Transportation

We are planning on chaperones driving to the train station early morning and catching the AMTRAK train, leaving our vehicles at the station for our return. We will be checking the Amtrak availability status monthly to see if Lansing, Grand Rapids or Flint seats become available.

Accommodations

We will be staying at the “HI CHICAGO!” Hostel in downtown, Chicago’s Museum/College district.  This hostel is a cultural event in its self. With Columbia University across the street and the top two floors of the hostel being leased as college dorms to Columbia U., it is well monitored and very secure. There are two room types: either 6 beds with private bath or 10 beds with a shared hall bath. The city’s bus transit system (CMT) is accessible right around the corner. Once we have an idea of how many are participating, we will have a better idea of Adult/student sleeping arrangements in conjunction with our safety/screening process. 

Meals

We will be eating breakfast every morning in the hostel’s dining room. We will have all meals and costs itemized.  Breakfast will always be at the Hostel and meals may include “Chicago Pizza”, etc.

Price

It is our goal that ANY child that is interested in the Chicago trip be able to participate regardless of affordability. The current plan is to offer the flat rate of $350.00 per child if they are unable/or choose not to participate in programming.  However, based on their involvement (which earns points), they can go for free based on points earned. Example: Every Sunday that “Johnny” attends Sunday school, a point is assigned.  Every “Children’s choir” rehearsal, a point is assigned.  If Johnny attends a youth event, participates in the Sunday school’s “Bible memory challenge” – a point is assigned.   We are providing plenty of opportunities for Johnny to be involved through fund raisers, projects and events that Johnny could go for free if that was his desire as each “point” counts as a dollar deducted from his $350.00. Where will these funds come from?   Session has approved the fund raising opportunities in addition to help from the Board of Christian Education and the generosity of private sponsors. We have attempted to creatively approach fund raising with events that would not compete with present fund raising efforts of Summer Camp, 2 coins a meal, bottles & cans.

Supervision

We will be using the rules of our State of Michigan Foster Care License. Chapel Lane Presbyterian Church is licensed through the state of Michigan to maintain supervision of children over a 24 hour period through our licensing process of the summer camp program. All of our chaperones have gone through Chapel Lane’s safety policy/screening process. We have the benefit of running a children’s “summer camp” to alert us to the health, safety, security concerns & requirements of having young children in our care! Great detail will be exercised in the enrollment process with health forms and permission slips, along with behavior expectations, sleeping arrangements, buddy system, etc.  We will be handling this with the same concern that we use when having children in our care for a week in Gaylord.