Working with Students
"The future of this movement lies with the
young people.”
– Millard Fuller
Why work with students?
The challenges
U.S. Build Teams
Student Builders and Mission Partners
Fuller Center Bicycle Adventure
Why work with students?
Lots of hands eager to do any job
Pass on your skills
Empower youth to make a real difference
Contagious energy!
Train the Fuller Center’s future leaders
Change more lives
than you planned…
But it’s not that simple… is it?
Objection 1: They’re Unskilled
…but they’re eager to learn!
– Give students some ownership.
– Split students into teams and get one supervisor to instruct all
the teams on the day’s tasks. Put the students in charge of
completing the tasks and the supervisor in charge of answering
questions.
– If you’re hosting a team for 5 days ask 5 local contractors to
each donate a day of their time.
– For younger (high school) teams, ask them to bring chaperones
to help with site supervision.
– Ask us for help – we have a database of skilled leaders.
Objection 2: We don’t have money
… use them as a resource
– U.S. Build Trips bring funds with them (from $95 - $145 per
person, per week).
– Local students can be great fundraisers! Challenge them to
sponsor a project or a workday.
Objection 3: We’ll have to feed them
… don’t spoil them!
– Planning and cooking meals together can be a valuable team
building experience
– Ask students to pack a lunch and / or suggest local restaurants
Where can we find students?
Host U.S. Build Teams
and
Work with local students
Hosting U.S. Build Teams
What you need to provide for the team:
– A place to stay (usually a church)
– A place to cook (church kitchen)
– A place to shower (YMCA, School, etc.)
– Skilled worksite supervision
You can optionally provide:
– Food
– Beds
– Community activities
Hosting U.S. Build Teams
Getting Started
– Fill out our online host site questionnaire to request volunteers
– We will post your CP on our Build Teams website
Hosting U.S. Build Teams
Host site information you will need to provide
– Trip Cost (we add $15/person to what you need to cover the program
coordination, insurance, and tshirts costs)
– When you’ll host (summer, spring, all year)
– Work week (Mon – Fri, Mon – Sat, etc.)
– What type of groups (College, High School, Churches, RV Builders)
– Group Size (i.e. 5 – 30 people)
– Age Restrictions
– Description of housing
– What optional amenities you’ll provide (if any)
– Any additional information about your project or location that might
attract teams
Hosting U.S. Build Teams
When a team signs up
– We will contact you by email and/or phone
– You will need to accept or decline the group within 48 hours
Within 2 weeks of the team’s registration
– The team secures their spot with a down payment
– We will put you and the team leader in touch so that details can be
prepared
Hosting U.S. Build Teams
3 weeks before arrival
– Registrations, waivers, and full payment due from the group to the
Americus office
2 weeks before arrival
– Americus office forwards trip roster and full amount of the team’s
donation (minus $15/person program fee) to host CP
In Summary…
We provide:
– A simple way to
connect with volunteers
– Method for handling
registration and
payment
– T-shirts for volunteers
– Volunteer Accident
Insurance
You provide:
– A meaningful project to
work on
– A place to stay
– A memorable school
break!
Working with Local Students
Student Builders
– An official Student organization at a local high school, college
– Requires involvement of a faculty advisor
– A true partner and friend for your CP
– Moves students beyond the one-day commitments of worksite
volunteering:
• Fundraising
• Spreading the word
• Family partnering
– An opportunity to develop student leaders: Leaders that
may one day work for or lead a Covenant Partner, or influence their place of
employment to partner in our ministry. As they gain experience, they also learn
skills that will enable them to lead work teams.
Working with Local Students
Mission Partners
– Agreement with an existing student
organization
– Service organizations, fraternities and
sororities, sports teams, church youth
groups
– Can do any or all of the same things as
Student Builders
Working with Local Students
That’s the end goal… here’s how to get started
Make Contact
– Use connections you already have:
• board members’ children
• a friend who works at the local high school or university, etc.
– Contact existing organizations: Key Club, Circle K, fraternities /
sororities, sports teams, etc.
– We can help call schools
Start Small
– Invite students to help with a Saturday build
– Once they see what it’s all about challenge them with more!
Bike Adventure
– Host a build day
– Ride and raise money for your
local CP
CPs we’re visiting
in 2013
Tupelo, MS
Americus, GA
Lanett, AL
Shreveport, LA
Elk City, OK
Craig, CO
Lewiston, ID