Connecticut
Mission Trips

Each morning, there is time set aside for devotions and quiet time. This is a valuable time and we strongly encourage everyone to spend it with God journaling their thoughts and experiences as the days unfold. EM will provide a physical or printable devotional journal.

Our staff will lead a time of debriefing and a short devotional in the evening (what we call "Evening Gathering") and it is always a great addition to have musical worship. Our programming does not include musical worship as we can't guarantee that our our staff will have this ability. Please let us know if you have anyone who sings or plays guitar on your trip so that we can help to coordinate the musical aspect of worship when able. If teams aren't able to help in the area of music, it may not be a part of the trip.

AVERAGE DAILY SCHEDULE

Day 1

3-6pm - Groups Arrive
5pm - Leader's Meeting
6pm - Dinner
7pm - Orientation and History of New Haven
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 / Team time

Community Engagement Opportunities

Once during the week, volunteer groups will engage the local church community or city in an evening dinner activity on Wednesday or Thursday night. During another day, teams will help host a hot dog lunch or dinner outside on the Green in New Haven.

Weekly Morning Prayer Time

On Thursday, join Vox Church in their weekly prayer time from 8-9:30am, and leave for outreach project sites after.

Day 6

7am - Breakdast
7:30am - Cleanup / Packing
9am - Pictures and Good-byes

Lodging
Teams serving in Connecticut will stay at Vox Church in Branford, CT.

Sleeping
Teams will be sleeping on the floor and should plan on bringing mats or air mattresses as well as a sleeping bag or light bedding and a pillow.

Showers
Showers will be available off-site at different intervals throughout the week.

Bathrooms
There will be bathrooms at the church 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 at the church and at their work and outreach sites. Everyone should plan to bring refillable water bottles to stay hydrated throughout the day.

Electricity & WiFi
There is electricity available to teams at the church where they will be staying, as well as at most work and outreach locations. Wifi will be available for volunteers at your Team Leaders' discretion.

Security
Doors to the church have automatic locks with swipe entry keys available for Team Leaders. The facility will be locked during the day, with an option to lock specific items in interior rooms during the day if needed.

Food
Experience Mission Summer Staff will be preparing and serving your meals at the church. Breakfast and dinner will be served buffet-style, and your team will pack your lunches. Team members should plan to bring their own plate, bowl, cup, and silverware for meals.

Transportation
Your team's transportation to, from, and while in New Haven 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. 12-passenger vans or smaller are your best choice for transportation in and around the city of New Haven.

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 New Haven, 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 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 Connecticut?
Mission trips to New Haven, CT, are open to junior high school-age students and older.

How much do Connecticut mission trips cost?
The cost for this trip in 2023 is $455/person. This includes lodging, food, staffing, and all trip-related expenses.

What seasons do you offer Connecticut mission trips?
Trips to Connecticut in 2023 span most of July and early August.

Do you offer spring break trips in Connecticut?
We do not currently offer spring trips to this community. Call 888-475-6414 to inquire about custom options or check out all our spring break mission trip communities.

What will I do on an Connecticut mission trip?
Teams in Connecticut split their time between local ministries with a focus on serving those on the margins, and building relationships. You can expect to work with youth outreach, food ministry, and homeless ministries. In addition, your team will spend time learning about the history and context for ministry in New Haven.

Will we work with children in Connecticut?
Potentially! At this time, we do not know if children's ministry will be a part of 2023 mission trips in Connecticut. Kids Club is an integral part of the ministry on many EM trips. If it will be part of your mission trip, your EM support contact will provide you with the resources needed to prepare your team.

Where will my team stay in Connecticut?
Teams will stay in rooms at a local church. Plan to bring air mattresses for added comfort. Showers will be available at a location off-site at specific times during the week.

Are meals provided for Connecticut 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 Connecticut mission trips?
You will arrange your own transportation in Connecticut. We recommend 12-passenger vans and smaller. We don't recommend relying on buses as a mode of transportation for this trip.

What time can I arrive in Connecticut?
Check-in is between 3pm and 5pm on the first day of your selected trip. Our staff will be awaiting your arrival. Dinner is provided, followed by an orientation meeting to get you ready for the week.

What should I pack for an Connecticut trip?
A suggested packing list will be available once you register for your trip. Generally, you'll only need clothing, personal items, and bedding! We'll have all the necessary materials for projects and outreach opportunities on-site.

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 any other urban mission trips?
Yes! In 2023, EM will also have opportunities to bring groups to serve in Atlanta, New York City, and Chicago.

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