2011 Jamaica & Barbados Trip Information...

Parents/Others:

(please forward to people not on list)

I understand several questions came from the meeting this past Sunday.  I wanted to give some answers as I understand the questions to be.

Let me begin by saying the website is the place to get info.  Please read FAQs and Application page...actually just read the whole site, won't take long and then you will know more.

Also, subscribe to Swamp Corps Blog as I will post emails like this and other info to this blog.  Plus you will be set up when your child goes on the trip to read their blogs.

Okay to the questions:

1) Why the increase in cost for Jamaica?

• Five main reasons:  a) flight is more due to rising costs and fuel surcharges.  The fuel surcharge may come off.  Won't know until time of ticketing.  b) added an extra bus for all transportation.  We have so much luggage for 45 people that we had to do this last year just to transport it all.  The Kingston church paid for this.  Did not want them to this year.  c) added some extra to cover operational expenses for supplies, leadership, crafts, equipments, etc. - again Kingston church paid for this last year.  d) transportation in general in J'ca went up overall, and e) we added an extra day and night at the camp.  All this adds to more than last year.
• NOTE:  members of Athens church will get $170 off the price making it $900 for the trip.

2) How will applications be accepted?

• This is no longer just an Athens thing so we had to come up with a process that allows for the handling of multiple places.  It is not first-come, first serve...necessarily.
• Applications are accepted based on the following criteria in this order:
  1. Meeting eligibility requirements (see website) and paying the required deposit.
  2. Having particular experience or skill set needed for the trip (i.e. nursing, counseling, life guarding, Swamp experience, etc.)
  3. From the U.S. location that supports the targeted host community
  4. Seniority by grade
  5. Fill remaining open slots
  
  
• NOTE: that Jamaica is a place supported by Athens church so slots will be given to Athens members over those from other locations if all things are equal.  I imagine that this won't even be the case as it will fill up from Athens folks.

3) Why so few slots?

• For Jamaica, we chose 45 as a number for two reasons: a) it is a good size group to influence the camp but not over take it and make it an American camp and b) it is a workable size for travel coordination.
• For Barbados, they are expecting only about 30-50 kids at the camp.  We did not want there to be more A'cans than Barbadians (is that how you say that?).  Anyway, I do have some flexibility to add more spaces for this trip if needed. However, I must know quickly in order to lock in flight rates.  We are working with the North River church as they support work in the Eastern Caribbean to offer this trip to some of their kids/people.

4) When will we be able to apply?

• Goal is to open January 20th.  There was a slight delay because I was instructed to open up a bank account for all Swamp Corps related transactions to keep them separate from normal camp transactions.  This meant getting approvals, setting up entirely new credit card processing capabilities and integrating them with the website and our existing registration system...all of which take a little time and effort.
• We only have one more step which should go through today.  After which I will run some tests to be sure transactions process and then turn it on.
• You will know it is on when the "Apply" link appears in the grid on the Application page of the website.

5) Can people make donations?

• Yes.  There is a Donate Now page on the site with instructions on how to give to the general operations or to a specific participant.  We are a 501(c)3 organization so contributions are tax deductible (please accountant for details).
• We are looking for corporate sponsors.  Any contacts you have please send them to the website Sponsors page where they can download a copy of our business plan and then have them contact me.

6) Can we go on both trips?

• Yes.  By all means.  Going on both as of right now the flight is about $100 less due to flying straight from Kingston into Bridgetown, Barbados.
• I am particularly in need of campers/counselors for this trip.

Hope this helps.

If there are more questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thanks, Jeff

The Swamp Corps

www.campswamp.com/swampcorps

706-818-5842

"Making Memories, Creating Character"