Short Term Mission Trips
for Youth & Adult Groups

Trip cost varies by community, trip length, and travel distance, and generally covers lodging, meals, in-country transportation (on international trips), and program support once your team arrives. Explore communities (above) or submit an interest form for exact pricing on the community you are considering.

EM trips are rooted in Christian faith and shaped by following Jesus in cross-cultural service, so mission trip teams who come to serve should expect a faith-centered experience throughout. If you are curious about the ability of your specific faith tradition to engage well during EM trips, EM staff can talk through what that looks like for your specific group in a given community.

EM partners with established local ministries who know their communities well, and each trip is prepared with health, safety, and logistics support built in. After you submit an interest form, your EM support contact can walk through the safety details specific to your trip.

EM mission trips are 6-10 day service-learning opportunities for groups of six or more. IMMERSION programs run 1-9 months, and Gap Year programs run 6-9 months, both for individuals ages 18-30. All three share the same approach of serving alongside local partners with humility and learning; the difference is length, group size, service opportunities available, and depth of engagement and discipleship.

Experience Mission (EM) is an interdenominational Christian nonprofit that has organized service-learning mission trips since 2003 for over 40,000 volunteers. We would love to connect with you! Read more About Experience Mission or reach out directly with questions before you commit.

Most days center on worksite projects, local ministry support and, in some communities, Kids Club ministry with local kids or other outreach, followed by an Evening Gathering for worship, prayer, and reflection with your team. The specific work and schedule vary by community, but every trip is built around serving alongside local partners rather than sightseeing. See our full FAQ for a day-by-day breakdown of what to expect.

EM measures a good trip by the strength of the connection between volunteers and the local community, not the size of the project completed. Your team joins a community in motion, serving alongside local partners already at work there, guided by EM's 7 Healthy Service Principles and pre-trip cross-cultural training. Each day includes built-in reflection through Evening Gathering, so your team has space to process what you're learning, not just what you're doing. Trips also stay sized to the community's capacity, which tends to keep weeks relational rather than over-crowded.

Trips welcome groups spanning late elementary through adult, though age minimums vary by community. Any team with members under 18 needs adult chaperones present at all times, at a recommended ratio of about 7 students per adult for high schoolers and 5 to 1 for middle schoolers, including at least one adult over 21. Full requirements, including background checks for adults, are covered in our FAQ.

Not on a 6-10 day trip. Those require a team of at least six people, and EM is not able to match individuals with an existing team. If you aren't part of a group or are looking to serve on your own, EM's IMMERSION program (for ages 18-30) is built for individuals seeking a longer, immersive experience to join a team of other young adults for 1-9 months.

Your trip fee covers food, housing, work project materials, and children's ministry supplies. Teams should budget separately for transportation to and during the trip (except on international trips where in-country transportation is covered), any required background checks for adults, and, for international trips, entry or exit fees typically between $25 and $45 per person. See our full FAQ for a complete breakdown by trip type.

Registration requires a per-person deposit plus a team registration fee, with the remaining balance due in stages leading up to your trip. Payments are non-refundable, though credits toward a future trip may be available depending on the nature and timing of trip cancelations. Full payment schedule, cancellation terms, and payment methods are outlined in our Registration & Payment Policy.