Carolina Cross Connection

Urban Serve

Asheville, NC

Carolina Cross Connection

2016 Adult Packet

Dear Adults,

Welcome to Carolina Cross Connection! We are so grateful for your dedication to serve this summer. We realize that you are probably using vacation time to come to CCC, so we will do our best to make this experience as rewarding as any trip you could have planned. You may be under the impression that CCC is a youth-targeted ministry, but this is only partially true. The experience that our adults have is one of our TOP priorities, and we will be working to ensure that you will get just as much, if not more, out of your CCC week. By the fact that you are older, adults are often looked to as role models and sources of leadership. We want you to come prepared to have a great week of serving and feel prepared to serve as a leader with our staff. Here are some general expectations we have of your role during a week with CCC AND some new and exciting things coming for this year!

PREPARATION

Adults are expected to participate in preparatory meetings, training sessions, and other pre-program activities for the group. The Carolina Cross Connection administration will correspond to adults primarily through one representative of the group often referred to as the Group Contact. It is the administration's goal to ensure that adults are trained on all pertinent aspects of the program prior to arrival and to work within our ability to do so.

IN-CAMP LEADERSHIP

● Participation: Adults are expected to participate as members of the Christian community, which means having fun and growing closer in their relationship with Christ. Adults are expected to participate in activities meant for the building up of the community, such as worship, games, devotions, and sharing. While some may be geared toward younger people, adults are also meant to enjoy these activities and to set an example in attitude and participation.

● Partner with the Director: Once the week begins, a "hand-off" occurs, as the primary point of communication with adults may shift from the office administration to an on-site Camp Director. These individuals will serve as primary liaison to adults, meeting and communicating with them often. Both adults and the Camp Director are expected to stay in contact, to offer positive and helpful feedback, and to address concerns in a timely and appropriate manner.

● Partner with the Staff: The Carolina Cross Connection summer staff is eager to work with adults. The staff will take on many supervisory and disciplinarian roles in camp, but adults are expected to partner with the staff in some situations where their leadership, support, and supervision is needed. This may include gathering for and participating in activities, getting ready for bedtime, medical emergencies, leading small group discussions, enforcing dress code, and cell phone policies.

OUT-OF-CAMP LEADERSHIP

Teams of campers/volunteers are sent out daily to engage with the homeless community, do mission activities, and participate in service projects. Opportunities abound for adults and youth to exercise leadership skills, but certain expectations apply exclusively or more emphatically to adults:

● Enforcers of Safety: Adults are expected to ensure that everyone is safe out in the community and back at homebase.

● Positive Role Models: Adults are expected to set a positive, mature example for the youth, and encourage them to be respectful and compassionate towards the people being served.

● Facilitators: Adults are expected to lead in such a way that empowers youth to take responsibility and lead themselves.

● Quality Controllers: Adults are expected to follow instructions, plans, and guidance from the trained staff to ensure that ministry is as excellent as it can be.

● Ministry Leaders: Above all, adults are expected to embrace their role as a unique opportunity to be in ministry with many types of people. Adults should view their actions through the lens of Colossians 3:17: "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

POST-PROGRAM FEEDBACK

After the week, the administration welcomes communication and values feedback from all participants, especially adults. Written or online evaluations are one of the most important methods. Adults are also encouraged to contact the office anytime with questions, comments, concerns, or feedback.

SMALL GROUPS

We are setting aside some time on most evenings for your church group to meet together and have small group time. Our staff has prepared Bible verses and questions for you to discuss with the youth from your church. These small groups times will continue our focus on the theme for that year. Our hope is that this will bring your group closer to Jesus and facilitate discussion on taking the CCC serving experience home with you. A copy of the lessons will be provided to you via our web site in April.

Above all, we ask that adults be flexible. Though the camp week is carefully planned to the last detail, we at CCC have come to learn that Murphy’s law definitely applies: expect the unexpected. Go with the flow. Be open-minded, ready to adapt to different circumstances and last-minute changes. With all these things in mind, you will have a wonderful experience this summer. God bless you in your time getting ready for and serving with CCC and our friends in the city. See you this summer!

In Him,

CCC Board of Directors & Administration

Carolina Cross Connection

PO Box 5723

Concord, NC 28027

704.721.0033

ADULT FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is a week at CCC geared more towards youth?

A lot of our in-camp activities, yes, will be targeted towards youth, but we also believe that adults will learn and grow from the serving, learning, worship, sharing, and even games and fun songs. We encourage you to come with a child-like heart, keeping your eyes open to how God reveals Himself to you.

Am I responsible for planning evening activities? Nope! Our camp staff will plan and lead all evening activities. At times, they may call on youth and adult volunteers to help out, and we will have small group time most evenings that we ask you to facilitate. We do provide you with the materials you need for those times.

Will I have time to meet, debrief with, or have devotions with my youth? Yes! Usually before or after worship on most evenings we have small group church time. This will be a time to meet with the youth and adults from your church, do a pre-designed Bible study and connect with the students from your church.

I’m nervous about being with youth!

You will usually find that working with youth is easier than it sounds. Keep this word in mind: FACILITATE. Your job is not to have all the answers or to dictate what to do (although occasionally, you may have to ). The best way to lead with youth is to facilitate, to help the youth in your group to show leadership and solve problems as a team. Our staff is there to help you in working with the youth. You are not alone!

I’m nervous about being with people experiencing homelessness!

Our staff and ministry partners are also there to help guide you in working with the homeless. Note, we said working WITH the homeless. We have as much to learn from the community as to give to them. The Haywood Street Congregation is our partner ministry for a reason: they serve alongside these folks every day. They value each person and have created a community and a church. We feel privileged to share in this faith community for the week. Remember that there are no silly questions or concerns. You don’t need any special gifts or professional training beforehand: simply an open mind and heart to experience God this week. All emotions and feelings are valid. We invite you to come as you are and walk alongside us as we embrace relational ministry.

Can I give money or rides to the friends I meet?

We understand that the needs of others can be met in a variety of ways. Our focus during your week is to develop and foster relationships among people the world might typically consider outcasts. This being said, we will encourage youth to leave all valuables at the home base while serving in the community each day.

We encourage students not to have valuables with them on most days out serving. There is not a need for them to have money at those times. We have found that money can inhibit ministering to something greater. If you, as adults, are led to provide something more for a new friend you meet, please talk with a CCC staff member, Haywood Street representative, or representative of partnering organization. They work with most of these folks all summer long and have formed relationships. We do not give car or van rides to people in the community, except during our pre-planned activities directed by the CCC staff in partnership with Haywood Street Congregation only.

Can I be a camper, but not go out each day?

Sorry, no. Coming to CCC signifies that you are committed to the entire experience, worksites, community and all. You’d be cheating yourself and everyone else if you didn’t fully participate!

Because of my work schedule, I would have to come to camp late or leave early. Is that okay? Unfortunately, we will not be able to allow youth or adults to come late or leave early during the week. This is disruptive to the bonding that occurs within the community. Please come to Carolina Cross Connection ONLY if you are able to commit to the entire week.

Will we have free time?

Yes, there will be some opportunity for free time. The staff will always try to plan for some unstructured free-time between evening activities, though some evenings may be more “packed” than others. Most free time will occur in camp, but we also have a few instances where small groups can venture out of camp for free time. There must be a minimum of 1 adult and 2 youth together in a group to leave camp at any time. There is an ice cream shop and a General Store within a short walk of camp.

Can we site see in Asheville, go out to eat, run to Wal-Mart?

Taking a mission trip in an urban setting is interesting! We are often asked those questions. While we encourage groups to grab the occasional ice cream cone or snack at a local downtown business within walking distance (during free time only!) please eat the meals provided. Also come prepared so that Wal-Mart trips are not needed (if something important does come up, our staff are happy to accommodate). There are a few reasons behind this rule. First, this can quickly become an expectation of the kids in your group and possibly of the entire camp: that you’ll go out to eat or site see every day. The focus will switch. Kids will be focused on getting done quickly so they can go out to eat, shop, etc. This, of course, results in missing out on opportunities to experience Christ within the community— which is the whole purpose behind the week!

Make your week a spiritual retreat and focused mission on learning new things from God. All that said, if there is an opportunity to spend some free time as a small group, we encourage you to go to a local ice cream shop or some other local establishment. Make it a treat, not an expectation. Make sure it’s not too costly (some youth may not have the money for such things). And go someplace local so that money stays in the community rather than supporting chains and large corporations.

I have a question that hasn’t been answered.

We would be happy to speak with you! Please contact the CCC office at 704-721-0033 or for any further questions or concerns.

Adults- Empowering Youth and The Community We Serve

One of our core values at CCC is empowering youth and the community. When we go out each day, we want to treat people with respect and care. Anything we can do to involve them in the work we are doing will give them a feeling of worth. It will be empowering. On the other hand, if we ignore the people we are visiting and do not listen to their suggestions, we will overpower them.

This same idea is true for the members of your group for the week. It is important to treat everyone in a way that will empower them. Below are some examples of overpowering and empowering. Please review these and model the example of empowering in camp and out in the community as much as possible. It will make a much more enriching service experience for everyone.

OverpoweringEmpowering

Those who are most comfortable meeting and talking with new people do all the talking, while other group members are left out. / Those who are most comfortable meeting and talking with new people find ways to involve all group members in conversations with the homeless.
Ignoring requests or suggestions from the because it creates complications or inconvenience. / Welcoming requests and suggestions from the homeless, making sure they have input, and inviting them to participate.
Project decisions made by one or a few group members and imposed on the whole team. / All group members share ideas about how to approach a project.
Giving simpler tasks to the youngest members of the group or to girls. / No difference made between sex or age when dividing up tasks that the team has to do. All members should have the opportunity to help with all tasks, from simple chores to complex work.
The camper mission group is only interacting with each other. / The camper mission group is interacting with people in the community on a personal level with real interest and care.
Working with the goal of getting done early to get back to camp for more free time. / Working with the goal to meet as many people as possible and patiently listen to their stories.

Adult Self-Screening Form

to be completed by any participant age 25 and older

Camp week ______Camp ______Church ______

Last Name ______First Name______MI ______

Address ______City ______St ______Zip ______

Phone ______Cell ______email ______

Occupation and Employer ______

Date of Birth ______Driver's License #______Issuing State ______Circle One

1. Have you ever been convicted of a felony? Yes No

2. Have you ever been convicted or formally accused of any sex related or child abuse offense? Yes No

3. Have you had any major driving infractions over the past year?YesNo

4. Have you had a background check completed within the past 3 years verifying the responses above? Yes No

5. Have you participated in Safe Sanctuary or a similar youth protection training program? Yes No

● If you answered YES to questions #1, #2 or #3, please fully explain on back of form.

● If you answered YES to question #4, what was the date of your background check?

Date of check ______/______/______Your background check MUST be on file at your church.

● If you answered NO to question #4, you must have a background check completed before arrival to camp. If needed, CCC will provide contact information for this service but your church is responsible for the follow-through. Contact the CCC Office for more information.

I fully support Carolina Cross Connection's effort to increase the probability of having a safe environment in our camp week for youth to perform mission work without fear of irresponsible adults who may take advantage of them or put them at risk of being hurt. I certify, to the best of my knowledge, the information that I have provided on this form is true and accurate. I authorize any investigation, including a background check, of any or all statements made on this form.

Print Name ______

Signature ______Date ______

Group Leader Signature ______Date ______

Pastor Signature ______Date ______

TURN THIS FORM IN BY MAY 1st with GROUP ROSTER.

HOMEBASE - Central UMC, Asheville

Please make sure to arrive on Sunday at Central UMC, 27 Church St. Asheville, NC 28801.

NOT at 297 Haywood Street Asheville, NC.

STUFF TO BRING

Required

● Bible

● Community clothes: enough for 5 days (See dress code for requirements.) Knee length and long pants, sleeved shirts are required. Leggings do not provide enough protection during daily activities.

● HomeBase clothes: Enough for seven days. This is clothing you will wear back at Central UMC in the evenings. (See dress code for requirements.)

● Work Clothes: It is wise to bring at least one outfit you don't mind ruining. We sometimes do painting and work projects with our partner ministries throughout the week as needed.

● Sweat shirt, light jacket. It can get cooler in the evenings in Asheville.

● Sneakers are a must! There will be long periods of walking some days. No open-toed or open-heeled shoes are allowed on certain days with long walks and specific activities. Following this rule will allow everyone to be flexible and ready for any and every serving or learning situation.

● Sandals or flip flops. These are definitely needed in camp at Central UMC if you don't want to wear your sneakers all the time. Sandals are sometimes appropriate in other settings.

● Toiletries: Remember, there is no shower, but you should bring soap, wet wipes, washcloths, toothbrushes, deodorant, and other toiletries. There are sinks available. You can keep clean!