Week 1 – Ironwood Springs Ranch: Stewartville, MN
Sunday, June 15 (12pm arrival) – Friday, June 20 (12pm departure)
AND/OR
Week 2 – YoungLife Castaway Club: Detroit Lakes, MN
Friday, August 15 (12pm arrival) – Wednesday, August 20 (12pm departure)
Serving at Family Retreat
Joni and Friends Family Retreat addresses the needs of families who live with the daily struggles of disability. Family Retreat is five days of inspirational worship, biblical teaching, informative workshops, and refreshing recreation for families to build lasting memories.
Individuals are needed to serve as Short Term Missionaries to serve as a one-to-one buddy to a camper with a disability. A Buddy shares each day with their assigned camper, joining them for meals, programs, recreation and special events, and is their special friend for the week. Buddies do not serve as Personal Care Attendants and are not responsible for toileting, dressing, medication, etc. Their purpose is to love and serve their camper (and his/her family), to have fun, and to create memories. No previous experience is required. Buddies arrive one day before the families to receive training on disability, disability etiquette, behavioral support, and much more.
WHO CAN SERVE?
- Adults (age 17+) can serve as a 1:1 buddies!
- Ages 14-16 can serve as Assistant Buddies, paired with an adult (who they may or may not know)
- Pre-teens through age 13 may be able to serve alongside a parent who is a Buddy (case by case basis)
COST
The cost is $535 per adult volunteer (age 12+). Kids age 4-11 are $375. Kids under 4 are free. This includes lodging and all meals.
MEALS & LODGING
Meals are provided by the camp and are included in the cost; camp can accommodate special dietary needs. All Buddies will share bunk style housing in air-conditioned rooms.
TRAINING
Training includes: pre-camp resources to prepare your mind and heart, general training on disability disability etiquette, specific information about your 1:1 buddy and his or her disability and history, several key staff during the week whose sole job is to help you succeed, and a full volunteers-only first day of camp specifically for training on camp itself, logistics, best practices, and the like.
FUNDRAISING
Calvary is not planning to sponsor any specific fundraising projects or initiatives. However, there are a few things we’d suggest:
- We can guide you through the process of writing and sending support letters to your friends, family, and other church members.
- Those who choose to support you can donate directly to your fundraising page on JAF’s website, making donations tax-deductible.
- You can always partner with other participating Calvary families to create your own fundraising opportunity (like carwashes, selling hot dogs, garage sale, etc.).
- (For August) If there are multiple volunteers from Calvary, you could carpool to Detroit Lakes.
APPLICATION & PAYMENT SCHEDULE
- Please inform me (Brian) if you are planning to serve as a Buddy. The Martin family will be attending both Family Retreats in 2025! bmartin@CalvaryEFree.Church.
- Complete Joni & Friends online volunteer application process by May 1 for the June retreat https://joniandfriends.org/event/family-retreat-minnesota-1-2025/ or by June 1 for the August retreat https://joniandfriends.org/event/family-retreat-minnesota-2/ (Register as Volunteer!)
- Final payment is due one month prior to camp, paid through the Joni & Friends website
ATTENDING FAMILY RETREAT AS A FAMILY
If you are a family with disability, you can attend as a family (and not necessarily as a volunteer!) Each year, JAF reserves 1/3 of the spots for new families to attend who have never come before. Space is limited, so please act fast!
Register here: [JUNE] https://joniandfriends.org/event/family-retreat-minnesota-1-2025/
[AUGUST] https://www.joniandfriends.org/event/minnesota-family-retreat-2/
Further, Calvary has some scholarships available to help make the cost of attending more affordable. Please simply email bmartin@calvaryefree.church to inquire about next steps.