Middle School Mission Trips

What are the best middle school mission trips?

The best middle school mission trips give 6th through 8th graders service they can handle, alongside established local ministries, with adults close by to make sure things go smoothly. Experience Mission (EM) hosts mission trips for middle school students, also called junior high mission trips, in seven communities across the United States, Latin America, and Africa. Trips last six days or more depending on the community, and each team needs 1 adult for every 5 middle school students.

Younger students thrive when a trip fits their stage. As you compare middle school mission trips, look for these marks of healthy service:

• A host that welcomes younger students - Local partners willing and ready to host middle schoolers and plan work that fits their skill levels and abilities
• Close supervision - 1 adult for every 5 students to help students engage and serve well
• A trip students can manage - Trip lengths and travel days that suit students who may be on their first mission trip or trip out of the country
• Learning as well as serving - Students meet the people they serve alongside and learn about the community they travel to, not just work on projects
• Space to grow - Daily worship and debrief give students time to reflect and words for what they see and hear

For a longer comparison between EM mission trip communities, read the best middle school mission trips for 2027.

Which EM communities welcome middle school students?

7 EM partner communities welcome middle school students (or mixed-age youth groups). Each community page lists the age range, open weeks, and per-person cost.

In the United States, middle school and junior high groups can serve in:

• Portland, Maine - 6th grade and up, $475 per person for 6 days
• Muskegon, Michigan - 6th grade and up, $495 per person for 6 days
• Navajo Nation, Arizona - 6th grade and up, $550 per person for 6 days
• Pikeville, Kentucky - Late elementary and up, $550 per person for 6 days

Outside the United States, middle school groups can serve in:

• Belize - 6th grade and up, $855 per person for 7 days
• Costa Rica - 6th grade and up, $995 per person for 8 days
• Namibia - 6th grade and up, $1,595 per person for 12 days

Middle school teams serve alongside long-term local partners, including Kids Belong in Muskegon, MI; Partners for World Health and Preble Street in Portland, ME; Pastor JR Wilson Jr. and the Tse ee gai congregation in the Navajo Nation; Rob Musick in Pikeville, KY; Pastor Nelzon Guillen and Family of God Church in Belize; Victor and Sara Mayorga-Molina in Costa Rica; and Shofar Christian Church in Namibia.

Most other EM mission trip communities allow volunteers who are in 9th grade and up, as well as adults. Groups with older students can read about high school mission trips, and mixed-grade groups can start with youth mission trips. Each mission trip community page confirms its current grade range before you register.

What do middle school students do on a mission trip?

Middle school teams spend most days on hands-on service, kids ministry, or support for local ministries, shaped by what each host partner asks for during your week. On summer trips in the U.S. (June through August), Evening Gathering gives students a daily time to worship, pray, and talk about their faith and how it intersects with what they are experiencing in the community.

Depending on the community, your middle school team may have the opportunity to serve in:

• Kids ministry - EM Kids Club, a VBS-style program, runs 1-4 times during a week in Muskegon, and teams in Belize also take part in putting on a Kids Club
• Sorting and packing - In Portland, Maine, teams sort and load medical supplies bound for clinics overseas with Partners for World Health
• Meals and neighbor care - Also in Portland, teams have the opportunity to support Preble Street's work with neighbors experiencing homelessness
• Construction and repair - In the Navajo Nation in Arizona, teams help local churches and families with tiling, drywall, roofing, framing, and cement work; while in Belize and Costa Rica, teams may work on construction projects for a church, school, or family's home
• Community projects and outreach - In Pikeville, Kentucky, teams join work projects and outreach alongside local leaders, and in Belize, teams may visit neighbors, garden, and clean alongside the church
• Food, clothing, and care - In Swakopmund, Namibia, teams may have the chance to serve with Feeding Namibia and Clothing Namibia, the Ubuntu pre-primary school, and a center for abandoned babies

No experience is required for any of these service opportunities, though adult leaders with construction skills can be incredibly helpful on trips centered around work projects. Students do best when they simply come with curiosity and a willingness to be taught by the people they serve alongside.

Are mission trips safe for middle school students?

Yes! EM builds a safety plan into every group trip, and middle school teams receive the closest supervision. Your group's adult leaders stay responsible for students all week, while EM field staff and local partners guide the team on site.

Three safeguards matter most for younger students:

• A 1-to-5 ratio - At least one adult leader for every 5 middle school students
• Team leader age 21 or older - Required on every team with minors
• Trained field staff - EM field staff hold First Aid and CPR certification and carry medical kits

Every participant age 18 and older also completes a background check under EM's background check policy. Read the full Health & Safety Plan to see how EM and team leaders share responsibility for the health and well-being of middle school volunteers.

How much does a middle school mission trip cost?

Per-person costs for EM middle school mission trips in 2027 currently range from $475 to $550 in the U.S., $855 to $995 in Belize and Costa Rica, and $1,595 in Namibia. The longer the trip and the farther the travel, the higher the cost.

Trip cost covers lodging, meals, work project materials, support for local partners, and EM field staff, plus in-country transportation on international trips. Plan separately for travel to and from the community, background checks for adult team members, and any international entry or exit fees.

Worried about fundraising? Younger students can raise support through church-wide efforts and family fundraisers, with adults leading the planning. EM's Mission Trip Fundraising Guide offers ideas for teams, and EM's registration and payment policy outlines deposit and trip payment due dates.

When do middle school mission trips take place?

Most middle school communities host teams during the summer. Portland, Pikeville, and Navajo Nation run summer trips, and Belize and Namibia also host teams in fall, winter, and during spring break. EM partners in Costa Rica and Muskegon, Michigan, will host trips during summer 2027, with available dates coming soon.

Open weeks vary by community and change as teams register. Each trip page lists its current weeks, and an interest form lets EM know your group's dates.

View All Mission Trips

Should a middle school group serve in the U.S. or abroad?

It really depends on your group! Are they ready? What's your budget? What dates do you plan to go? Either option brings different planning needs:

• U.S. mission trips - No passports required, $475 to $550 per person, and 6-day trips with shorter travel days, ground transportation not covered by trip cost
• International trips - A passport needed for every team member, 7-12 days long, $855 to $1,595 per person, ground transportation covered by EM, larger minimum team size required in some communities

How does a middle school group plan a mission trip?

Your group leader registers your team, and EM support staff help along the way. Start early so you have time to recruit adult leaders and fundraise. Follow these steps:

1. Choose a community - Pick one that welcomes your youngest students and fits your dates and budget
2. Submit an interest form - Share your group's size and dates through the interest form before registering your team online
3. Recruit leaders and prepare students - Meet the 5:1 ratio, complete background checks, and use EM's cross-cultural training resources

EM's guide on how to plan a mission trip walks leaders through each step in detail!

What is EM's approach to a middle school mission trip?

We believe how a team serves matters as much as what you accomplish. EM's 7 Healthy Service Principles serve as the basis for our pre-trip training for teams, encouraging every team to approach their mission trip as guests and learners rather than tourists or coming with our own agendas.

On an EM trip, middle schoolers are invited to ask questions, listen to their hosts, and notice what the community already does well. It is our hope that they learn that people matter more than projects, that every person bears the image of God, and that loving their neighbor is a call to love and serve all people, everywhere.

Read all 7 principles on EM's approach to missions.

Middle School Mission Trip FAQs

Find a high school mission trip for your group!

Explore 2027 middle school mission trips and find a community that fits your group's grade range, dates, and budget. Browse group mission trips to compare communities, service focus, and per-person cost.

Written and reviewed by Experience Mission Staff - Updated: October 2026