Richwood, WV
Mission Trips

Each morning, there is time set aside for devotions and quiet time. This is a valuable time and we strongly encourage all team members to spend it with God, journaling their thoughts and experiences as the days unfold.

EM staff will provide materials for a self-guided time of debriefing and a short devotional in the evening (what we call "Evening Gathering") and it is a great time to incorporate musical worship.

AVERAGE DAILY SCHEDULE

Day 1
3-6pm Groups Arrive
5pm - Leader's Meeting
6pm - Dinner
7pm - Orientation Meeting
8:30pm - Team Time (a time for your group alone)
11:30pm - Lights Out

Day 2-5
7:15am - Breakfast
7:45am - Devotions and Quiet Time
8:15am - Group Prayer
8:30am - Teams leave for Sites
12pm - Lunch
3:30pm - Finish work for the day
4pm - Break and Clean-up
5pm - Leaders meeting
6pm - Dinner
7pm - Evening Gathering (as a whole group)
8:30pm - Team time

Day 6
7am - Breakfast
7:30am - Cleanup / Packing
9am - Pictures & Good-Byes

Lodging

Teams serving in Richwood will stay at a local church. Most teams will be sleeping on the ground and should plan to bring a small mat or single-wide air mattress. Team members should plan to bring light bedding or a sleeping bag and a pillow.

Showers & Bathrooms

There will be bathrooms at the place where you stay and at most work sites. On the occasion that there are no facilities where you are working, teams will need to take breaks midday to use a public restroom. Showers will either be camp showers or available at an alternate location.

Water

There is drinkable running water in this part of West Virginia. Teams will have access to it where they are staying, and at most work sites. Teams should plan to bring refillable water bottles to stay hydrated at work sites.

Electricity

There is electricity available where teams stay as well as at most work sites, but there will be no Wifi access for volunteers. *Keep in mind that there will not be air conditioning.

Security

Richwood is a generally safe area. The facilities where teams stay will be locked throughout the night and Experience Mission Staff members will do a sweep to make sure the facilities are secure before retiring for the evening. We do recommend teams leave unnecessary valuables (smartphones, computers, jewelry, etc.) at home.

Food

Experience Mission Field Staff will be preparing and serving your meals. Breakfast and dinner will be served buffet-style, and your team will pack their own lunches each morning. Curious about EM's ability to accommodate specific food restrictions? View EM's Food Policy

Transportations

Your team's transportation to, from, and while in West Virginia is NOT covered. You will need vehicles throughout the entire week to transport your team to various locations for work and ministry. PLEASE NOTE: Using a bus as your main mode of transportation while in this community is NOT an option. Our work and roads in rural West Virginia can only accommodate standard 15-passenger vans or smaller.

EM's Health & Safety Plan:

Staff Certification
All Summer Staff are certified in First Aid and CPR.

Medical Kits
Medical kits that include first-aid supplies for general accidents and ailments are provided for each site. In domestic locations like West Virginia, we ask that teams supply their own medications like Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Benadryl, and Imodium as they deem necessary.

Emergency Response Plan
Based on the severity of each emergency, EM has a plan for appropriate response.

If a team member becomes seriously ill, they will be taken to a local doctor to receive appropriate medical attention and medications. If they are a minor, their Team Leader along with our staff will accompany them to the clinic. If needed, their parents will be contacted. Their recovery will be carefully monitored by our staff.

If there is an accident that requires a doctor, but is not life-threatening and does not have the potential to cause permanent damage, Experience Mission staff will locate the Team Leader, contact parents or guardians (providing the injured is a minor), and provide safe but quick transportation to a local clinic.

In the event that an accident occurs that is life-threatening or has the potential for permanent damage, emergency medical care will be secured and arraignments will be made if necessary, to transport the injured person to the United States as quickly as possible providing they are serving in one of our International locations. In our domestic locations, local 911 services will be contacted immediately. The family will be contacted immediately to assist in guidance for an appropriate response.

All medical care is the sole responsibility of the team member. Experience Mission requires every team member to be covered by domestic medical insurance and recommends that team members traveling abroad carry additional international travel insurance to cover any medical needs their domestic medical insurance may not cover.

Check out EM's current Covid Guidance

Experience Mission has specific policies regarding team registration and withdrawal. Please refer to the document below for specifics.

View EM's Mission Trip Registration Policy

INDIVIDUALS

All volunteers on a week-long EM mission trip must be part of a team of at least six (6) people, with at least one team member age 21 or older to serve as the Team Leader. Not part of a group? All young adults ages 18-30 are eligible to apply for EM's IMMERSION program.

What age group can you accommodate in Richwood, West Virginia?
We can accommodate jr. high/middle school students in this location as well as high school students, college students, and adults.

How much do Richwood, West Virginia mission trips cost?
The cost of this trip in 2024 is $445/person. This includes all lodging, food, staffing, and trip-related expenses. Transportation is not included. Note that all construction projects are generally provided at no cost to families. Your fees help cover this blessing for homeowners.

What seasons do you offer mission trips in Richwood?
Mission trips to Richwood, West Virginia are available during the summer. Check out this list of all available spring break trips if you are looking for trips outside the summer months.

What will volunteers do on a mission trip to Richwood, West Virginia?
Teams coming to serve in Richwood can expect to work primarily on home improvement projects with local families.

Will we work with children in Richwood?
Mission trips in Richwood do not include opportunities to participate in a Kids Club or other children's ministry.

What paperwork is required for this mission trip?
Each team member will need to fill out a team member registration form and liability waiver, and all adults are required to pass a background check. Your mission trip support representative will contact you if any other paperwork is required.

Where will my team stay in Richwood?
Teams will stay at a local church, where air mattresses and sleeping bags should be brought for added comfort.

Are meals provided during Richwood, West Virginia mission trips?
Yes! Meals will be provided by Experience Mission staff for the duration of your trip. Our mission trip food policy outlines the details of what we can accommodate for dietary restrictions and more.

How does transportation work during West Virginia mission trips?
Transportation is entirely up to groups to arrange. We recommend 15-passenger vans or smaller. We don't recommend relying on buses as a mode of transportation for this trip. Keep in mind that groups are often split into teams of 8-12 for construction projects. It works well if you are able to plan transportation accordingly.

When should I arrive?
Check-in is between 3 and 5 PM on the first day of your selected trip. Our staff will be awaiting your arrival. You can expect dinner and an orientation meeting to get you ready for the week that evening as well.

What should I pack for this trip?
A packing list will be available to you once you register for the trip. Generally, be prepared to bring along work clothes. All tools will be provided to you, but donations of additional tools are welcome!

Does EM have any Covid requirements for teams?
We ask that teams bring 1-2 masks/person and 2-4 rapid tests in the event that someone on your team becomes sick during the trip. Outside of that, we simply recommend that teams follow current CDC recommendations regarding travel, testing, and what to do if you're exposed or get sick. View EM's Current Covid Guidance

Does EM offer mission trips to any other Appalachia communities?
Yes! We also currently offer Appalachia volunteer service trips to Pikeville, Kentucky and Beattyville, Kentucky.

Have more questions about Experience Mission trips? Check out our general FAQs, or call our support team at 888-475-6414.