Fish Camp - JR High Summer Mission Trip

Fish camp is mission expereince for rising 6th graders - rising 8th graders! We developed this camp week in response to the needs of our churches. Most people have a great mission trip for Senior High youth, but struggle in finding a similar experience for JR High youth members. Through Fish Camp, JR High youth will get a taste of combining acts of service with a place to explore their relationship with God in a supportive and loving Christian community. At Mountain T.O.P., we are intentional in connecting “what” we do with “why” we do it through morning devotionals, mid-day devotionals, sharing and worship. On the worksites, youth are encouraged to engage in problem solving and work as a members of a team moving together to accomplish a hands-on task. Youth are also encouraged to interact with families from lower socio-economic backgrounds, often opening their eyes to issues of poverty within our nation for the first time. The experience is transformative because youth are putting their theological convictions and beliefs into practice. Here, the words and meditations of Jesus, “I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the least of my people here, you also did for me...” are brought to life.

Similarly, in a time where experiential learning is more prevalent than before, we strive to offer an environment where youth are able to “do” something about their passion for God through directly meeting the physical, spiritual, social and emotional needs of the Cumberland Mountain people. As Joey Butler writes in the article (Not) talkin’ ‘bout my G-G-Generation, “The more opportunities Millennials have to get their hands dirty, the better. Churches need to look into their communities and see what needs are there - perhaps a pancake breakfast for the homeless, a Habitat build or a community cleanup.” Mountain T.O.P. provides an atmosphere where youth experience what it looks like to reach out to impoverished communities, thus empowering them to reach out to their own upon returning home.

Fish Camp will be offered June 5th - 9th, 2012, and will be similar to the YSM program. Youth ministers bring their youth groups from around the country where they join to form one large community. These communities consist of 50-100 Junior High youth and adults that are divided even further into what we call Major Groups. A staff member is then responsible for coordinating projects for and leading a Major Group of participants. Within Major Groups, volunteers are divided for the final time into what we call Youth Renewal Groups or YRGs. YRGs are determined based on gender, age, church, skill and experience. We do our best to create balanced teams in order for volunteers to meet new people and work together in the most efficient ways possible. Campers will arrive Tuesday around noon, work in the community Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and depart Saturday morning after breakfast and clean-up. Projects will vary based on need, but will include service such as painting, yard work and/or small construction projects. We are hoping to draw in churches within two - three hours of Camp Cumberland Pines, located in Altamont, TN. Cost is $160 per camper, which includes all meals, lodging, material and staffing fees.

2012 Dates:

June 5th - 9th