Group Mission Trips 2025 Catalog

Table of Contents

Letter from Group Mission Trips

Why take your teens on a short-term mission trip?

Short-term mission trips offer teenagers transformative experiences that shape their worldview, deepen their faith, and foster personal growth. By immersing themselves in different cultures, teens develop empathy and understanding toward diverse communities. Through acts of service, such as volunteering in after-school programs, building a wheelchair ramp, or weatherproofing a senior citizen’s trailer, they learn the value of selflessness and the joy of giving back.

These trips also cultivate strong bonds and friendships among participants, providing a supportive community rooted in shared faith. Teens engage in worship, prayer, and reflective discussions, deepening their spiritual connection and shaping their beliefs. Moreover, mission trips offer opportunities for teens to develop essential life skills such as teamwork, communication, and leadership.

The memories created during these trips become lifelong treasures, serving as reminders of growth and impact. Beyond personal development, the service rendered leaves a lasting legacy of love and compassion in the communities served. Short-term mission trips empower teens to make a positive difference while equipping them with the tools they need to thrive in an unpredictable world.

Tim Gilmour, President of Group Cares

OUR VALUES

OUR VALUES

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

We are passionate about creating an environment for youth to connect their faith with service. We want teenagers to return home with a profound love for Jesus and new eyes to see how God is at work in their every day. We provide intentional times to connect through Scripture, worship, and devotions to promote spiritual growth. Our mission trip experiences are also designed to encourage the organic moments that happen outside of programmed times: the conversations that occur around the dinner table, the relationships formed at project sites, the stories that connect participants and encourage them in their faith.

INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION

We believe the next generation is made up of influencers, difference-makers, and powerful leaders, and there’s no better time than NOW to invest in our youth. Our mission trip experiences are intentionally designed to develop teenagers into young leaders by teaching leadership skills, positive character traits, compassion for others, and practical life skills that will help our participants grow into the leaders of tomorrow. Through Scripture, service projects, and an opportunity to step outside their own worlds, we believe youth will be inspired and encouraged to follow Jesus in their school, community, church, and world.

AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS

As Christians, we are strengthened through unified relationships. One of the greatest opportunities of a mission trip is the chance to meet new people while serving together. Participants build authentic relationships with the people they serve and those they serve with. Strangers become family. Crew members become best friends. Differences begin to disappear as individuals come together to serve with a shared purpose. It’s amazing to see the depth of relationships that form when participants are united in a common mission and share in the celebration of transformed lives and communities.

SUSTAINABILITY & LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIPS

We partner with local organizations and ministries to provide meaningful support for their year-round sustainable programs, ensuring our efforts have lasting impact in the communities we serve. We believe the best way to serve is through the partnerships we establish in each community. We have a local mission to address the specific needs in each community. We believe sustainable change is possible when we come alongside the good work of those already embedded in each community and offer resources, help, and teams where they’re needed most.

Your Partner in Ministry

At Group Mission Trips, our team consists of experienced mission trip and program developers who have worked closely with communities to develop high-quality, well-organized service project experiences since 1990. We’ve built partnerships in each mission trip location to provide meaningful service opportunities that have sustainable, long-term impact in the communities we serve.

Our ultimate goal is to partner with you and equip you with the resources and support necessary to reach your ministry goals.

ORGANIZATION

Our team organizes your service projects and the details of your experience so you don’t have to. Stress-free and hassle-free is the way it should be.

SAFETY

Safety is our number-one priority, as we’re sure it is yours. Every staff member, volunteer, and adult participant is background-checked before attending our mission trips. We require crews to stay together and check in at the lodging facility at the end of each day. No one is ever left alone.

SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIPS

We partner with seasoned local ministries, missionaries, and organizations in each location. We come alongside their ministries and provide support for their sustainable year-round programs.

STAFF

When you serve with Group Mission Trips, you have staff on-site to coordinate projects and logistics while you’re serving. You’re not alone!

PERSONALIZED SUPPORT

You’re not alone in the planning process either. In fact, our allstar mission trip advisors will help you the entire way, providing personalized communication and details specific to your mission trip.

YEAR-ROUND RESOURCES

Whether you’re a parent, youth leader, teenager, or college student, you are influencers invested in others’ lives. Here at Group Mission Trips, we are all about mission and ministry year-round. We are committed to come alongside you and equip you with resources and encouragement during seasons of change, growth, and all the in-betweens.

WHY GROUP MISSION WHY GROUP MISSION

The leaders of tomorrow are in your youth group today. Great leaders are not born; they are sculpted by their parents, youth leaders, teachers, coaches, and life experiences. The foundation of our mission trips is built on teaching and training your teens the most important skills they will need as they continue toward adulthood. These principles are practiced during each mission trip experience and will help S.C.U.L.P.T. your teens into people who can face the challenges they encounter each day with confidence and peace.

Spiritual Growth S C

Confidence Understanding Leadership

Sculpting the future of tomorrow MISSION TRIPS? MISSION TRIPS?

Problem-Solving Teamwork

Your teens will attend morning and evening interactive programs that will strengthen their faith in Jesus and demonstrate that he is always present and more powerful than whatever challenges they are facing. There will also be lunch devotions and opportunities each evening for your youth group to process and bond over all that happens each day.

By design, our mission trips teach teenagers to work with many different people to serve and accomplish huge tasks on their own. They learn to lean on their faith, team members, and leaders. They grow in confidence and self-esteem as they tackle new challenges and realize they can positively influence and change the lives of the people around them.

Your teens will learn and practice valuable skills in communication, empathy, delegation, and responsibility as they work together with many different people in an unfamiliar environment. These skills will serve them well and prepare them for the rest of their lives as they move into college, careers, and their life ahead.

Your teen will serve in one of six different roles on a crew, typically made up of five teenagers and one adult. The adult will intentionally not assume the role of the crew leader. In each role, they will learn how to listen and understand the rest of the team’s needs, delegate to share the responsibilities among team members, and appreciate how each role plays an essential part in achieving the desired outcome.

During a mission trip, participants face many challenges. Your teens are taught to become resourceful and creatively rise to work as a team to solve the problem. We’ve seen it hundreds of times! The first reaction is “We can’t,” but by the end of camp, they leave with a big smile knowing they met the challenges, solved the problems, and grew up just a little more.

Teenagers will engage with their youth group, residents, adult volunteers, and other youth groups. As they embrace a mission trip’s challenges, they will learn the value of being part of a team serving someone in need. Learning to focus on others is a life lesson that will help your young people know they are part of a team, a family, a youth group, and a society made up of others who are not exactly like them.

Mission trips are about more than the projects.

They create an environment that encourages people to go beyond their comfort zones and grow in their faith. Every year, the Group Mission Trips team dedicates extensive time to creating a new experience through morning and evening programs and crew and youth group devotions.

2025 PROGRAM THEME

In a world where many teens grapple with anxiety, worry, and stress, this year’s theme, Equipped, highlights how God provides us with the tools for a fulfilling Christian life. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 9:8, the focus is on embracing how God enables us to approach fully living out our faith with confidence. From spiritual readiness to engaging in God’s mission, it’s about more than going through the motions; it’s living out faith in practical ways through love, kindness, and action. And when you do that, you’ll discover that being a Christian isn’t just something you do—it’s who you are. Our goal is to ensure you leave feeling equipped and confident in facing life’s challenges with God by your side. Join us next summer to grow spiritually, have fun, and become more like Jesus while making the world a better place.

Choose your best mission experience

Home-repair projects for disabled, veteran, low-income, and elderly residents

Meaningful community service projects alongside strong local ministries and nonprofits

6 7

Trip Length

How You’ll Serve

Entering 6th grade & up Separate Sr High camps (14+) Up to

Entering 6th grade & up Up to

A combination of community service projects and cultural exploration alongside our ministry partners All ages

Home repairs, wheelchair ramp construction, porch and deck repairs, painting

Volunteer at food kitchen, assisted living, children’s programs, nonprofits, and community centers

Minor home repairs, teach English, volunteer at orphanage, homeless outreach, and more

$548 Per Person

Ashby, MN

Bloomington, IL

East Bank, WV

Elizabeth City, NC

Hagerstown, MD

Mission, SD

Pewaukee, WI

Red Lake, MN

Westfield, IN

Winchester, KY

Wrightsville, PA

Imperial, PA

Mescalero, NM

Middletown, OH

Scranton, PA

Woonsocket, RI

$348 Per Person

Austin, TX

Charleston, SC

Cincinnati, OH

Kenosha, WI

Nashville, TN

Newark, NY

Northern Colorado

Pittsburgh, PA

$849 Per Person

Cusco, Peru

Dublin, Ireland

Ensenada, Mexico

Leogane, Haiti

Montego Bay, Jamaica

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Puerto Rico, Multiple Cities

WEEK OF HOPE

NORTHERN COLORADO

AUSTIN, ASHBY, RED WORKCAMPS

MESCALERO, NM

MISSION, SD

RED LAKE, MN

ASHBY, MN

PEWAUKEE, WI

KENOSHA, WI

BLOOMINGTON, IL

WESTFIELD, IN

AUSTIN, TX

Location Map

NEWARK, NY

IMPERIAL, PA

MIDDLETOWN, OH

CINCINNATI, OH

WINCHESTER, KY

NASHVILLE, TN

PITTSBURGH, PA

SCRANTON, PA

WOONSOCKET, RI

WRIGHTSVILLE, PA

HAGERSTOWN, MD

EAST BANK, WV

ELIZABETH CITY, NC

CHARLESTON, SC

Group Workcamps are summer camps with up to 400 teenage participants that focus specifically on residential home repair for elderly, disabled, low-income families, and veteran residents. You and your group will step into a resident’s story and transform their home while deepening your faith and building new relationships. Home-repair projects range from painting to constructing porches, steps, and wheelchair ramps, and other general home repairs.

When you arrive at each resident’s home, you bring far more than loaded tool belts and construction materials. Beyond the physical transformation that happens in communities, you’ll bring the hope and light of Jesus to the residents you serve.

You will stay at a local school in the community you’re serving. The lodging facility is filled with fun and energy throughout the week as you engage in indoor and outdoor games, share meals together, and participate in worship and Scripture-based teaching in morning and evening programs led by our staff. You’ll be amazed at how quickly strangers become family and differences begin to disappear as you come together to serve with a shared purpose.

“I took my youth on our first Group Mission Trip in 1997 and have been coming back ever since. Group is a top-notch organization that truly has the heart and desire to create the best mission week possible for all the student and adult campers. The staff are very easy to work with, and the camps run as smoothly as possible. They take all the logistical concerns away so you can focus more time and energy on your youth.”

- Mike G.

AM

What’s Included

Lodging and all meals, except dinner on your free night

Professional work site advisors + project site coordination

How You’ll Serve

Porch construction / repair

Wheelchair ramp construction

Indoor and outdoor painting

General home repairs

Morning & evening programs with Scripture-based teaching & youth group devotions

SEE NEW PROGRAM THEME ON PAGE 5

Lunchtime devotions with crews

Participant devotional for the week at camp

Unlimited customer support from your personal Mission Trip Advisor

Community Service certificate

On-site

+

At Week of Hope, you and your group will come alongside seasoned local ministries and nonprofits to make a lasting difference through meaningful community service projects. Teenagers will learn Christlike empathy and compassion for others as you meet the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of disadvantaged children, youth, and adults.

Each service project is the result of a partnership we build with organizations, ministries, and individuals who live, work, and serve in each community. Projects might include providing meals to the homeless, tutoring struggling children from low-income families, helping to lead a day camp for kids, working with disabled children, or sharing stories with a lonely elderly person in an assisted-living facility. Our hope is that you walk away knowing more about what our partners do year-round, and your role in the big picture.

Our community service mission trips are smaller-sized gatherings (less than 100 participants). Whether you’re out serving, enjoying a family-style meal, or wrapping up the day at evening program, the intimate environment at each Week of Hope location allows you to build strong relationships that last beyond your week at camp.

During a community service mission trip, participants generally stay at a local church that is full of fun and energy throughout the week as they engage in indoor and outdoor games, share meals together, and participate in worship and teaching in morning and evening programs.

Typical Day 6:45 AM 7:00 AM 8:00 AM 8:30 AM 12:00 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 8:00 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 11:00 PM

& devotions

What’s Included

Lodging and all meals, except dinner on your free night

Morning & evening programs with Scripture-based teaching & youth group devotions

SEE NEW PROGRAM THEME ON PAGE 5

How You’ll Serve

Assist in a local food kitchen

Help residents in assisted living

General yard work and light home repairs

Volunteer with local nonprofits

Tutor children in after-school programs

Project site coordination

Lunchtime devotions with crews

Participant devotional for the week at camp

Unlimited customer support from your personal Mission Trip Advisor

Community Service certificate

Participant T-shirt

On-site staff + comprehensive safety training

What’s Included

An international mission trip is an incredible faith-building adventure where your youth can discover the value of service, leadership, teamwork, and personal and spiritual growth.

International trips are available year-round through our trusted partner organizations* that we’ve worked closely with over the years. We partner with long-term ministries rooted in the countries we serve. Our partners are hard at work meeting spiritual and physical needs year-round. When you arrive, you’ll come alongside their ongoing efforts and provide support and encouragement through meaningful service.

As you disconnect from everyday pressures, you’ll establish a familial community as you encounter new experiences together with your group. You’ll find a willingness to be present and engaged as you work hard and develop relationships with residents, community partners, and teammates.

As God’s children, he invites us to partner with what he is already doing. There is so much life to experience, joy to be found, and life-changing transformation when you travel beyond your borders. Are you ready?

Lodging

Most meals

On-site staff

Organized service projects

*Group Mission Trips does not operate international mission trips. We refer those who would like to serve internationally to trusted partner organizations that can safely and effectively run those trips.

Customize your trip

No matter the age or size of your group, individuals, families, school groups, sports teams, dance teams, companies, youth groups, and more, our trusted partners can help you customize an international mission trip.

Join our team Your best summer ever.

Each year, we hire the greatest collegeage young adults and students from across the country to facilitate the details of our mission trips. You and 2-3 other summer staff travel from training in Colorado to mission trip locations across the USA in a company vehicle. The impact we have in communities is life-changing, and the friendships developed last forever. We offer competitive pay and resume-building leadership experience.

When and where

We serve in Austin, Nashville, and Pittsburgh, to name a few. Whichever program you choose to serve with will allow you to experience some of the coolest cities across the country. Week of Hope locations serve mostly in large cities, while Workcamp crews travel the country to multiple locations during the summer.

Begins Memorial Day and ends early- to mid-August. Your summer starts by flying to beautiful Colorado, where you’ll train for two immersive weeks with other college-aged students from all over the country. Following pre-season training, you and your crew will travel the country to your designated locations, serving there until around August, based on your placements.

Travel to new places, and help those in need.

All lodging is paid for. Most meals are paid (except for travel and off-duty times, depending on the camp format).

Use your passions to launch you into further leadership, career, service, or ministry opportunities.

Learn more and apply at groupmissiontrips.com/join-our-team.

What’s a Red Shirt?

Our staff are the backbone of our ministry. They come from around the country to organize the details and logistics of our mission trips. Summer staff travel across the USA, helping create a mission trip experience for up to 400 participants who come to serve a community in need at each location. And the best part is they do it all while wearing smiles and iconic Red Shirt staff T-shirts.. You’ll meet lifelong friends, gain hands-on work experience, and, most importantly, show the love and light of Jesus!

Payment Policy

Workcamps & Week of Hope

Register at any time. No payment due until October 31, 2024.

REGISTER JUNE 2024 - OCTOBER 2024

Pay the $100 deposit per person by October 31, 2024.

REGISTER NOVEMBER 2024 - MARCH 14, 2025

Pay the $100 deposit per person upon registration.

REGISTER MARCH 15, 2025 - MAY 14, 2025

Pay the $100 deposit per person plus 50% of your group’s balance upon registration.

REGISTER AFTER MAY 15, 2025

Your full final balance is due.

*Deposits are non-refundable. All payments are due and become non-refundable on May 15, 2025. Registration fees are in U.S. dollars and can be paid by check, money order, or credit card. Payments can be made online, by phone, or by mail. Please call us or chat with us online if you have any questions about the payment schedule.

International

Group Mission Trips does not operate international mission trips. We refer those who would like to serve internationally to trusted partner organizations that can safely and effectively run those trips. Please refer to the specific partner organization for specific payment policy for dues and fees.

STILL NOT CONVINCED? STILL NOT CONVINCED?

Teens begin to understand their value.

Many teenagers are glued to their phones, craving attention or admiration through likes and views. They have created online personas that might not reflect who they are in real life. Their real version might be depressed, broken, or have a complicated family life. They may be bullied or be the bully. They may be masking struggles behind the scenes. We allow them to know they are loved for the real person they are. We give them face-to-face, meaningful opportunities to engage with others through service and see their true worth and value beyond likes and views on a screen.

Teens find a place to belong.

Young people these days have a deep need to belong and know their place in the world. They want a community that loves and accepts them. Our mission trips give them a place to share an experience with others, grow together, and bond with their group and people from across the country. The relationships that form during a mission trip aren’t something teens experience elsewhere. Not just with people but their relationship with Christ. Our trips allow them to search their hearts, find their worth, and know they are loved beyond measure.

“I have grown in my faith this week by feeling more connected with God and his presence in my life. I have been inspired to continue to serve others, spread faith, and make a positive impact in the world.”

- Jacquelyn

Here are some of the top reasons youth workers tell us they keep bringing their teens back on a Group Mission Trip.

Teens learn compassion for others.

One of the best parts of these trips is seeing young people grow in compassion and understanding for others from the beginning to the end of the week. These days, the world is full of different opinions, and needs more understanding of each other. Through their service, teens see the compassion Christ taught and demonstrated in the Bible—not just for those he was serving but also for his friends, family, and those around him. One of Jesus’ most significant acts of compassion was at the cross, when he asked for the crowd to be forgiven. We want participants to grow spiritually and experience Jesus in ways they haven’t before through our mission trips. Opening their eyes to others’ struggles or learning to forgive themselves for things they didn’t want to let go of is part of growing in their faith in Christ.

Teens learn that they can make a difference.

Many people give up because they don’t think one person can make a difference. It’s the “Why bother, it won’t matter” mentality. Our mission trips show kids that they can make a difference. Each person is a vital part of a team that comes together to do huge things in Jesus’ name. When we think about all the people in this world who need help or don’t know Christ’s love, it seems daunting. How could we reach them all? If we can change one life, it matters. If it is a teenager, a resident, a senior citizen, or a leader, each person is impacted somehow.