You are always welcome to contact The Philadelphia Project to discuss your group’s interest in serving, to ask questions about our program, and to check on available dates first. Call 610-322-8049 to talk with Raymond Garcia.

1. Contact Raymond Garcia to see if your week is available.
2. Agree upon a week for your group to serve.
3. Send your Group Contract and non-refundable Group Deposit of $1000 within two weeks of your trip approval.
• Send 50% of remaining balance by May 1st, 2010
• Upon arrival, remaining balance is due.

Upon receipt of your Group Application and Group Deposit we will send you a confirmation letter.

On May 1, 2010, all registered groups must:

• Lock in their group size.
  On this date, groups guarantee payment for the minimum number of participants in their group size. A change in group size after May 1, 2010, must first be cleared with The Philadelphia Project.
• Submit the Second Payment based on this group size (see above).
  

If we do not receive your Second Payment by May 1, 2010, your trip dates may become available to other groups.

Your group's Commitment Day is one month before you arrive in Philadelphia.
The following is due on Commitment Day:

• Your final number of participants (including youth and adult leaders)
• All participant registration materials

Groups may change their Group Size until May 1, 2010.
On this day, groups must lock in their Group Number and guarantee payment for the minimum number in their group.

• Groups may increase their Group Size after May 1, 2010, provided there is space available.
• Groups that decrease their Group Size after May 1, 2010, still guarantee payment for their registered group size as of May 1, 2010.
• Your group size is determined by the total number of participants attending. (i.e. - 10 youth plus 2 adult leaders is a group of 12 participants).

The Philadelphia Project may team up your group with one or more other groups.

Please make checks payable to The Philadelphia Project and send to:

The Philadelphia Project
c/o Mount Airy Presbyterian Church
13 E Mt Pleasant Ave,
Philadelphia, PA 19119

The Philadelphia Project is intense! We pack every day full because we believe God will do great things in the lives of your youth and those they serve — every moment counts! Here’s what a “normal” day of the Summer Missions Program looks like:

6:30 am — Staff Prayer — we’re praying for your youth before they even wake up!
6:45 am — Up & At’em — Wash up, clean up the church and pack lunches.
7:30 am — Breakfast
8:15 am — Quiet Time — Each morning we spend time together in prayer and singing, then time alone with God and in His Word.
9:00 am — Off to Serve! From here we split up into several smaller groups and leave for service sites.
12:30 pm — Lunch is at the service sites
1:00 pm — Continue Service & Outreach Projects
4:00 pm — Snack Stop — Wrap up service sites and grab an afternoon snack/drink at a convenience store, WaWa, Dunkin Donuts, etc.
4:30 pm — Huddle — We head to a park for a time to debrief the day (lead by your youth leaders) and enjoy a little free time.
6:00 pm — Dinner
6:45 pm — Free Time & Dinner clean up
7:30 pm — Club — Worship, lesson or Bible study (lead by The Philadelphia Project staff), and small groups
9:30 pm — Free Time & The Philadelphia Project Staff meeting
10:30 pm — Lights out

• Personal encounters with our neighbors
• Time with God in His Word each morning
• Powerful simulation games about biblical issues
• Group & individual prayer experiences
• Debriefing our service & urban experiences
• Interactive & creative Bible teaching
• Sharing within small groups
• Worshipping God simply & from the heart
• Mentoring, caring, and listening by our staff
• Discussing biblical views on racism, justice, and what God wants us to do

The Philadelphia Project develops a creative Scripture-based curriculum that engages students several times a day. Our staff are equipped to lead youth through this Scripture theme, and are passionate about seeing them grow in faith and knowledge.

Discipleship happens in the context of relationships. That’s why The Philadelphia Project is committed to providing an environment where you can continue to disciple your students. As we live, learn and serve together, our staff along with your youth leaders will teach and model what it means to follow Christ.

As an urban ministry, we are excited to share about God’s heart for the city. Our hope is to broaden youth’s understanding of urban America and global missions, recognizing that over half the world’s people live in cities (and that number is growing). We approach these ideas from a biblical perspective, and believe they are important for the lives of teenagers everywhere.

Our deepest hope is that teenagers will return home and choose to serve right where they live. Your ministry in Philadelphia will have a real and long-lasting impact, but the real work begins once you get home. We pray for a generation of young people committed to standing up for justice and demonstrating the love of God through word and action.

Groups will stay at Mount Airy Presbyterian Church. Everyone sleeps on the floor and needs to bring a sleeping bag.

All participants have the opportunity to shower at a local church Campus. All meals are provided from Sunday dinner until Friday lunch except for your Dinner out town. We serve a breakfast buffet, brown bag lunch, and family-style dinners.

Groups are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from Philadelphia. Groups are also responsible for transportation for members of their team, plus an extra seat per vehicle for Philadelphia Project staff. We ask that each group bring a GPS per vehicle.

The Philadelphia Project schedule is intense, and does not allow for a lot of free time for sight-seeing. Groups have one “Dinner out town” - a late afternoon/evening (about 4 hours) during their week to relax, sightsee, and grab dinner together out town in Philadelphia. Groups are responsible for all expenses during this time, including dinner and transportation. The Philadelphia Project can provide directions and suggestions for groups unfamiliar with the city. Please do not plan on extending your “Dinner out town” without checking with the staff first.

Each person should plan on bringing about $30-40 spending money for the following:

• $10-20 for Dinner out town, a few dollars a day for "Snack Stops" (optional afternoon snacks around town), any money for souvenirs, etc.