Atlanta Weekend Program
This information is provided to help your group plan for your Week End with DOOR - Atlanta. It provides background on the DOOR program, specifics on who can participate, registration procedures, schedules, cost, transportation, insurance, and other logistics
Who Can Participate?
The Urban Encounter experience program is designed for participants from middle-school age on up and for all denominations. DOOR can accommodate groups with up to 50 total participants (youth and sponsors), and we ask that groups provide one adult sponsor per every five youth if high school aged or one adult sponsor for every four middle-school aged youth. Smaller groups may be paired together, allowing participants from different places and denominations to share in service. Note-Weekends may be designed specifically for families to participate but must be arranged in advance. When hosting families total group size is limited to 35.
What Will You Do?
To see a Typical Weekend Schedule
A typical weekend begins upon arrival for supper on Friday and ends with departure after worship on Sunday. An orientation/logistics session Friday evening helps prepare everyone for the weekend.
Activities of the weekend may include working alongside migrants in the field or engaging in recreational and learning activities with their children; interaction with homeless people at a homeless shelter by serving food or singing with them; sorting donated food or clothing at a redistribution center; lawn and building maintenance for individuals; walking through various city neighborhoods; meeting with and listening to groups who are working for change in the city. There will also be times for reflection on the events of the day.
Cost and Registration for a Weekend Program
To see Atlanta's Weekend Calendar
Participant cost for 2008 varies, depending on the weekend you choose. Please view our Weekend Calendar for exact cost. This covers food, lodging, and materials for service experiences, and program administration. Our registration process has several stages:
- Return the group registration and the non-refundable $25 per person registration fee. This deposit will be applied in its entirety towards your total group cost and will hole your requested weekend.
- A 50% deposit is due ten weeks prior to your trip. This non-refundable deposit is per person; meaning if you deposit for 10 people and only bring 9, you lose the deposit for that one person. You may increase your numbers only with a telephone call to us. Upon receipt of this deposit, we will send you an orientation package. This is intended to prepare your group for the DOOR experience and we strongly recommend you take the time to go over it with your whole group.
- Balance is due upon arrival.
- All funds received must be in U.S. currency.
What To Bring To Atlanta
Participants will be sleeping on the floor in various rooms. Each participant should bring a sleeping bag, sleeping mat, a towel, and toiletries. It is important to note that many of the agencies that we work with require volunteers to wear long pants. Every participant must have at least one pair of long pants appropriate for work in situations where they will get dirty such as painting, cleaning, serving food, or yard work. Keep in mind that there are no laundry facilities at the church. Comfortable walking shoes, casual/sport clothing as desired, and insect repellent are strongly recommended. Remember to bring sunscreen, a frisbee, soccer ball, guitar and other recreation and entertainment ideas. Participants should also bring Bibles and notebooks. A detailed list of what to bring will be included in the orientation materials
Transportation
The DOOR-Atlanta program relies on a combination of public transportation (subway and buses) and the vehicles you come in for transportation of your work teams to and from service assignments around Atlanta. You are responsible for driving your own vehicles around the city. If you are thinking of coming by plane, train, school or touring bus, you have two options. First, you may rent vans in Atlanta as needed to transport your group to service assignments. Second, you may choose to use public transportation for your entire experience.
Health Insurance
There is always the chance that volunteers will need medical care. Accidents can and do happen while at the service experiences, during recreational activities and free time, even on the trip to and from Atlanta. The DOOR program does not carry medical insurance for participants. We ask that group leaders make sure that all group members have insurance and that the Medical Release Forms (sent to groups along with orientation materials) are completed and available to our staff upon arrival.
And Finally...
In addition to learning about service, we hope DOOR participants will have fun! The DOOR staff tries to ensure that not all your time in Atlanta is spent working or being involved in serious discussions. We have built into the schedule one free evening and free time each afternoon. Recreation activities include volleyball, soccer, basketball and frisbee at the church in Atlanta as well as exploring parts of the city on your own.
Additional Atlanta Information