SERVICE AREAS
Flower City Work Camp is primarily a youth program, supported by an amazing group of adult volunteers. Students select their preference for where they would like to serve during Work Camp when they apply online. Students in grades 7 through 12 from a participating church are eligible to apply to attend.
Students will be placed onto teams with 3-4 adult leaders and a mix of students from different churches and grade levels who they will serve with through the week of Work Camp. Students will be taught how to complete their projects and will be supervised by the adults as they do so. One upper class student on each team serves as the Student Shepherd to help guide the students through the experience and conduct daily devotions.
Most campers will serve on either a Worksite or Agency Support team. Opportunities to serve on a Sidewalk Club or Sport Camp team are reserved for specific grade levels and are limited in quantity. In the event a student camper does not get their first choice assignment, students may be placed on their second choice preference if possible.
Service Team Overviews
- Worksite Teams – These teams travel each day to a worksite location to perform home repairs, light construction, renovation, painting and yardwork.
- Sidewalk Clubs – These teams host mini Vacation Bible School programs by reaching out to neighborhood kids through music, drama, crafts and sports.
- Basketball and Soccer Camps – These teams engage with neighborhood children by teaching about teamwork and competing in tournament-style play.
- Agency Support Teams – These teams conduct service projects for other local area non-profits and serve in a myriad of ways in the community.
See expanded descriptions below of each service area.
WORKSITE TEAMS
Worksite teams deploy into the city to complete light construction and home renovation projects for homeowners who are struggling to keep up with the maintenance and care of their homes. Projects can include flooring replacement, ceiling replacement, painting, bathroom and kitchen updates or renovation, front step/deck repair, building of accessibility ramps, decluttering, yard work and more.
Teams consist of 3-4 adult volunteer Worksite Leaders and 8-10 student campers. The work is primarily performed by the students themselves, with the support and instruction of the adults onsite. With three dedicated workdays as part of Work Camp, the average worksite team performs a combined 264 hours of service on each home. With labor and building materials combined, most homes receive around $10,000 in work.
Campers should bring work clothes that can get dirty and a pair of work gloves for the week.
Campers in grades 7-12 are eligible to serve in this area.
SIDEWALK CLUB TEAMS
Sidewalk Club teams deploy into the city to host mini-Vacation Bible School programs in neighborhood parks, recreation centers, churches and other host venues. The teams focus on interacting with the children in those neighborhoods through games, crafts, music and dramatic skits all designed to build relationships and share the love of Jesus!
Teams consist of 3-4 adult volunteer Sidewalk Club Leaders and 8-10 student campers. The service is primarily performed by the students themselves, with the support and instruction of the adults onsite. Teams canvass the neighborhoods on the first day of Work Camp to invite the kids to join them and there are three dedicated program days following that week. Most years our teams will attract 800-1,100 kids from the neighborhood.
Expect to be outdoors in the elements each day. Campers should bring warm clothes that protect from wind, rain and possibly snow.
Campers in grades 10-12 are eligible to serve in this area.
SPORT CAMP TEAMS
Sport Camp teams deploy into the city to conduct basketball and soccer camps at recreation centers and school facilities in the city. Both programs are conducted in partnership with Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). The camps are designed around a tournament play model where our student campers are joined with neighborhood kids to form teams that compete throughout the week in a tournament. When not on the court, the players rotate through different classes focused on leadership development and a bible study each day.
Teams consist of 5-6 adult volunteer Sport Camp Leaders and 8-10 student campers. The interactions are designed to primarily between the neighborhood kids and the student campers themselves, with the support and instruction of the adults onsite. Advertising goes up ahead of the camps and the sport camps run for three dedicated days as part of Work Camp. Most years our teams will attract 85-100 kids from the neighborhood who attend the program.
Expect to be at an indoor facility each day. Campers should bring athletic clothing and shoes appropriate to the sport they will be participating in.
Campers in grades 11 & 12 are eligible to serve in this area.
AGENCY SUPPORT TEAMS
Agency Support teams deploy into the city to perform service projects for other non-profits, ministry organizations and other groups who also work to benefit the community. Projects can include donation sorting, organizing, cleaning, landscaping, creating encouragement notes for assisted living residents and much more.
Teams consist of 3-4 adult volunteer Agency Support Leaders and 8-10 student campers. The work is primarily performed by the students themselves, with the support and instruction of the adults onsite. With three dedicated workdays as part of Work Camp, the average agency support team performs a combined 264 hours of service during the week.
The organizations supported through this ministry all do vital and valuable work in their areas for the community. But, as with most organizations that serve, they tend to have project of their own that pile up internally as they focus on serving others outwardly.
Campers should bring work clothes that can get dirty and a pair of work gloves for the week, as well as warm clothes that protect from wind, rain and possibly snow.
Campers in grades 7-12 are eligible to serve in this area.
