Atlanta Weekend Program
Your Weekend with DOOR-Atlanta.
Insurance, and Other logistics
Who Can Participate?
The Urban Encounter is designed for participants from middle-school age on up and for all denominations. DOOR can accommodate groups with up to 35 total participants (youth and sponsors), and we ask that groups provide one adult sponsor per every five youth if high school aged or one adult sponsor for every four middle-school aged youth. Smaller groups may be paired together, allowing participants from different places and denominations to share in service. Note-Weekends may be designed specifically for families to participate but must be arranged in advance. When hosting families total group size is limited to 35.
What Will You Do?
A typical weekend begins upon arrival for supper on Friday and ends with departure after worship on Sunday. An orientation/logistics session Friday evening helps prepare everyone for the weekend.
Activities of the weekend vary according to theme. They may include engaging in learning activities with children; interaction with homeless people at a homeless shelter; sorting donated food or clothing at a redistribution center; lawn and building maintenance for individuals; meeting with and listening to groups who are working for change in the city. There will also be times for reflection on the events of the day.
Themed Weekends
Click below for a pdf flyer for each weekend.
October 3-5 (October 5 is World Communion Sunday) - Multicultural themeNovember 14-16 - Environmental theme
December 12-14 - Health theme
December 19-21 - Holiday theme
February 13-15 - Homeless theme
January 16-19 - Martin Luther King themeWe can do other weekend dates as well, please contact Jannan at 678-596-8122 or by email
Cost and Registration for a Weekend Program
Click here to see Atlanta's Weekend Calendar
Participant cost for 2008-09 is $95. This covers food, lodging, and materials for service experiences, and program administration. Our registration process has several stages:
- Return the group registration and the non-refundable $25 per person registration fee. This deposit will be applied in its entirety towards your total group cost and will hole your requested weekend.
- A 50% deposit is due four weeks prior to your trip. This non-refundable deposit is per person; meaning if you deposit for 10 people and only bring 9, you lose the deposit for that one person. You may increase your numbers only with a telephone call to us. Upon receipt of this deposit, we will send you an orientation package. This is intended to prepare your group for the DOOR experience and we strongly recommend you take the time to go over it with your whole group.
- Balance is due upon arrival.
- All funds received must be in U.S. currency.
What To Bring To Atlanta
Participants will be sleeping on the floor in various rooms. Each participant should bring a sleeping bag, sleeping mat, a towel, and toiletries. It is important to note that many of the agencies that we work with require volunteers to wear long pants. Every participant must have at least one pair of long pants appropriate for work in situations where they will get dirty. Comfortable walking shoes, casual/sport clothing as desired, and insect repellent are strongly recommended. Remember to bring sunscreen, a frisbee, soccer ball, guitar and other recreation and entertainment ideas. Participants should also bring Bibles and notebooks. Additionally appropriate dress should be discussed according to the particular weekend.
Transportation
The DOOR-Atlanta program relies on a combination of public transportation (subway and buses) and the vehicles you come in for transportation of your work teams to and from service assignments around Atlanta. You are responsible for driving your own vehicles around the city. If you are thinking of coming by plane, train, school or touring bus, you have two options. First, you may rent vans in Atlanta as needed to transport your group to service assignments. Second, you may choose to use public transportation for your entire experience.
Health Insurance
There is always the chance that volunteers will need medical care. Accidents can and do happen while at the service experiences, during recreational activities and free time, even on the trip to and from Atlanta. The DOOR program does not carry medical insurance for participants. We ask that group leaders make sure that all group members have insurance and that the Medical Release Forms (sent to groups along with orientation materials) are completed and available to our staff upon arrival.
And Finally...
Additional Atlanta Information