Open House Weekends
"[The orientation] was definitely helpful. We were able to know what to expect and how to help the rest of our group to prepare. It was also good to talk with other leaders and see different things their groups are doing in preparation." - Youth Leader from Pennsylvania who attended a 2005 orientation and went to DOOR Denver.
The purpose of the weekend is to help you prepare your group, preview the facilities and the city. The weekend's sessions include culture, service, conflict management, team building, preparation & reentry. Leaders gain knowledge from each other as they share ideas and past experiences. Groups that go on short-term service-learning trips trained and well-prepared accomplish more, understand their experiences more deeply, and enjoy their trip more. The learning becomes life-changing and lasting.
DOOR city directors highly recommend that groups send a leader to attend an Open House Weekend. Leaders stay in the facilities where we house DOOR groups. Our City Directors facilitate the weekends and are available for answering questions. A tour of the city is included as well. We welcome someone from each group to visit these open house weekends. You do not have to attend the orientation in the DOOR city you are going to; attend the city of your choice on the date the best suits your schedule.
You may have participated in DOOR in the past or led missions trips several times and wonder why you should come to a Open House Weekend. Come, learn how to prepare your group, develop a service and learning lifestyle in your group, network with other group leaders, meet DOOR staff, explore the city and have fun!
City directors recommend that each group attends the Open House Weekend. They appreciate prepared groups-ones ready to listen, learn, reflect and serve.
The price of the Weekend is built into the cost of coming to DOOR. You can attend the orientation in any location offered…wherever is most convenient for you. We encourage you to come to the city you will go. You will become more familiar with the facilities and get to know the city director. Your only cost is transportation to the orientation. DOOR provides all meals and lodging at the host churches of the DOOR program. We expect that one leader from each group will attend the orientation and train the rest of the group before the trip. If you bring more than one leader, we ask for $50 to cover costs.
The Weekends are intense with little free time. If you have friends or relatives in the city of your choice and want to see them, we suggest that you make arrangements with them to visit before or after the orientation as there will not be time during the orientation.
You will register for the Weekend of your choice on your group's registration. We will send you information about the Weekend closer to the time of the orientation for which you have registered.
You will register for the Weekend of your choice on your group's
registration. We will send you information about the Weekend closer to the
time of the orientation for which you have registered. Or call Hugo Saucedo
for more information, Krista Dutt at 312-545-3667 or Krista@DOORNetwork.org