What is a Student Life @ event like?
A Student Life @ event is a Christ-centered conference style camp for 7th-12th graders. It includes engaging worship from experienced worship leaders, learning through sound Biblical teaching and Bible study, community in Family Groups, and free time to explore your location! It’s a week of focused learning, heartfelt praise, dramas, community building, and most importantly, God’s Word on center stage.
Why do you do Student Life Events the way you do?
We designed Student Life Events to support the men and women who are called to lead teenagers every week. Our Ministry Event is just one week of the spiritual journey. We believe in the relationships built in the local church, and we strive to partner with the local church.
What are the goals of Student Life events?
We have numerous goals for our events, but ultimately, our goals involve life change happening in students, adults and us. In Scripture, every time someone spent time with Jesus, he or she went away changed. We hope each person leaves this experience changed. Not because of technical effects, entertaining dramas or even meeting new people, but because we have been with Jesus.
What denomination is Student Life affiliated with?
Student Life is an inter-denominational ministry serving the local church. We are not affiliated with one particular denomination. Feel free to contact us if you would like a list of church references.
Why do you not hire staff to teach the Bible Studies?
It goes back to our philosophy of supporting the local church, but also we believe that in order for a small group to be successful, it needs to be small. This allows for good discussion and allows students to feel comfortable in a small group. We also believe it is important for adults from the local church to be involved in what happens. After all, they go home with the students, and this allows friendships, accountability and connection to get on the bus with them as they travel home.
What is a Family Group?
A Family Group is about 9 to 12 students coming together under the leadership of an adult leader and a student leader. A Family Group’s purpose is learning about God through Bible study and times of prayer.
How will Family Groups work at these locations?
Student Life does not organize a specified time or location for Family Groups during Student Life @ events. However, we will provide the curriculum to you ahead of time, and we encourage pairing with another church to form Family Groups. We have found that students love Family Group time. Feel free to decide when and where your Family Groups will take place.
What will Youth Ministers do?
Student Life is designed for Youth Ministers to be free of a lot of responsibility. This is so Youth Ministers can be available to spend time building relationships with their students. Each morning there will be a prayer and share time for Youth Ministers 15 minutes before morning Celebration. This meeting takes place while your students are getting seated in the Worship Center.
What is the adult to student ratio?
One adult (at least 23 years old) for every five students is requested. However there are some properties that require an adult per every room. You will be informed if your property is one of these.
What will adult leaders do at Student Life?
Many adult leaders will be asked to serve as Adult Family Group Leaders. Bible Study materials will be available online to allow adequate time to prepare. Adult Family Group Leaders serve as motivators, encouragers, and leaders for Family Group Bible Study.
What about sixth graders, are they invited?
It is up to each church. If they are normally a part of your group, they are welcome at any Student Life event. Our events are designed for students entering 7th grade up until entering college. Programming is not designed to accommodate students younger than this. If your group is younger, you may want to check out Student Life For Kids Camp.
How will my group be housed?
Housing Priority is based on the date we receive your deposit. We strive to put each group in the best accommodations available; however, accommodations do vary by location. Check the specific location information to learn more about specific accommodations. Groups will not be housed in the same condo or hotel room as groups from other churches and we do strive to have all churches as close together as possible (Churches may be combined if choosing a Beach Retreat/bunk room style accomodations). Exact room numbers are not known until you reach your property. Our per person cost is based on max occupancy in each room/condo.
If I have a kitchen at my property, how many pots, pans, and place settings will I have?
This answer depends on each property. If you have any concerns, we recommend bringing some extras from home. It is also a good idea to bring extra trashbags, paper towels, plates, silverware, and napkins. Please be sure to mark your items so you can return home with them and not be charged for missing items in the condo/room.
If your website says there's "some" kitchens at my property, how many will I have?
Our hotels understand the importance for each group to have a kitchen to work out of where kitchens or efficiencies exist. We work hard with our hotel contacts to be able to give each church at least 1 room with a kitchen to prepare meals for your group. Unfortunatley we can not guarantee how many kitchens your group will have.
Do I need to plan on having my own transportation during the week?
Yes. You will definitely need your own transportation. You probably will have to drive to the worship center, and if you want to do activities or go out to a local restaurant, your group will need their own means of transportation.
What can we do during free time?
Each location offers a wide variety of activities. Depending on the location, your group can be a part of go-carts, arcades, water parks, miniature golf, horseback riding, white water rafting, shopping, and jet-ski rentals, just to name a few options. Organized recreation activities are only available at Orange Beach.
What about Handicap Accessible rooms?
If someone in your group needs a fully handicap accessible room, your best housing option will likely be to stay at one of the hotel options. Beacuase most condos are individually owned and considered a "home" they are not required to be handicap accessible. Please contact our office if you have questions.
What about accommodations for my Bus Driver?
The best option for your bus driver is to have your local church arrange accommodations in a local hotel. In the case that your bus driver is one of your adults, they will be housed within the assigned lodging of your group. In the event that they are not a part of the group, please make lodging arrangements on your own.
What are Student Life Mission Camps like?
Student Life Mission Camps are a Christ-centered camp for 7th-12th graders. It includes engaging worship from experienced worship leaders, learning through sound biblical teaching and Bible study, community in Family Groups, and mission projects in the local communities. It’s a week of focused learning, heartfelt praise, dramas, community building, teamwork, and most importantly, God’s Word on center stage.
Why do you do Student Life Mission Camps the way you do?
We designed Student Life Mission Camps to support the men and women who are called to lead teenagers every week. A Mission Camp is just one week of the spiritual journey. We believe in the relationships built in the local church, and we strive to partner with the local church.
Why do you not hire staff to teach the Bible studies?
It goes back to the philosophy of supporting the local church. We believe it’s important for adults from the local church to be involved in what happens on Mission Trips. After all, they go home with the students. Their leadership during the week builds friendships, accountability and connection that travel on the ride home with the kids. We also believe that in order for a small group to work it needs to be small. We believe the ideal size for a Bible study group is 9-12. This size facilitates good discussion and allows students to feel comfortable.
What is the difference between Camp and Mission Camp?
The main difference is how groups spend their late morning and early afternoon time. At Mission Camp, we will assign your church to a work site for the day. After Celebration, Student Life sends sack lunches with your group as you leave for your work site. Possible assignments could include repairing homes or teaching Bible stories to children. At Camp, students will participate in Recreation, lunch, and Family Group Bible Study all on campus.
Another difference between the two events is the set up for Family Groups. At Camp, students can either be mixed in with students from different churches (Mixed) or stay with their own church (Independent). Students on Mission Camps must be in a Family Group with just their church (Independent) because they have Family Group Bible Study at the work site.
Can half of my group do a Mission Camp and the other half do Camp?
We encourage the whole group to participate in the Mission Camp when a group chooses that option. However, if you feel that your group needs two different experiences, we will work with you to accomplish that. Each group would need a main contact person, and keep the groups listed under two different registrations.
What about sixth graders? Are they invited?
It is up to each church. If they are normally a part of your group, they are welcome at any Student Life event. Our events are designed for students entering 7th grade up until entering college. Programming is not designed to accommodate students younger than this. If your group is younger, you may want to check out Student Life For Kids Camp.
Do I need to have my own transportation during the week?
Yes. You will definitely need transportation to and from mission sites.
What is a Family Group?
A Family Group is about 9 to 12 students coming together under the leadership of an adult leader (from your church) and a student leader (from your church). A Family Group’s purpose is to learn about God through missions, Bible study and times of prayer. Students are grouped according to their ages. A Junior Family Group has students from 7th to 9th grade. A Senior Family Group has students from 10th to 12th grade and recent graduates.
You have the option of placing your students in either a Mixed or an Independent Family Group. In a Mixed Group, your students will be with students from other churches. (Roommates will always be together in a group.) In an Independent group, students are with students from your church. Youth Ministers/Leaders assign students in Independent Groups. All Mission Camp participants are in Independent Family Groups.
What is the adult to student ratio?
We request one adult for every seven students.
What will adult leaders do at Mission Camp?
Many adult leaders will be asked to serve as Adult Family Group Leaders. Student Life provides Bible Study materials 5-6 weeks before camp to allow adequate preparation time. Adult Family Group Leaders serve as a motivator and encourager during Mission Projects and lead the Bible Study for their Family Group. There is a Family Group Leadership Meeting each morning for Family Group Leaders and Student Leaders to pray and focus on the theme for each day.
What will Youth Ministers do at Mission Camp?
Camp is designed to free Youth Ministers from a lot of responsibility so that they can spend time building relationships with their students. Each evening there will be a prayer and share time for Youth Ministers one hour before the worship service. This meeting takes place while the students are in their evening Prayer Gatherings with their Family Groups. For this reason, it is best for Youth Ministers not to serve as Family Group Leaders. We think that this is an extremely important aspect of Student Life.
With which denomination is Student Life affiliated?
Student Life is an inter-denominational ministry serving the local church. We are not affiliated with one particular denomination. Feel free to contact us if you would like a list of church references.
What are the goals of Student Life events?
We have numerous goals for our events, but ultimately, our goals involve life change happening in students, adults and us. In Scripture, every time someone spent time with Jesus, he or she went away changed. We hope each person leaves this experience changed. Not because of technical effects, entertaining dramas or even meeting new people, but because we have been with Jesus.
Why are Student Life Mission Camps more expensive than Camp?
The price difference covers numerous expenses including the cost of the materials and equipment used on sites, trailers, vehicles and all the expenses related to the Student Life staff on the road and in the home office that facilitate these projects.