Summer 2023
Join FaithX during Summer 2023 to serve, grow in faith, make friends, and experience something new!
FaithX experiences are short-term service trips that challenge us to be more aware of ourselves, our communities, and our world so that we may learn to participate in God’s vision of justice for all people. Participants will serve in a variety of ministry and non-profit settings, live and worship in community, make friendships, and explore a new place.
See below for trip opportunities for junior high, senior high, young adults, and adults.
Registration for FaithX Summer 2023 opens on February 1, 2023 at 6:00pm (central time). Registrations will be accepted on a rolling basis until a location is full or until registration closes on May 1, 2023.
Registration
Sample registration forms are available here. These sample forms show you what information will be collected so that you can prepare. Paper registration forms will not be accepted – all registrations must be submitted online.
New Pricing Model
FaithX is using a new pricing model that allows participants to choose a fee that most closely reflects their ability to pay for a FaithX trip.
- Supporter (actual cost + gift to FaithX)
- Standard (actual cost)
- Subsidized (discounted cost)
| Supporter | Standard | Subsidized | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior High | $375 | $335 | $295 |
| Junior High + Senior High Combo | $395 | $355 | $315 |
| Senior High | $475 | $435 | $395 |
| Adult* | $915 | $875 | $835 |
| We Are Able | $425 | $395 | *** |
* Spain trip only
*** Scholarship is available to We Are Able participants thanks to the generous support of the COB Discipleship Ministries Office. Please contact the FaithX Office with scholarship requests.
Summer 2023 Schedule
Picture key to ID different types of work
Please use this key as a rough guide to what kind of work will be available each workcamp. Keep in mind that work projects at any site are subject to change.
 emphasis on relational service |  gardening and eco-service |  construction, painting, etc. |  food bank, soup kitchen |  thrift store, packaging clothes |
Jr. High
Rodney, Michigan – Camp Brethren Heights
June 11-15 (25 participants)
- Support the ministry of the outdoors by completing building projects and cleaning up the grounds in preparation for summer camp
- Experience God’s creation while staying at this Church of the Brethren camp that values living in harmony with one another and the natural world
- Join with your new friends for classic camp activities like swimming, canoeing, and hiking
Roanoke, Virginia
June 21-25 (25 participants)
- Volunteer with the Rescue Mission of Roanoke which serves meals, hosts a food pantry, provides shelter, and distributes clothing to thousands of individuals and families each year
- Worship and stay at the Roanoke First Church of the Brethren which seeks to open its doors to the community and go out into the world as the hands and feet of Jesus
- Sightsee at the Roanoke Star and possibly attend a Salem Red Sox baseball game
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
June 25-29 (20 participants)
- Serve as mentors to children at Vacation Bible School, share God’s loving shalom at bcmPEACE (Brethren Community Ministries), and complete projects with Brethren Housing Association to support homeless individuals
- Reside at the Harrisburg First Church of the Brethren which also acts as host for VBS, bcmPEACE, and Brethren Housing Association
- Learn about peace and justice while exploring Pennsylvania’s capital city
Burbank, Ohio – Inspiration Hills Camp
July 9-13 (25 participants)
- Work on outdoor and indoor projects that keep camp looking beautiful for summer campers and visitors
- Stay the week at this Brethren camp which provides a sanctuary for people of all ages to grow in their faith and create community
- Enjoy traditional camp activities like swimming and gaga ball or try something new like the ninja obstacle course or human foosball
Jr. & Sr. High
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
July 30-August 4 (25 participants)
- Engage in relationship-building, education, storytelling, and service alongside formerly or currently homeless individuals
- Make a positive impact in partnership with SPARK, an organization whose mission is to share Christ’s love through service to the neighborhood and advocacy for justice
- Live in community with other non-Brethren youth groups for an ecumenical experience
- Spend time with your new friends during evening activities which may include a baseball game, community meal, or movie night
Sr. High
Cle Elum, Washington – Camp Koinonia
June 10-16 (20 participants)
- Participate in cleaning, construction, and maintenance projects in preparation for summer camp and retreat groups
- Visit a Brethren camp outside of your home district to immerse yourself in God’s creation and have time to recharge and reconnect
- Explore the idyllic forests and mountains of the Pacific Northwest, swim, eat s’mores around the campfire, and enjoy all your favorite camp activities
Portland, Oregon
June 18-24 (20 participants)
- Serve at SnowCap, a current Brethren Volunteer Service site, working on projects that may include packing food boxes, sorting clothing, and cultivating garden spaces
- Stay and fellowship with the Peace Church of the Brethren, a congregation committed to sharing the whole Gospel with the whole person
- Take in the sights, which may include downtown Portland, Multnomah Falls, and Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach
Washington, D.C.
June 25-July 1 (20 participants)
- Volunteer at organizations in the nation’s capital that are seeking to end food insecurity and meet the basic needs of all people in the DC region
- Join with the Church of the Brethren’s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy to serve through legislative action, including learning about the lobbying process and meeting with a member of the U.S. Congress
- Sleep at the Washington City Church of the Brethren in the Capitol Hill neighborhood
- Visit monuments, museums, and parks
Knoxville, Tennessee
July 9-15 (25 participants)
- Partner with the Knoxville Dream Center to provide recovery services to the homeless community
- Sort food and clothing donations in the warehouse, volunteer at the Under the Bridge program which provides a meal and worship service, and accompany food trucks to distribute groceries in food deserts
- Enjoy downtown Knoxville, World’s Fair Park, the Great Smoky Mountains, and more
Palmyra, Pennsylvania
July 16-22 (25 participants)
- Feed and care for horses and other animals, maintain stalls and paddocks, clean water troughs, re-stock hay stations, and assist with riding lessons at the Capital Area Therapeutic Riding Association, which provides therapeutic riding experiences to individuals of all ages who experience disabilities
- Stay at the Palmyra Church of the Brethren, a congregation that seeks to nurture, empower, and inspire
- Adventure around the Susquehanna Valley, including a visit to Hershey, known as “The Sweetest Place on Earth”
Adult
Spain
May 28-June 7 (20 participants)
- Partner with the Church of the Brethren in Spain to build community and assist with the needs of local COB congregations, which may include construction, outdoor upkeep, and relational service
- Experience a new culture while residing in the Gijon region of Northern Spain and visiting the capital city of Madrid
- Please note that these dates indicate the timing of FaithX programming – consider that travel time will add to these dates
- A passport is required for travel to Spain – please budget for this cost if you do not already have a passport
Elgin, Illinois – We Are Able Assistants
June 19-22 (5 participants)
- Support participants during We Are Able, a trip for youth and young adults with intellectual disabilities
- Participate in the work projects at local food banks and distribution centers in the Fox River Valley of Northern Illinois
- Enjoy spending time with young people with disabilities, helping to care for their needs and serving side by side in community
- Some experience with young people with intellectual disabilities is preferred
We Are Able
Elgin, Illinois
June 19-22 (10 participants)
- Recognizing that everyone has gifts to share, youth and young adults with intellectual disabilities are invited to the Fox River Valley of Northern Illinois for a time of service
- Work together to sort and repackage food at local food banks and distribution centers
- Have fun during recreation activities such as bowling, visiting a nature center, or going to a movie