by bringing any supplies to our site?
Often there is a site-specific need for supplies and materials, including but not limited to gloves, paint brushes, tarps, and paint
scrapers or other project-specific materials. Two to three weeks before your trip, the Site Director will be contacting your Trip
Leader to talk through a few specific trip details and help you finalize your plans. This would be a great time to ask about any
supply needs that the site may have.
What is the role of Adult Leaders at a work project?
The Adult Leaders have three main roles on a Work Projects site. The first is to watch for safety. Safety is our number one
priority on all aspects of your mission trip, and the work site is no different. Additionally, Adult Leaders oversee all aspects of
the work project. Our hope is that the youth will take leadership of the work and of the site, but as the adult you are ultimately
in charge. Lastly, the role of Adult Leaders is to work alongside the youth. By participating with students, you will have an
incredible opportunity to serve the community in a very tangible way as well as opportunities to build some great relationships
with the youth you are working with.
What is the role of a teenager at a work project?
Although adults at Work Project sites are ultimately responsible, our desire is that your youth will feel empowered to take
leadership in every aspect – from beginning to end. Look for ways to empower your youth at Work Projects sites and
throughout the week.
What types of relationships will we get to build at a Work Projects site?
Relationships are important! At work projects sites, we find that great conversation can develop with students when standing
side-by-side painting a house. Since your work crew will most likely be made up of people from at least two different churches,
you have the great opportunity to get to know people from a different church and perhaps even a different part of the country
than you. Additionally, our desire is that you also get to know the people you are serving. Although health issues or work
schedules sometimes prevent the level of interaction we would like, we seek Work Projects partners who can be present with
the work crew as much as possible. As visitors in the community, you and your youth have the opportunity to seek these
relationships – but do so humbly, understanding that cultural, economic and other barriers are factors to be considered.
Will there be a supervisor onsite with us?
YouthWorks hires and trains a Work Projects Coordinator who will be supervising your site. However, because there will likely
be multiple work projects running at once, the staff will not be on your site with you the entire time but will check in with you
at various points throughout the day. You will also receive an orientation and training before arriving at your Work Projects
site.
Is there a need for specialized skills at a Work Projects site?
Primarily, we seek to do projects that are at, not above, teenagers’ skill level, so students are able to step out in leadership of
those projects. Occasionally, however, there is need for skilled labor in the community. Two to three weeks before your trip, the
Site Director will be contacting the Trip Leader to finalize any details. This would be a great time to let them know if you have
adults with specialized skills who are coming with you. We cannot guarantee we will have projects that require those special
skills, but it is helpful to know what skills are available as we are considering how to best serve the community.