Adult and Youth Work Trips

Trip Contact

Vicki Karlson,
Volunteer Trip Coordinator
Email: trips@re-member.org
Office: 1 (616) 942-0675
Mobile: 1 (616) 450-7648

Send Payments and Forms to:
Re-Member
P O Box 156
Ada, MI 49301-0156

2010 Trip Calendar
Week Dates Openings
1. Feb 27-March 5 complete
2. March 6-12 complete
3. March 13-19 complete
4. March 20-26 complete
5. March 27-April 2 complete
6. April 3-9 complete
7. April 10-16 complete
8. April 17-23 complete
9. April 24-30 complete
10. May 1-7 complete
11. May 8-14 complete
12. May 15-21 complete
13. May 22-28 complete
14. May 29-June 4 complete
15. June 5-11 complete
16. June 12-18
Family Week		 complete
17. June 19-25 complete
18. June 26-July 2 complete
19. July 3-9 complete
20. July 10-16 complete
21. July 17-23 complete
22. July 24-30
Family Week		 complete
23. July 31-August 6 complete
24. August 7-13 complete
25. August 14-20 complete
26. August 21-27 complete
27. August 28-Sept 3 closed
28. September 4-10
volunteers needed		 closed
29. September 11-17
Senior Week		 21
30. September 18-24
volunteers needed		 43
31. Sept 25-Oct 1
volunteers needed		 40
32. October 2-8
volunteers needed		 9
33. October 9-15
Closing Week		 11
Is your desired week already full? Keep checking back in case of cancellations!

Special note: 2011 registration will begin in early fall of 2010. We are working on our new literature, and pricing this summer.

Costs
The total cost for a week-long service-learning trip (Saturday through Friday) is $350.00 per person. This covers food, housing, and transportation while on the reservation. It does not cover your transportation to and from our site or snack and souvenir items.

Accommodations
RE-MEMBER has two facilities with "dorm rooms" outfitted with bunk beds. There are ten showers, eight toilets, and one outdoor facility. There is a complete kitchen where everyone engages in cooking and cleanup. (Due to the nature of our work projects and staffing constraints, we are doing our best to cap our spring and fall weeks at approximately 45 people and our summer weeks at approximately 72 people.)

How to sign up
Call, fax or e-mail RE-MEMBER to sign up for a trip. We'll send you our Reservation Agreement and deposit information while holding your spots for one month.

After confirming your trip dates with our Trip Coordinator, send us your signed Reservation Agreement along with a deposit check of 10% of your total trip cost, or $35.00 per person. Training, promotional and preparation materials will be sent to you with a receipt for your deposit. All deposits and payments are non-refundable.

For Youth Groups
The minimum age for our trips is 13. We require this because of the nature of the work we are doing, and the issues we discuss during the week. We also require a ratio of 1 adult (21 years or older) for every 6 young people (18 years or younger). If the group consists of male and female youth, the group leaders must consist of one of each gender.

Family Week
The minimum age limit does not apply to our Family Week program, created for children ages 6-12 and led by certified volunteer teachers. Children learn about Lakota culture through arts and crafts, trips, music, and activities while older family members participate in our regular program. Cost is $150.00 per child. See the 2010 Trip Dates at left for Family Week dates.

A few things to keep in mind:

  • Please make travel arrangements to arrive at RE-MEMBER between 2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Mountain Standard Time on your arrival date. Plan to leave RE-MEMBER on Friday morning at 9:00 A.M.
  • You/your group will benefit from advance preparation for your trip. Refer to the Registration materials for recommended resources (see below).
  • In case of medical emergencies or illness during your stay, we utilize the clinic and hospital at Gordon, Nebraska, which is 22 miles from our site. We are unable to utilize Pine Ridge Hospital, which is run by Indian Health Service, unless it is an extreme emergency. The nearest pharmacy is also in Gordon, Nebraska, and is a local business, not part of a chain.
  • We request that you participate fully in all of the activities planned for each day. We expect you to be consistently willing to learn about life on the Rez both in the past and in the present.
  • Our staff will provide direct hands-on guidance and instruction in construction techniques as often as possible. However, volunteers and group leaders are ultimately responsible for their own safety. RE-MEMBER cannot know all of the volunteers’ skills and limitations well enough to prevent all risks to health or safety, and is only able to provide enough advice and supervision at the job sites to supplement that provided by the volunteer’s own leadership.
    Please be prepared for: Physical Exertion, Weather-Related Risks (Hot and Dry Weather, Cold Weather, Windy Conditions), Chemical Exposure (Cleaning Products, Paint), and Construction Projects (Lifting, Power Tools, Safety Equipment including Gloves, Goggles, and Masks).
  • RE-MEMBER Volunteer Forms have been updated for 2009. Be sure your group is returning the current version of these forms to our office.
  • Volunteers will not have internet access. Please be sure to make the necessary arrangements related to your workplace.

Are trip fees tax deductible? No, they are not. Based on strict IRS guidelines about tax-deductibility, donors are unable to receive a tax deduction when a good or service is received in return for the contribution. In this case, the $350 trip fee covers the cost of food, lodging, and transportation during your time with us and is not considered a donation to RE-MEMBER. If you would like to make a donation, please visit our Donations page.