Chicago
Mission Trips

Lodging
Teams in Chicago will stay either at Sunshine Gospel or at local college apartments owned by Sunshine Gospel.

Sleeping
Cots or air mattresses will be provided but you will be responsible to bring your own bedding (sheets, pillow, blanket or sleeping bag and towels).

Showers
There will be shower facilities at the housing facilities where teams will be staying.

Bathrooms
There will be bathrooms where your team will be staying. Most work and outreach sites will have bathrooms as well. For those that do not, teams will need to take mid-day breaks to use a public restroom.

Water
Teams will have access to water throughout the day. Everyone should plan to bring refillable water bottles to stay hydrated throughout the day.

Electricity
There is electricity available where you will be staying, as well as at most work and outreach locations.

Security
EM works with our partners to ensure the most secure facility possible.

This is an extreme inner-city mission trip, which will put you and your team in the center of inner-city life as you take part in learning and service projects throughout the day. During your time of service in this location, you may meet people navigating difficult life struggles. People in various stages of drug and alcohol addiction, and those possibly involved in local gangs, prostitution, etc. may cross paths with your team. Their personal need for Christ is extreme. It is through kindness, care, and respect for the dignity of all we meet that we can best share the love of Christ. Please come prepared to step out of your comfort zone as you meet the people of the city with an open heart.

Food
A wonderful team of local cooks will be preparing and serving your meals. Breakfast and dinner will be served buffet-style, and your team will pack your lunches. Curious about EM's ability to accommodate specific food restrictions? View EM's Food Policy

Transportation
Your team's transportation to, from, and while in Chicago is not covered by the cost of your trip. You will need your vehicles throughout the entire week to transport your team to various locations for work and ministry.

NOTE: Using a school bus as your main mode of transportation while in this community is NOT an ideal option. 15-passenger vans or smaller are your best choice for transportation in Chicago.

AVERAGE DAILY SCHEDULE

Day 1

4-6pm Arrival & Orientation
6-8pm - Dinner - Lesson - Debrief

Day 2

8:00 am - Breakfast
9am-12pm - El Train Experience
12-1pm - Lunch
1-4pm - Woodlawn Tour
4-5pm - Intro to South Side
6-8pm - Dinner - Lesson - Debrief

Day 3-5

8:00 am - Breakfast
9am - 2:30pm - Community Service (& Lunch)
3:30pm - Rotating Opportunities (Museum, Poverty Simulation, American Son, Just Mercy, Economic Poverty)
6pm - Dinner - Lesson - Debrief *Thursday evenings are generally free after dinner for your team to take some time to be together

Day 6

Trips to Chicago normally end at noon on Friday after a brunch and final debrief session Your team also has the option to stay over Friday night and use the remainder of the day on Friday to explore the city. You will be on your own for meals after breakfast on Friday if you choose to stay. Departure would be no later than Saturday morning at 9:00 am.

EM's Health & Safety Plan

Staff Certification
All EM 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 communities like Atlanta, 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 911 services will be contacted immediately. The family will be contacted 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.

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.