Bridging Borders Puerto Rico Mission Opportunities provide the chance for Senior High Youth to minister to children & adults alike in Puerto Rico. Rainbow Trail will partner with an ELCA church near San Juan to help run a service-filled week long Day Camp.

Participants will grow spiritually as they teach Day Camp songs, play games, and worship with the youth in Puerto Rico. Time at the beach playing and ministering to people will also happen throughout the week!

***FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS***

What will we be doing on this trip?
Throughout the week you and your group will share in a lifestyle of servant-hood as a Christian community. You will worship together, work together, play together, and pray together. They will help lead a day camp and teach Day Camp songs, play games, and worship with the youth in Puerto Rico.

What are the Passport needs?
All you need is an original copy of your birth certificate and government issued photo ID. Those with passports can use them instead.

What about male and female chaperones?
Rainbow Trail will send both a male and a female counselor, one of whom will be a Director with more training and qualifications. Both genders will be supervised and taken care of regardless of the gender of the adult from your church.

Will there be Bible study?
There is time each evening for devotions. Typically, the RTLC Director chooses to split the entire group into three groups. These will be cooking, cleaning, and devotion groups. The devotions are then planned in a small group and are 80-90% youth led. Most likely there will be an adult in each group, but their job is to mainly motivate and keep the group on task - not to do the planning, cooking or cleaning themselves.

Where will the group be staying in Puerto Rico?
Each group will stay in a church or at a camp in Puerto Rico. The churches have locked gates, kitchens with stoves and sinks, and bathrooms. Groups will sleep on the floor in either the sanctuary space or in another building. During the four days in Puerto Rico, showers may not be available.

What is the process for emergencies?
Each RTLC counselor has been trained in First Aid and CPR. If a more serious accident happens RTLC has an ‘agreement to treat’ with an emergency hospital facility in Puerto Rico. In addition, RTLC has available phone contact with our main-site nurse who has access to a copy of each campers’ medical form. Questions regarding dispensing of medication and routine medical care can be answered through this communication.

Who is going on this trip?
Rainbow Trail trains Summer Directors to lead Bridging Borders weeks. These Directors are 21+ and have participated in comprehensive training, including 15 passenger van safety, cultural expectations, safe food preparation, water consumption risks, and group building. In addition to the summer Director, a Rainbow Trail counselor will join you in order to balance gender ratios. Most groups will also choose to bring along a youth director, pastor, or caring adult. Our camping philosophy is designed in such a way that the church’s adult leader is relieved of all administrative and disciplinary duties so that they are free to fully minister to their kids. By using this relationship based approach to ministry, participants discover the relevance of Christian teachings as a rewarding basis for life. The Adult Leader is the “Shepherd” of the group, assisting the Summer Director and counselor.

Who can go on a Bridging Borders - Puerto Rico trip?
This program is designed for senior high campers entering 9th through 12th grades in the fall and a congregational leader interested in accompanying them. Each mission trip should have a majority of youth participants. Registration is limited to 12 people. Participants should be willing to work hard and to learn new skills.

Can a participant be located in case of an emergency back home?
The Rainbow Trail Summer Director on the trip will check-in with camp via cell phone a few times during the week. In case of an emergency, a family member may call Rainbow Trail’s camp office at 719.942.4220 to leave an emergency message for a participant. If the emergency dictates a participant coming home early, airplane travel can be arranged.

How many can come and how much does it all cost?
To reserve a Bridging Borders: Puerto Rico trip you agree to a minimum group fee of $6,360 + airfare. Each participant pays $530 + airfare and the maximum group size is 12.

Fee includes transportation around Puerto Rico, meals, lodging, insurance, and RTLC staff.

***BRIDGING BORDERS - PUERTO RICO TRIP AVAILABILITY & REGISTRATION***

For group charter availability contact Anne Bliss by e-mail anne@rainbowtrail.org
or by phone at (719) 942.4220.

Download the Brochure for Complete Information
Bridging Borders Brochure (Adobe PDF)

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