Creating Space for Families

I love Family Trips. I personally think they are one of the best offerings we have here at YouthWorks. Of course, I might be a little biased; I’ve had the privilege of working with Family sites for the past two summers as an Area Director. I’ve been continually amazed at the ways that God continues to show up on site, through the staff, families, communities and programming.

One of the things that makes Family Trips so unique is that we have a special partnership with The Fuller Youth Institute, authors of the book of Sticky Faith (www.stickyfaith.org), which centers around research on youth group graduates’ transition to college and best practices in churches and families that can help set students on a trajectory of lifelong faith and service. We’ve incorporated many of Sticky Faith’s research-based findings into the Family Trip Program – giving families a chance to learn, practice and then incorporate these elements into daily life back home.

For example, service and faith-related conversations are two of the foundational elements of our Family Trips. In their research, Sticky Faith found that kids who participate in service activities with their parents and see it as a lifestyle decision rather than just a quick trip will be more affected by the lasting results that serving others can have. Sticky Faith also states that “service is stickier when it hits close to home,” meaning that students serving in towns similar to their own will grasp the intent behind service with greater ease. Additionally, families who have authentic, faith-related conversations early on, and continue those discussions with their kids throughout the teenage years and into early adulthood, tend to have adult children who “stick with” their faith. Which is also a reason why Family Trips were created.

At YouthWorks, we want to create a space where families can grow and learn together while serving, but also spend time just being a family together. This can be difficult in the midst of a busy schedule – sports, church, family gatherings, play groups – the list goes on. A Family Trip is a break from all of that. It’s a mere three days in which you have no need to pull out your Google Calendar to see if you’re free that night or need to rush back and forth from events. Instead, you’re taken care of by the YouthWorks staff; meals, schedules, activities and more are specifically not in your hands. You and your family can participate in what God is doing at the specific site you’ve chosen, and be fully present to all God wants to bring to your family. It’s a beautiful thing.

My most favorite memories of being on staff with Family Trips center around holding babies while dinner prep is happening, playing card games with middle schoolers and their parents late into the night and watching the many unique ways that kids worship God. Family Trips are a safe place to bring your family that can unlock a world of new experiences as you serve and study together, no matter what age you are.

So what are you waiting for? Join us this summer for your very own Family Trip! We have four locations: Yankton, Superior, Madison and Raleigh. I hope to see you there.

Starting in 2008, Krista has worked in a variety of roles throughout her summers with YouthWorks; her most recent highlight being Area Director over YouthWorks’ family sites in 2015. In her current position, she uses her strengths in organization, development and creativity to help equip summer staff and support the Marketing, Mission, and Training & Programming teams. When she’s not at the office, you can usually find her in the kitchen trying out new recipes on friends or connecting with her community in South Minneapolis.