Muskegon, Michigan
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 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 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 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 Work Sites/Ministry Areas
12pm - Lunch
3:30pm - Finish work for the day
4pm - Break and Clean-up
5pm - Leaders meeting
6pm - Dinner
7pm - Evening Gathering / Team time

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

Lodging

Teams in Muskegon, Michigan, will stay in a secured local church in the area.

Sleeping

You will be sleeping on the floor and should plan to bring an air mattress or a mat. Team members should plan to bring light bedding or a sleeping bag and a pillow.

Showers & Bathrooms

There will be showers and bathrooms available at the housing location. Larger teams may need to go to the local YMCA for showers.

Water

Tap water is clean and available to drink in Muskegon!

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

Transportation

Your team's transportation to, from, and while in Michigan 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 recommended as teams may be split into smaller groups for projects and ministry opportunities. It is recommended teams flying in plan to arrive at Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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 which is life-threatening or has the potential for permanent damage, and local 911 services will be contacted immediately. The family will be contacted 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.

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 Michigan?
We can accommodate Jr. High/middle school students in this location as well as high school students, college students, and adults.

How much do Michigan mission trips cost?
See "Upcoming Trip Dates" section below for available dates and per-person cost for each trip. 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 local ministries and families. Your fees help cover this blessing.

What seasons do you offer Michigan mission trips?
Mission trips to Kentucky 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 Michigan?
Ministry in Muskegon, MI is a mix of relational outreach and work projects, all connected to local efforts to support foster kids and families. Teams can expect to work on home improvement projects, yard work, meal prep, clothes sorting, kids and teen ministry, and more.

Will we work with children on mission trips to Michigan?
Yes! EM Kids Club, a VBS-style ministry put on by volunteer groups who come to serve, will likely be part of all EM mission trips to Michigan.

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?
Teams will stay at a local church. Plan to bring along air mattresses and sleeping bags for added comfort! Large teams may shower at the local YMCA.

Are meals provided during Michigan 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 Michigan 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 work and ministry 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 midwest communities?
Yes! We also currently offer group volunteer trips to Chicago, Illinois.

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