Special Events During the Academic Year
About once a quarter we have the opportunity to participate in IVCF events outside of Hyde Park. These include:
Fall Retreat: roughly midway through Autumn Quarter we take a weekend retreat outside of Chicago, usually in Southern Wisconsin or central Illinois. It's a chance for us to get out of Hyde Park, take a break from classes, and have an extended time to get to know each other better.
Winterfest: in February all IVCF chapters in the Chicagoland, Northern Illinois, and Northwest Indiana area gather for Winterfest, a weekend training conference.
Chicago Urban Project (CUP): During Spring Break IVCF helps sponsor week-long urban ministry projects in the Austin neighborhood on the west side of Chicago. We work with Circle Urban Ministries and Rock of our Salvation Free Church.
Chapter Focus Week at Cedar Campus: a IVCF retreat and training center in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. You choose a track to focus on, such as apologetics or discipleship, or in-depth study of a Bible book. There's also a series of evening Large Groups with Bible expositions. Usually Northwestern, Ohio State, and a bunch of other area schools are there with us. [I've been to Cedar 4 times--it's a good experience.]
Summer Training Programs
Chapter FOCUS at Cedar II: If you can't make our chapter's week (right after Spring Quarter ends), or want to go for another week, there is usually a Chapter FOCUS Week in mid-August. Check the schedule at Cedar for details.
School of Leadership Training (SLT): ...is a month-long program at Cedar Campus, usually early July - early August. It's a great way to enhance your leadership skills and spiritual maturity. As the website notes, this is "some of the best training InterVarsity has to offer."
Work Crew at a Christian Camp
InterVarsity Camp Work Crew: A camp doesn't run itself: there are many volunteer staff who serve in the kitchen, at the general store, as a lifeguard, and in other areas. Staff are needed from April to August, but you don't have to work that entire time. InterVarsity staffs four summer camps:
- Cedar Campus Work Crew (upper peninsula of MI)
- Bear Trap Ranch Work Crew (near Colorado Springs, CO)
- Campus By the Sea (on an island off the coast of southern Cal.)
- Toah Nipi (in New Hampshire)
contact the web-person for info on the last two, since they aren't online yet.
Summer Missions Projects (in USA)
Most mission projects require you stay for the length of the project, and that you fundraise all (or nearly all) of the cost before the project begins.
Chicago Urban Project: Spend 6-8 weeks living with other students in either the Austin or Lawndale neighborhoods of Chicago. You spend most of your day working with grade school children in a combination day camp/summer school project with Circle Urban Ministries, Rock of Our Salvation Free Church, or Lawndale Community Church.
Urban Projects in other cities: Chicago isn't the only place for urban ministry. InterVarsity staff sponsor urban projects in Denver, Los Angeles, Springfield NH, and more--see the national urban project page for details.
Missions outside USA
Global Projects: Like mission projects in the States, Global Projects require you to stay for the entire time and to fundraise your support before leaving. There are two main types of Global Projects:
- Lingua-Cultural Projects: you are part of a summer institute staff teaching English to native college students. Usually you room with a native student during the project.
- Service Projects: Work with a church pastor in Kenya, help staff a medical clinic, and more.
See InterVarsity's global project web page for more information.
Global Urban Trek: If you have a heart for urban ministry, try living and working amongst the poorest of the poor in Mexico City, Calcutta, Manila, Nairobi, Bangkok, or Cairo.
East Timor: Serve an internship in the Indonesian province of East Timor through the Student Mobilisation Centre of Youth with a Mission. Some AASC students did this in 2002 and said it was great.