Webster Springs, WV
Mission Trips

Work Projects

Work projects are organized to support the needs and vision of the community and designed to connect team members with the local people of Webster Springs. Experience Mission staff will coordinate projects and get materials and tools ready. Your team will be responsible to provide project oversight. While we will always have plenty of work for your team, the extent of the projects may be limited based on the expertise your team brings with you.

Your team will be involved in home repair and community restoration work projects that reach out to those in need in various practical ways. We will work in neighborhoods with a diverse group of people and circumstances. Team members will have the opportunity to share their lives through service, prayer, and time spent with the families and children they come to work among.

Outreach Ministry

Due to the unique nature of this community, the opportunity for relational ministry may take place directly at project worksites as volunteers come alongside and encourage those come to serve.

There may be additional opportunities to serve in various types of relational ministry if the need arises. These could include: visiting the elderly, singing at a nursing home, gardening, cleaning, etc.

Children's Ministry

Depending on the specific needs of the week you serve, Experience Mission may or may not hold an organized Kids Club. Teams will be notified several months prior to their trip if Kids Club is an opportunity. If Kids Club is included as an opportunity for your team, participation will be optional. If your team chooses to participate in Kids Club, Experience Mission will provide the curriculum for your teams use. This Kids Club curriculum will be sent out to Team Leaders in the spring via email.

Teams will be responsible to bring the craft supplies needed for their specific crafts and should budget appropriately. While we do our best to make sure craft materials are cost effective, teams may feel free to augment any materials to make them more suitable to their budget. Experience Mission will supply scissors, staplers, paper hole punches and rulers. There are plenty of opportunities to connect with the local children through games like soccer or Frisbee. Tuck in a hackysack, football or jump rope as they are sure to come in handy!

*Experience Mission works closely with local leaders to identify work projects and ministry opportunities that address authentic needs within the community. We ask that you come with a servant's heart and willingness to adapt to the unique qualities represented in each location. Opportunities can vary significantly from one week to the next. Your team may work at one location or serve at multiple locations each day. Due to the changing needs of our community partners, we cannot confirm your specific daily activities until your team arrives.

Spring Break Trips

Due to staffing limitations and varying school schedules in our community locations, Kids Club and Evening Gathering are not offered during spring break trips. Teams should plan to prepare their own worship and devotional materials for trips from February-May.

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.

Each evening, there is time set aside after dinner for prayer, a time of debriefing and a short devotional led by our staff. Following this Evening Gathering, there will be time set aside for individual teams to meet together to share, have devotions, debrief, have fun and deal with any team issues. We make this time a priority for you to spend with your team.

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 and Good-Byes

Lodging

Teams in Webster Springs will stay at a local church or a dormitory depending on the week you go. 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 showers for your team and bathrooms at the place where you stay. Most work sites will also have bathrooms. On the occasion that there are no facilities where you are working, teams will need to take breaks midday to use a public restroom.

Water

There is 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 in West Virginia that will be available where teams stay as well as at most work sites. *Keep in mind that there will not be air conditioning.

Security

Webster Springs is a safe area in general. 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. There is minor petty theft in the area. For this reason, we recommend teams leaving all valuables (smart phones, computers, jewelry, etc.) at home. If a team does bring some valuables, the best way to keep them safe is to store them in a locked vehicle during the day.

Food

A wonderful team of local cooks, alongside your 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. Team members should plan to bring their own plate, bowl, cup and silverware for meals.

Transportations

Your teams 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. Using a school bus as your main mode of transportation while in this community is not an option. Our work in 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 international locations, we will also carry a Trauma Kit or First Responder Kit. In these remote locations we will have medications like Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Benadryl and Imodium on hand. We make these available to adult team leaders for their sole discretionary use with their team members. EM Staff will not dispense any medications. In our domestic and international locations, 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 which 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 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.


The following relates to "Community Staffed" mission trips which can be set up (during September through May) by calling 888-475-6414.

*A specific trip identified as "Community Staff Team" means that Experience Mission has absolutely no responsibility nor liability in any health or safety issues.

Wondering what all goes on during our McDowell County mission trips? You’re not alone! Here’s a list of frequently asked questions about this trip.

What age group can you accommodate in Webster Springs, West Virginia?
We can accommodate late elementary and Jr. High/middle school students in this location as well as high school students, college students, and adults.

How much do Webster Springs mission trips cost?
The cost for this trip is $345/person for 2019. 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 Webster Springs mission trips?
Mission trips to Webster Springs, 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.

Do you offer spring break trips to Webster Springs?
Spring break trips are currently closed for registrations for 2019. Check back soon for 2020 availability. Check out our spring mission trip locations for all available options.

What will volunteers do on a mission trip to Webster Springs, West Virginia?
Ministry in Webster Springs has a few primary focuses. Teams can expect to work on home improvement projects with local families.

Will we work with children in Webster Springs?
Kids club participation depends on the specific week. If your team will have the opportunity to lead a Kids Club, we will contact you several months prior to the trip.

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 Webster Springs?
This will be determined closer to the start of your trip. Teams may stay at a local church in vacant classrooms, where air mattresses and sleeping bags should be brought for added comfort. Teams may also stay at a mission center where bunk beds are available. Teams who stay here should plan to bring sleeping bags. Showers are available on site at both locations.

Are meals provided during Webster Springs, 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 and 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 offer mission trips to any other Appalachia communities?
Yes! We also currently offer Appalachia volunteer trips to Pike County, Kentucky, McDowell County, West Virginia and Jackson County, Ohio.

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

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

View Registration & Payment 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.