The FINAL COUNTDOWN!!!   

We are only SIX days from departure! Yahoo!   

Are you packed and ready to roll?   

Here are few reminders and announcements below...

• CITY Group Sign Up Opens on Monday  
• detailed info below
• Students are allowed to bring one suitcase and one carry-on
• You may want a pillow, blanket, etc. for the bus ride
• You are responsible for 6-7 road meals (bring $$)
• You do NOT need a sleeping bag
• We highly encourage a backpack of sorts for taking into the city...something that secures to your body with straps over both shoulders or across chest
• Bring comfortable foot wear for TONS of walking!
• CLICK HERE to download the packing list 
• YES there will be morning work out options for those wishing to exercise
• Running Groups
• Insanity Workout

[DEPARTURE Info]  

Students are to meet at Orchard Hill parking lot at 2:30p on Friday, July 20

 

[RETURN Info]

Caravan will end with a final session @ 10:45a in the Orchard Hill Gym on Sunday, July 29.  All parents, family, and friends are invited to join us!

 

CITY GROUP Sign Up Opens on Monday, July 16th @ 9am

• Location for sign up will be at Orchard Hill Church Student Ministry Hallway
• Sign Up will be open 9am-5pm on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday the 16th-18th
• If you do not sign up then you will be assigned a CITY group for those first few days
• NO you do NOT have to sign up IN PERSON, you may have a friend sign you up with your permission and/or you may contact a Caravan Administrator to sign you up especially if you are out of town
• YES you may 'request' a specific Caravan Staff to be your CITY Group Leader but that is only a request and NOT guaranteed (there is only ONE Brett Williams folks!!!) 
• This CITY Group sign up is only for the first three days of Caravan in NYC
• You will re-sign up and/or change CITY Groups during the trip for the rest of the week

 

• 

A ONCE in a lifetime opportunity!

 

Hillsong church in Sydney Australia is one of the world's largest churches.  One year ago senior pastor Brian Houston's son, Joel, departed from Sydney and planted the HillsongNYC church!  Joel Houston is the leader Hillsong UNITED a student ministry worship ministry that has grown into one of the world's most influential and well respected worship music groups of today!  Caravaners will have the chance to attend a HillsongNYC worship service on their first day in the city, Sunday, July 22 at the 12:00p service.  We hope that many groups decide to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit through this very cool opportunity!

Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me."  

Peace & Blessings,

Tim, Ben, & Kristina

 

 

 

If you missed the pre-trip meeting please take time to review the following detailed information regarding Caravan. It is very informative and important for both student and parent/guardian. 

Prefer to Listen?

CLICK HERE to find the Podcast of our Parent Meeting from our Cedar Valley Students iTunes Podcast! While you're there...feel free to listen to some of the teachings over the past year at CHAOS, BIGhouse & BASIC! They are all there and they are FREE! :) 

 

Here is what you missed at the meeting...

1. Introduction of Caravan Leadership 

• Point Leader: Tim Walsten  (cell: 319.290.4316) 
• Core Planning Team: Ben Patterson, Kristina McBurney, Brett Williams, Brad Hillebrand, Leanne Anderson, and Tim 
• Administrative Team: Ben, Kristina, and Tim

2. Numbers

• Students: 160 registered (there is time and space for a few more!) 
• Staff: 27 total adult staff on trip including those named above
• Total: 187 people on 3 charter buses and 2 vans

3. Caravan12 THEME :: Obsessed

• Verse - Matthew 16:24 "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me."
• It's easy to become obsessed with the things of this world, especially in New York City.  During our large group sessions, small groups, and devotions we will spend time focusing on becoming individuals obsessed with Jesus!

• 4. NYC Safety / City Groups & More... 

  • Each Caravaner will be provided a wristband and lanyard to wear at all times in order to help us know who is in our group and also for recognition on campus.  We are staying in Jasper Hall at Manhattan College. This is a small private college in Riverdale New York. It is at the end of the Red #1 subway line (last stop). It will be difficult to 'miss' this stop! End of line means we're home!  The campus is well secured with gates and fences surrounding the perimeter as well as campus security. Campus security will partner with us to enforce curfew and 'in dorm' hours for our group.  No student will ever be allowed to leave the campus without an adult leader. During the daytime students will be organized into City Groups where they will sign up with friends to spend the day together.  Each City Group will have a designated adult staff to be with them all day while away from campus.  These groups must stay together at all  times from the moment they leave campus until returning.  They will have five to seven students and one leader and may be co-ed if desired.  Tim, Ben, and Kristina will know what City Group every student is in and which leader is guiding them at all times everyday all week.  CITY Group Sign Ups will happen the week of our departure. We will clearly communicate the time and place when they will open.  With the availability of cell phones and smart phones we feel very confident in staying closely connected with leaders and students We will only be off campus after dark one night, Friday July 27th.  Following our final session we will go together in our small groups to Times Squares for the nighttime experience before departing for home.  Leaders will teach and train student on how to be 'smart'.  Simple things like not taking large amounts of cash with you into the city, putting wallet in front pocket rather than back, looking up and ahead to stick with group instead of down at a phone, communicating and listening well to each other to have a plan and know the plan. Much of this will be discussed and shared to prepared the students on the way out to NYC.  
  

    5. Caravan Guidelines 

  • By registering for Caravan you accepted by 'clicking' accept to the Caravan Guidelines
  • These guidelines are listed HERE on our website
  • The leadership team has the right to send students home at the parents/guardian expense if these guidelines are not followed
  • Students that are already 18 years old must follow the same guidelines as all other students. There is no special treatment or perks for 18 year olds.
  • Absolutely no drugs, alcohol, or tobacco is allowed
  • Tim spent time focusing on two key guidelines that will help make the trip more enjoyable and impacting for all...
  • RESPECT - students respect students / students respect staff / staff respect staff and staff respect students
  • BE ON TIME - this is a safety measure we put in place as well as a great way to show respect to staff and peers 

  6. Extra Options

  • Extra Option Registration has officially closed.
  • If you registered for an extra option your payment is past due
  • Please follow payment options below to promptly pay for option
  • Not sure if you paid? Reply to this email and ask us!
  

  7. Spending Money 

  • Your registration costs covers almost everything! Included is charter bus travel, lodging, three meals a day while in NYC and one meal at Cedar Point, unlimited subway pass, NYC Tourist pass, one day at Cedar Point, shirt, lanyard,  and more.
  • Interested in what is included in the NYC Tourist Pass?  CLICK HERE to watch a promo video of the amazing attractions we get into for FREE with this pass! 
  • Students are responsible for the following...
  • 6-7 Road Meals 
  • Personal shopping/spending money in NYC
  • Replacement cost of any lost items subway pass, tourist pass, name badge etc.  
  8. Packing List
  • CLICK HEREto download the packing list
  • You do NOT need a sleeping bag
  • You DO need a pillow and towel etc.
  • Only ONE suitcase and ONE backpack (make sure backpack is comfortable as you will most likely wear it into the city all day)
  • Comfortable walking shoes (we will be walking a TON all day everyday)
  • Swimsuit is your option...there is a beach at Cedar Point so if you want to swim instead of ride the coasters pack a suit! 

  9. Itinerary  

  • Students and Parents each will receive a detailed itinerary at departure
  • A general itinerary can be found online HERE 
  • DEPARTURE: Students meet at Orchard Hill at 2:30pm on July 20th 
  • RETURN: We will return at about 10:30am at Orchard Hill on July 29th and will have our final Caravan Large Group Session at 10:45am in the gym at Orchard!  Everyone is invited to join us!

  10. Your FINAL Payment of $249 was Due June 1st! 

  •  $349 is due for those whom registered AFTER February 1st
  •  Please make this payment as soon as possible if you haven't already (payment info is at the bottom). Not sure what your balance due is? Contact one of the administrators via email or simply reply to this email.  
  •  You must pay for your extra option registration at this time if you have not already

  • CLICK HERE to go to the Cedar Point Amusement Park You Tube Channel! Check out some super sic' vids of the worlds highest and fastest coasters that we get to ride all day from open to close on Saturday, July 28!

  
  
•  PAY ONLINE HERE
  

  Pay online via PayPal  (there is a fee of 4% to cover transaction of credit card/paypal fees) 

  Make checks out to CARAVAN   - drop box outside of office #145 at Orchard Hill Church...enter through door 'F' South side of buildling.

  Mail checks to: CARAVAN, 3900 Orchard Hill Church, Cedar Falls, IA, 50613

We are looking forward to a fantastic Caravan! Don't hesitate to ask any questions!

Peace & Blessings,
Tim, Ben, & Kristina

--
CARAVAN Administrative Team
Orchard Hill & Nazareth Student Ministries

The Caravan Pre-Trip Meeting is NEXT week!

8:00pm on Wednesday, May 30th in the Sanctuary at Orchard Hill Church.

   Please remember this meeting is very important for both students and a parent/guardian to attend. Please contact a Caravan administrator if you are unable to join us.   

What will be discussed at this meeting?

Itinerary, Packing List, Spending Money, Safety, Lodging, City Groups, Large Group and more including the unveiling of the Caravan12 THEME!  This will also serve as the last chance to sign up for rooming and a bus seat.    

 

Don't forget...

 Your FINAL Payment of $249 is DUE at the Parent/Student Mtg 

         > We will accept cash, checks, and credit cards in person via PayPal on provided laptops 

         > $349 is due for those whom registered AFTER February 1st

         > You must pay for your extra option registration at this time if you have not already

 

*We look forward to seeing you next week!

 

Peace & Blessings,

CARAVAN Administrative Team
Orchard Hill & Nazareth Student Ministries