Revolution (Grace Vineyard Youth Group)

It is one of my favorite parts of the year again!  I love the summer transition of 8th graders into the High School group.  The new 7th graders into our group, and kicking out the old students...

OK...definitely not kicking out.  We commission them into their own areas of ministry, and I am proud that we have an amazing percentage of students who graduate our program and go into some form of ministry.

But one of the fun parts of this time is our annual R.O.P.

Going from being a sixth grade kid to Junior High, where you are surrounded by teenagers, is no insignificat change.  It is a big deal...a huge deal...and we celebrate it.  But we are Revolution.  We don't celebrate the way that your average, everyday youth group would.  Oh no.  We do this in style.

ROP (pronounced like "rope" for those playing along at home) is a mixture of fun, challenge, and information.  No, we aren't going to have a church service where you have to recite a long passage of the Bible.  Instead, we are going to have an exciting day at Joe Pool lake.  You will get to do fun boating activities on the lake (our Lake Rocket Rodeo and more), the Super Geo-Caching Challenge, and a time of information and formation with our leaders.  This is a time you will remember, and then, you will be considdered full Junior High Members of Revolution. 

Here is the basic info.  Parents love this kind of stuff:

Where is it: Cedar Hill State Park, located a breathtaking 616 feet above sea level, and right off of F.M. 1382.  Directions and park information can be found here. 

Please bring $5 per person for park entrance fees. 

*Students whose parents are not attending the event are asked to drop their students off at the front gate at 11:00 exactly, and we will shuttle them to our location. 

Unfortunately, due to the reservation system the park uses, we are unable to tell you what exact space we will be in at this time.  We will update this site on Saturday morning with that exact information.  There will also be a note at the park with the site number.

When is it: Saturday, June 27th from 11:15 AM - 3:00 PM.

If you are dropping your student off at the front gate, please be no later than 11:00 AM.  Due to the number of students involved, our shuttles must leave the front shortly after that time.

Please be prompt in picking your students up no later than 3:00 PM

Who will be there: We will have both adult youth leaders, as well as student leaders from both our Junior High and High School groups.  Many parents are also attending with their children.  Several of our sixth grade and children's ministry leaders will also be involved.

Does my student need to bring something:  We are so glad you asked.  YES!  Students should bring all of the following:

-Appropriate swimwear.  Sorry guys-no speedos, please.  Parents, please note--in our experience, your students are smart and stylish, but are not the best judges of what "appropriate swimwear" is.

-Closed Toed shoes.  Your student will be doing a considderable amount of walking.  Flip flops are not appropriate for this. 

-A towel

-A water bottle with water inside.  We will have water and other drinks on site.  However, your students will need to bring their own water bottles.

-Sunscreen, applied.  More sunscreen to apply.  Teenagers think a sunburn is cool.  They are wrong.

Does my student need to NOT bring something:  We are even happier that you asked this question.  YES.  Please do not let them bring the following.

-Personal electronic devices of any kind.  We do understand bringing a cell phone, although we will have phones on site that you will have access to, so this is not necessary.  A basic rule to use: if it uses electricity, it is not needed.  We are sure that your student can go 4 hours without her ipod or his Pokemon Gold.  This is very important to our program.  Please respect this rule.

-Anything that may be used as a weapon.

-Anything that produces fire.

-Anything that is illegal.

-We love friends.  Please do not bring them unless you have talked to us about it before Friday.  We have to plan for the number of people expected. 

Why are we doing this:  The transition into Junior High is incredibly important, and sometimes scary.  Our job is to work with families as their students learn to plug into God, the Church, and their peers.  We get 936 hours of a student's time (if the student attends ever possible event).  That seems like a lot.  However, it is .1 % of that student's life.  That is very little.  Our job is to work with you, the parents, to help these students own their own relationship with God.  We have to make each minute count.  That is a huge responsibility, not something we take lightly.  We know you don't take it lightly either.  It is important to start this journey together very well prepared.  This time is important in order to:

1- Establish communication with families so we can partner together.
2- Help the students to plug into their connection with God and the Church.
3- Establish important Christian relationships with other Christian students. 

We'll see you on Saturday!