Serve Boldly 2027 Trip Details

are you ready for 2027?

Youth who have completed grades 6-12 will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of God’s presence in their lives, strengthen relationships with one another, and walk together with neighbors in partner communities. Please note that some locations are available only to youth who have completed grades 8-12.

We invite ministry leaders to imagine your group accompanying and serving in one of our 2027 partner communities listed below:

*Available for youth who have completed grades 8-12 only

Trip Cost

2027 pricing is not yet set. 2026 full-week trips are $475 per participant; half-week trips are $300 per participant.

All summer youth trips include:

Housing (typically on the floor of a church)
Showers once a day (does not include arrival/departure days)
Serve Boldly T-Shirt
A Team of Staff to Host Your Group
Pre-Trip Resources
Devotion & Worship Curriculum, Participant Journal, and Supplies

Groups are responsible for bringing a First Aid Kit and ensuring each participant arrives with a twin-sized air/camp mattress, bedding, and towels. Groups are also responsible for providing vehicles and the costs of travel to and from the Serve Boldly housing site, as well as for daily travel to and from the housing sites, shower locations, evening activities, and service organizations. This includes but is not limited to gasoline, parking fees, tolls, tickets, etc.

HOW TO BOOK A TRIP FOR 2027

Beginning August 4, 2026, at 9 am CT, the Group Leader will be able to submit information via our website. The Trip Leader will need to enter the following information:

Trip Leader Name, Cell Phone, Email
Congregation Name, Address, Phone
# of Estimated Youth Participants
# of Estimated Adult Participants (ratio of 1 adult to 5 youth, with a minimum of 2 adults for group sizes of 5 or less)
Completed Grade Range of Participants (6-8, 8-12, 6-12)
Choice of Program Location & Date
Alternate Choice of Program Location and/or Date
Any other details you want us to know…

On September 1, 2026, Serve Boldly will notify groups of their assigned week via email with a contract. Assignments are made based on a variety of factors, including group reservation queue and site capacity. Most sites have a maximum capacity of 25-40 participants. If you anticipate a group size of more than 40 participants, please contact [email protected].

A signed contract, certificate of state tax exemption (if applicable), and a non-refundable deposit of $150 per participant are due within 30 days. The assigned week is reserved when BOTH the signed contract & deposit are received.

Please note: If a church does not return a signed contract and full deposit within 30 days or at any point withdraws from their assigned week, the next church group on the list will be contacted.

IMPORTANT dates

August 4, 2026
Group Reservations open at 9 am CT

September 1, 2026
Trip Assignments are made by Serve Boldly. Contract is sent.

February 1, 2027
Deadline for ALL participants to complete online registration with Serve Boldly.

March 1, 2027
Proof of Liability/Vehicle Insurance & Full Payment is Due

WHAT’S NEXT?

The Group Leader will receive a 2027 Community Mission Plan, including a link & password to the Trip Leader Portal. The Portal will contain:

A Trip Leader’s Guide to What’s Next
Health Resources
Packing List
Sample Menu
Link for Customized Serve Boldly T-Shirts & Merchandise
Link for participant registration
Promotional Resources

Pre-Trip educational resources and curriculum information, including the Worship Liturgies, Pre-Trip Devotion, 2027 Theme, Worship Guide, and Devotion Guide, will be uploaded in the Spring.

Serve Boldly requires that all participants (youth and adults) complete online registration by February 1, 2027. Group Leaders are encouraged to share the registration link with participants ASAP. The registration deadline is critical to our staffing and program preparation; it also provides our housing sites with the utmost consideration.

Proof of liability insurance and full payment must be submitted by March 1, 2027.

All participants age 18+ at the time of the trip will be required to complete a criminal background check sent via email by Serve Boldly, a ministry of Water’s Edge Ministries.

insurance

For your protection, Serve Boldly requires proof of liability insurance and vehicle insurance from every group that registers for a trip. During the trip, you will not only transport your youth and leaders, but also Serve Boldly staff to service locations and evening activities.

If you have concerns that your insurance does not cover your group while on the trip, contact your insurance agency ASAP. The following organizations provide trip and/or medical insurance to groups or individuals.

travelguard.com (800) 826-4919
travelprotectors.com (877) 515-9055
churchfirst.com (888) 650-2685

cancellations

Participants who cancel between March 1, 2027 and 45 days before the group trip will receive a refund minus the $150 non-refundable deposit per participant. All other cancellations are non-refundable. Exceptions may be made due to family emergencies and illness.

Health and safety

Safety is a priority! We take every precaution to ensure the safety of participants and staff. Staff are trained in CPR and First Aid; they are also trained to respect and maintain participants' privacy and to reinforce a culture in which participants respect one another’s privacy. We rely on adult and youth participants to adhere to our Serve Boldly Summer Youth Program Policies during the program.

Serve Boldly requires at least one adult (age 21+) for every 5 youth; for youth groups of 5 or fewer, we require at least two adults. When choosing adult leaders for the trip, remember that you must provide adults to supervise the sleeping room(s) of your group. Supervision by two unrelated adults is required in any space where youth are sleeping. Space at each housing location may vary; group are not guaranteed their own rooms. Shared sleeping space is possible, depending on our housing site.