Resources » For Group Leaders
So You’ve Signed up for a CSM Trip…
Here’s an outline to help now that you’ve registered. Would you like a printable version?
- Secure Your Mission Trip Dates
- Contact the CSM Home Office to secure the dates for your mission trip (deposit required). Plan at least 4 months ahead. For peak times (spring break and July), register even earlier
- Set a Registration Period
- Set a date as the registration deadline (at least six weeks prior to your trip) and stick to it!
- Hold an Informational Meeting
- When? Within the first month of your registration period
- For whom? Students and their parents
- What should we cover? Trip details: purpose, dates, times, travel arrangements, expectations, cost, fundraising, info on CSM (play the DVD), info on the particular city you will serve in (see City Info), “fun day” or “night off ” info, etc
- Be prepared for: Questions—especially regarding safety. If you don’t have the answers, commit to finding them (contact CSM)
- What Will You Expect of Your Mission Team?
- Deposit – Students are less likely to back out when they’ve paid a deposit
- Cost of the trip – To determine your total cost, see Calculating the Cost
- Monthly meetings – Prepare your group through Bible studies, learn about the city you’ll serve in and organize fundraising. If your group has been scheduled to plan a children’s program, you can spend this time preparing for it (see materials in the Group Leaders section of the website)
- Serve Big – These 7 training sessions (available through group leader login) are best utilized when done within 9 weeks of your trip. You can modify these sessions to best fit your group
- Fundraising – If not all students can afford to pay for the trip you will most likely need to do fundraisers. Allow students to serve one another by requiring all to participate – whether they need the funds or not. See our fundraising page for tips
- Advertise
- Make fliers (or use CSM’s promo material)
- Make announcements – Show the CSM DVD
- Testimonies – From prior participants
- Written announcements – Church bulletin, website,etc
- Email – Use mass emails to remind about sign ups
- Facebook – Create an "Event" for your trip and invite friends to join
- Recruit Adult Leaders
- You need one adult for every five students (1:5)
- They should register, just like your students
- Look for these qualities: heart to serve, good example for your students, strong faith/willingness to grow, has relationships with the students, respects your leadership, willingness to follow rules and discipline students, etc
- Okay to have more adults than required
- Schedule a Previsit
- If you’ve never done a CSM trip to the city you have signed up for, you need to schedule a previsit so you can experience where your group will serve first-hand. It is also crucial for the CSM staff to learn about your group so that they can best meet your specifc needs
- Previsits for all summer trips should be completed by March 1, if at all possible, but no later than May 1
- Contact the city director at the site where you will serve before making any travel plans. with any questions!
- 3 Months Before Your Trip
- Arrange to pay the first half of your remaining balance. The CSM Home Office will remind you of this payment. – Start the “Serve Big” training materials with your group
- 6 Weeks Before Your Trip
- If going to Toronto, notify with age range of your group to assist appropriate site scheduling
- One Month Before Your Trip
- Contact both the CSM Home Office and the CSM office in the city where you will serve with your final numbers. Let them know the number of male and female participants. The latest you can do this is 2 weeks before your trip
- If there are any changes to your numbers after you’ve given your final count, please contact both offices and let them know – even if it’s the day you arrive!
- Make sure you have all required paperwork (Ex: Chicago and SF need proof that each participant has had negative TB tests)
- 2 Weeks Before Your Trip
- Arrange to pay the final balance of your trip. The CSM Home Office will remind you of this payment
- This is the latest you may decrease your group size without being financially responsible for participants who do not attend
For questions regarding finances please contact:
CSM – Home Office
PO Box 900 Dana Point, CA 92629-0900
Office Phone: 1-949-248-8200
Fax: 1-949-248-7753
