Johnson Ferry Students
ORLANDO
DETAILS
The Orlando trip is a mission trip opportunity for students who have completed 7th or 8th grade. This trip is NOT a vacation but an opportunity to take the next step in your faith journey by serving the Lord and the people of Orlando, Florida.
Destination: ORLANDO, FLORIDA, USA
Dates: May 31–June 5, 2025
Johnson Ferry is excited to partner with Daystar Baptist Missions. Daystar has been developing several relationships with pastors and ministry leaders in the Orlando community. Their organization will manage all ministry site coordination and logistics.
Cost: $425
The cost of the trip includes all transportation, lodging, meals (except travel meals), t-shirts, and fun activities. A $200 deposit is required at registration. ALL FINAL PAYMENTS are due at the Parent Meeting on April 27.
Student Requirements:
- Be a Middle School student who has completed grades 7 or 8.
- Attend Mission Trip Trainings (see the schedule tab above for details).
- Attend at least 80% of all Sunday Morning Life Groups and Worship Services beginning April 27.
- At least one parent should attend the parent meeting on April 27.
SCHEDULE
HOW WE PREPARE
We’ll spend 5 weeks before this trip, preparing ourselves to be the hands and feet of Jesus in Orlando, Florida. We’ll spend time in worship, training, and in small groups.
TRAINING SCHEDULE:
ALL trainings are MANDATORY and are on Sunday evenings.
April 27 | 4:30pm
May 4 | 4:30pm
May 11 | NO TRAINING – Mother’s Day!
May 18 | 4:30pm
May 25 | NO TRAINING – Memorial Day!
May 28 | 6pm (Final Training!)
We leave for Orlando on Saturday, May 31!
MINISTRY IN ORLANDO
Throughout the week, students will serve in ministry sites with their family groups. We will start each day with personal devotions and meet nightly for worship, messages, and family group time. In the afternoons and evenings, there will be lots of “downtime” for students to hang out with friends, get cleaned up, and experience all of our camp’s amenities.
SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK:
Saturday: Travel and Orientation
Sunday: Morning Worship, Fun Activity, Block Party Kickoff at Ministry Site
Monday-Wednesday: Ministry Schedule
Thursday: Travel back to Johnson Ferry
WHERE WE STAY
CAMP ITHIEL
Daystar partners with a local camp facility for our group. Housing is bunk bed style with attached bathrooms. Camp Ithiel is a very safe and secure environment that is used for hosting groups all year long. Our breakfasts and dinners will occur at camp, and our lunches will occur offsite at a local church or at ministry sites with a sack lunch.
Where We Worship
Housing
WHAT WE DO
We’re excited to partner with and serve alongside local ministries and churches to help reach the lost in their community! We’ll participate in everything from food pantries to VBS and use every opportunity to share the love of Jesus.
- VBS: Vacation Bible School activities at local ministries and local churches for elementary-aged children
- Clean the World: https://cleantheworld.org
- Give Kids the World: https://gktw.org/wpk/
- Second Harvest Food Bank: https://www.feedhopenow.org/site/SPageServer/
- Orlando Union Rescue Mission: https://www.ourm.org
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are you doing to ensure my child is safe in Orlando?
Students will stay at Camp Ithiel in Gotha, FL, just outside the Orlando area. This camp hosts groups year-round and is equipped to handle all the security needs of an a typical Summer Camp. Adult leaders will always be present with students, and we will follow our CaringWell and SafeHarbor policies to ensure safety.
What is the cell phone policy for Orlando?
Students are rarely given the opportunity to unplug from the constant stream of distractions, drama, and temptation that go hand-in-hand with smartphone use. We believe that God wants to use this week as a unique period of time in each of these student’s lives where they can focus on what God is doing. In order to ensure that every student is in the best possible position to receive that message, we are restricting all cell phone use and possession during this trip. Here are important details:
- Students may bring their phones, but they will be taken up, bagged, labeled, and stored in a secure location at camp from Saturday night until Thursday morning.
- Family group leaders, staff, and the media photographer can capture all the pictures from the trip.
- Family group leaders can relay any important information from students to their parents.
- The Student Staff can be contacted if there is an emergency at home.
- This policy also applies to other devices that can access apps and the Internet (e.g., iPads, iPods, and smartwatches).
While this may seem extreme, we want to assure you that your students will be safe. In our experience, most students are relieved to have an excuse to take a break from all the “noise.”
What are the travel plans for the Orlando trip?
We will meet at Johnson Ferry on Saturday, May 31 and depart from the church in charter buses. We will make some travel stops on the journey to Orlando for food and bathroom breaks during the travel day. While in Orlando, we will use these same charter buses to transport family groups to their ministry sites. We will depart from Camp Ithiel on Thursday, June 5 in the charter buses and head back to Johnson Ferry, and make stops for bathroom breaks and food as well.
**Detailed scheduling will be coming soon.**
What happens if my child gets sick or injured in Orlando?
Safety is of the utmost importance on this trip. We will have 2 full-time nurses traveling with us who will be available at all times. We are minutes away from several hospitals, urgent cares, and clinics as well. Our JF nurses will be in contact with our staff while on the trip, and they will contact parents to inform them of their child’s medical condition.
What can I do if my child needs financial help for this trip?
Johnson Ferry is a very generous church, and the Orlando mission trip is already subsidized 50% by our Global Ministry. If you need additional financial assistance, you can fill out the Scholarship Request Form. Once your application has been reviewed, someone from the Student Staff will reach out to you with the next steps.
What does my child do to prepare for the Orlando mission trip?
Trainings are mandatory for this trip. Starting in late April, students will begin the discipleship journey that culminates in the mission trip. See above for training date information.
What if my child has dietary restrictions/allergies?
Our facility will do the utmost to accommodate most food allergies; please note that cross-contamination may occur in our kitchen. We cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment. For any further information or concerns, please reach out to [email protected]
REGISTER
REGISTER NOW FOR THE ORLANDO, FL MISSION TRIP!
MAY 31 – JUNE 5, 2025
There are two simple steps to register for the Mission Trip to Orlando:
- REGISTER for the Orlando Mission Trip. You will need to pay a $200 deposit (TOTAL TRIP COST is $425). The final payments are due on April 27.
- DOWNLOAD ALL FORMS (available soon) and turn them in! All forms are due on or before April 27.
ADULT LEADERS
We cannot take students to Orlando without the help of Adult Leaders! The main role of adults on this mission trip is to serve as a family group leader. Family group leaders will disciple and mentor a group of 8-10 students (called a Family Group) throughout mission trip training and during the trip. All interested adults should connect with the student staff prior to completing the application.
Purpose: To share the love of Christ with people in Orlando through sports, construction, VBS, etc. This trip is not a vacation—but an opportunity to disciple students as they serve and love the people of Florida.
Cost: The cost is $425, which includes all transportation, lodging, meals (except travel meals), t-shirt, and materials. A $200 deposit is required at registration. ALL FINAL PAYMENTS are due by Sunday, April 27.
Safe Harbor: We require all adults (18 and older) to complete a background check, Safe Harbor, every three years. You will receive more information about this process through your application.
ADULT REQUIREMENTS
- Have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Be an active member/attender of Johnson Ferry.
- Have a passion for disciple students. The Orlando trip is an experience that will open the hearts and minds of many, and we are looking for adults to help us encourage those students by praying, making contacts, listening, and leading.
- Be prepared to attend the five weeks of training.
- Attend leader meetings as scheduled.
REGISTRATION PROCEDURE
Please contact the Middle School Ministry Office to be considered as a Family Group Leader or Adult Leader for this trip. Adult registration information will be provided through the Student office. Please contact Heather Wilson for more information: [email protected]
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