> 2008 VOLUNTEERS | Registration and Information
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Dear Group Leader, Greetings from Bethlehem Farm and thank you for expressing interest in us! Bethlehem Farm is a Catholic community in
Volunteers at the Farm can expect to live a week of simplicity, free from the distractions of television, radios, or other luxuries. During this week, they also have the opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people, and grow in faith through prayer and reflection of their experiences. We hope that volunteers will leave Bethlehem Farm with a greater understanding of the people of the
Our registration packet contains a group reservation form, a schedule of available group weeks, our registration policy and a Bethlehem Farm fact sheet. This packet is available to print on-line and hard copies are available upon request. Please print out the entire registration packet and read all the information carefully. Feel free to contact us with any questions and please note that if you have email, it will be the primary form of communication.
Our participation fee for volunteer groups is $225 per person. In addition, we rely on the vans that volunteers arrive in for transporting groups to worksites. We greatly appreciate your assistance with this and ask that you please keep this expense in mind as you plan the total cost of your trip.
Here are a few important notes to keep in mind:
1. Your deposit of $25.00 per person (volunteers and chaperones) must be included with the reservation form to reserve space for your group. We cannot accept phone, fax, or email reservations. Returning groups must send their deposit postmarked by September 15th to secure the same week for next year. Reservations for high school weeks must be postmarked by October 15th to be placed in the lottery for the remaining slots. Reservations for college, family and adult weeks are accepted on a rolling basis.
2. Please send a deposit for the number of volunteers you hope to bring. After the lottery, we will let you know how many we people from your group we are able to host on the week(s) you requested. You may request to bring from 5 to 30 people on any given week. Volunteers must be 16 years or older, or entering their junior year of high school (except on family week). As part of a high school volunteer group, you must include one adult chaperone for every five youth. We recommend that one of the chaperones be a youth/campus minister or someone involved in youth/campus ministry and at least 25 years of age. The other chaperones must be 21 years of age or older.
3. For high school weeks, youare required to bring adequate chaperones. If you are bringing a co-ed group of students, you must bring one female and one male chaperone. If you are bringing an all boys group, you must bring at least one male chaperone. If you are bringing an all girls group, you must bring at least one female chaperone.
4. For high school and family weeks, allparticipants 18 and overare required to complete an Adult Background Form. This form should be mailed to us with your volunteer contracts, medical forms, and hold-harmless agreements, at least sixty days prior to your scheduled week or by April 1st, whichever arrives first. When you have reserved a week at the Farm, we will direct you to these forms on our website.
5. Our cancellation policy is as follows: if a group arrives with fewer volunteers than reserved and paid for, the amount will not be refunded unless Bethlehem Farm is notified ahead of time and we are able to replace the spots. If an entire group must cancel, Bethlehem Farm must be notified sixty days prior to your week, or by April 1, 2006, whichever comes first. After that date, cancellations cannot be refunded unless Bethlehem Farm is able to replace the spots. If Bethlehem Farm can fill the spot, you will be refunded for every person we replace. The deposit of $25 per person is non-refundable unless your group is not selected in the lottery system. 6. Bethlehem Farm, in compliance with Wheeling-Charleston Diocese regulations, does not permit the use of 12 or 15 passenger vans (E-350, E-250, 3500, or 2500 chassis or the like) to transport volunteers under the age of 18 while at Bethlehem Farm. It will be necessary to transport minors to the worksite during the group week. Groups that arrive with improper vehicles will be required to rent appropriate vehicles for use during the week from local rental facilities. 7. Groups that fail to comply with the above policies may be withheld from participating in the following year's lottery.
Again, thank you for your interest in bringing a group to Bethlehem Farm. If you have any questions, please call or email us at (304)-445-7143, bethlehemfarm@gmail.com. God bless you and your ministry!
Peace and All Good,
Eric Fitts, Director
Kathleen DeRouen, Volunteer Coordinator
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Winter College Week:
January 6-12
College Spring Break Weeks:
March 9-15 (16 spots open) March 16-22, Holy Week (FULL)
(Easter is March 23rd)
High School Spring Break Weeks:
April 6-12 (16 spots open)
April 20-26 (3 spots open)
May College Weeks:
May 11-17 (11 spots open)
May 18-24 (30 spots open)
Summer
June 7-14 (Saturday-Saturday, $250/person) (FULL)
June 15-21 (FULL) June 29-July 5 (FULL) July 6-12 (FULL)
Adult and Family Weeks:
July 27-August 2: Adult week (spots open)
August 3-9: Family Week (spots open) September 24-29 (Wednesday-Monday): Adult Week (spots open)
College Fall Break Weeks:
October 12-18 (30 spots open)
October 19-25 (3 spots open) November 22-26: Thanksgiving Week (spots open)
Winter
Requests for weekend and week-long retreat opportunities in the winter months will be considered on a case by case basis. |
