Frequently Asked Questions for JusticeworX: Appalachia

What is the typical schedule of a day in Appalachia?

As scheduled, Appalachia participants will meet at the designated host facility at 5:15am to depart at 5:30am. Because the drive to Appalachia is approximately 10 hours, each van will make the necessary stops for breaks and meals along the way. Participants are scheduled to arrive in Appalachia on Sunday evening between 5pm and 6pm. Departure from Appalachia is the same as departure from designates host facility on the following Saturday morning.

Upon arrival, students will unpack their belonging and rest to enjoy a restful dinner. The first evening of all programming consist of a tour of the host facility, an introduction to the week’s events, staff introductions, icebreaker/community building activities and discussions, and then conclude with prayer and reflection. A typical weekday in Appalachia looks like the following:

As the above schedule outlines, participants wake up for breakfast and Morning Prayer. After prayer, participants depart with assigned service groups to complete service at an assigned site. While there, students complete a building project, break for lunch to discuss the morning’s experience, resume their service experience, and at 3pm return to the host facility. Upon arrival at the host facility, participants take part in recreational free time, which consists of pre-planned games and activities led by the program staff.

After dinner, participants will join in a variety of dynamic presentations and interactive experiences that introduce them to varying faith, service, and justice themes, particular to the Appalachian experience. Participants will have daily opportunities to reflect on daily experiences, share with peers, and learn about ways in which they can live out the faith through service to others.

Participants will also have many opportunities to participate in engaging faith experiences in prayer, reflection, and music. Following evening prayer each evening, students head off to bed. Due to travel, the Appalchian JusticeworX experience concluded on Friday evening.

Note: Depending on programming content, each evening’s schedule may vary. Times are not concrete, just typical. Programming may include speakers, hikes and other activities that would affect the schedule shown above.

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How much does JusticeworX Appalachia cost? What is included in the cost?

Program costs cover 24-hour supervision and instruction from trained youth ministry facilitators, all meals (Sunday dinner through Friday dinner), transportations (van and gas costs) throughout the entire trip, housing, programming materials, and a program T-shirt.

JusticeworX programs total $365.00 per participant. Service in Appalachia is all manual and labor-intensive, and most likely will include building/refurbishing homes, building a ramp or deck, and so on. These projects all require building materials, which total $85.00 per student. This fee is added to the base rate, totaling $450.00 per student. Parishes and groups often fundraise for this additional cost throughout the academic year.

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Where do participants stay? What do sleeping arrangements look like? Is it safe?

Lodging site:

Cabwaylingo State Forest

4279 Cabwaylingo Park Road

Dunlow, WV 25511

Phone: 304-385-4255

Website: www.cabwaylingo.com

Cabwaylingo features a large barracks-style facility that houses participants effectively and comfortably in bunk-bed arrangements. Participants are separated into gender-specific areas with separate bathrooms and showers.

Safety is CFJ’s top priority. Cabwaylingo has an excellent safety record and has been an outstanding site for JusticeworX. It is a state park nestled in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains and trees.

There are open fields for recreation, a swimming pool (schedule permitting), and a pavilion for down time and a BBQ. The kitchen facility as well as the dinning area provides enough space to accommodate 100 people. Participants will be in the company of trained staff at all times.

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What are the departure and arrival times? What does transportation involve?

Departure time from our East Coast partner parishes is 5:30 am on Sunday of the program week. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to the departure site, typically the home parish that is sponsoring the program week. JusticeworX staff will transport participants in insured vans to Appalachia.

The estimated arrival time at Cabwaylingo is between 5 pm and 6 pm, depending on traffic. Each van and driver will stop as often as necessary, including for meals along the way.

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What are the specific site locations?

JusticeworX Appalachia service sites are arranged in partnership with community advocates for the poor in the region. Participant work groups are then assigned a specific site for the entire week, typically the home of a family in the area, much like the Habitat for Humanity program. This year, JusticeworX hopes to create a partnership with the Habitat for Humanity program in Phelps, Kentucky, in addition to working with our other community partners.

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What type of service will be done?

All service done during JusticeworX Appalachia is labor-intensive. In the past, participants have done basic home repair, constructed wheelchair ramps, and built porches and decks.

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What do participants need to bring?

NOTE: There is limited space in our rental vans for both people and luggage. It is very important that participants PACK LIGHTLY. It is strongly encouraged that participants only bring what is included on the packing list. Simple living is highly encouraged during the week, especially in terms of packing materials.

It is also good to note that summers in Appalachia are hot and humid. When packing, remember to choose clothing that you would want to wear in 90+ degree weather. Please bring appropriate attire, no spaghetti strap tank tops or short shorts.

NOTE: There is no reception for Verizon Wireless customers. At the designated phone time in the early evening hours of programming, participants with Verizon will have access to call home if they choose. AT&T customers will have reception.

Bring:

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Contact Us

24 Rossa Avenue

Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

(609) 498-6216 / E-mail

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