workcamps
[home repair youth mission camps]
Workcamps are weeklong mission trips where
youth groups will work hard repairing homes for
people in need, while experiencing the amazing
power of community to accomplish God’s work.
Workcamps are high-energy and action-packed, yet
powerful and life-changing. The camps are big:
Sometimes upwards of 450 youth participate, creating
lots of energy and excitement throughout the entire
week.
At Workcamps, teenagers come together to serve
individuals and communities while building strong,
long-lasting relationships with their friends and youth
leaders. In six short days, hundreds of students from
youth groups across the country repair and transform
homes—and strengthen and transform their own faith.
One way their faith gets built is through daily
challenges to do something they may not have done
before: painting a house, using a chop saw or drill, or
doing some other task that can make students feel a
little uncomfortable and vulnerable—exactly where
God can speak to them.
Workcamps began in 1977 as a home repair project
in Loveland, Colorado, in response to the tragic flood
of the Big Thompson River the previous year. In July
1976, more than 12 inches of rain fell within three
hours near Estes Park, overflowing and flooding the
river. Ultimately, the river became a raging wall of
water that destroyed hundreds of houses, washed
away miles of roads, and killed more than 140
people—the worst natural disaster in Colorado
history.
After the flood, Thom Schultz, founder of Group
Publishing, asked church youth groups from across
the country to come to Colorado and help rebuild the
homes and lives of the flood’s victims. Over 300
youth and their adult leaders responded, working on
more than 50 home repair projects.
And so the first Workcamps experience was born.
Thom saw a dramatic change in the hearts of youth
and adults serving the flood’s victims, and realized
that the challenge of helping others in need could
ignite and strengthen the Christian faith of teenagers
and adults.
Since then, about 300,000 people have participated in
a Group Mission Trips experience—logging more
than 6 million volunteer hours. These participants
have gained a new understanding and deeper faith in
Jesus by serving others.
The mission opportunities keep growing, and the
same passion that prompted Thom Schulz to launch
the first Workcamps continues to help teenagers from
all different Christian denominations grow closer to
God and take on the challenge of service by helping
people in need.
What’s included in the fee?
 Lodging during the week. Most lodging is in
local schools or churches. Accommodations
will include areas for groups to room
together by gender, a common eating area,
and a program area.
 All supplies and project materials for each
worksite.
 Themed T-shirt for each participant.
 Bible-based, thematic, fun, faith-building
programs.
 Mission trip handbook for each participant (a
personal devotion book and guide for the
week).
 Comprehensive safety training at the
beginning of the week.
 A typical “crew” is a group of five young
people and one adult. Each crew usually
includes participants from a variety of
churches so that they can meet new people.
 Adults are a critical part of the experience
because they help provide safety,
relationships, spiritual guidance, and
discipline.