Urban Service Camps
Throughout the year, Old First welcomes volunteer service groups from colleges and churches for a few days up to a week. Service campers volunteer around Philadelphia, while learning about the challenges facing those living in the city and the joys and rewards (and challenges) of hands-on work in agencies that are making a difference in Philly. The work of service campers is critical to our partner sites, as one-in-four Philadelphians are food insecure and the city’s poverty rate is more than 20% – almost double the national average.
The urban service camp experience also includes time for participants to reflect on the spiritual, social and political implications of their experiences. Members of Old First work with group leaders to help groups unpack the structural realities that create and perpetuate homelessness, combining hands-on experience with learning and spiritual growth. And there is usually time for some good, old-fashioned fun, too – such as sight-seeing in the historic district!
We welcome Service Camps for just one day, or up to a week. And if schedules allow, Old First encourages service camps to volunteer with our Saturday Breakfast and/or worship with us on Sunday morning.
We welcome groups of any association, religious or secular; and take youth groups, adult groups or inter-generational groups. We do have a few requirements for service camps:
- Attendees must be over the age of 14.
- We do not recommend groups larger than 15 people total (including chaperones for youth camps).
- We require chaperones for youth camps at ratio of 1 chaperone for 4 campers (so 12 campers would require 3 chaperones).
- Waivers will be required for all attendees.
Additional Information on Service Camps
To Register
To begin your registration, please follow the registration form link below.
Once your registration is submitted, Old First will reach out to you for the following:
- Confirm Dates: Once your registration is submitted, Old First will reach out to you to confirm your service camp dates.
- Deposit: Old First will also send an invoice for the $200 non-refundable deposit. Your registration is not complete until the deposit is received. This $200 deposit amount will be deducted from the overall cost. If the reservation is cancelled, the deposit will be retained by Old First Reformed UCC. The final payment is due on arrival.
- Planning: After your deposit is received and in the months prior to your arrival, our Old First Outreach Coordinator will be in touch to provide detailed information about your stay; and to develop your unique service itinerary. But should you have any questions along the way, please contact outreach@oldfirstucc.org.
