your best summer awaits.
engage in impact. deepen relationships. grow in Christ.
“OMP provides the opportunity that my youth can not find anywhere else: The opportunity to show God’s love to a complete stranger in a real, hands-on way. ”
How to get involved:
Step 1: Pick from our available dates.
Step 2: Set up a call with our team to discuss locations and options.
Step 3: Get support from your youth and church.
Step 4: Complete our registration process.
Step 5: Turn in the necessary Mission Forms in the spring.
Step 6: SHOW UP for the best week of your life in summer 2024!
2024 Summer mission weeks (7TH-12TH)
Week 1: June 9-14, North Little Rock, Conway (FULL), Forrest City (FULL)
Week 2: June 23-28, Central Arkansas (FULL), West Memphis (FULL), Bentonville (FULL)
Week 3: July 14-19, Fayetteville, Mount Eagle (special pricing)
“OMP helped provide a safe space for our students to grow beyond a group, and become a team.””
Meaningful Projects
"Our neighbor was held dear to our group's heart because they were so used to helping other people and would always give us things and are fostering three children who use wheelchairs for mobility so it meant a lot to help them." - Alec, Youth Community Builder
Ozark Mission Project pairs short term mission work with long-term connection in the communities we serve in. Whether you are building a wheelchair ramp, or cleaning up someone’s yard, you can make a difference and help create lasting change in communities across Arkansas.
Deepened Relationships
“I loved all of it, but one thing that stood out about about my experience was 9 square. It sounds kind of lame, but it was amazing how connected we were while playing and even just waiting in line and getting to talk to people.” Piper, 2022 Youth Community Builder
The experience is not just about the work that is done, but about building and deepening relationships with others, ourselves and with God. Opportunities for fellowship are purposefully built into the program, and we find that friendships are naturally fostered among youth at OMP.
Impactful Discipleship
"It helped me grow spiritually and I loved discovering the gifts God gave me through the work we did!" - Alice, Youth Community Builder
Through our Morning Watch Devotion, lunch-time reflection, evening sharing and worship, students are provided opportunities to dive into God’s word and are challenged to see how the Word comes alive in them as they spend a week serving outside of themselves. Discipleship grows organically and intentionally.
“The opportunity to see students learn new and valuable skills and share this with a neighbor who was proud of their work was incredible.”
Important Notes
Youth must have completed the 6th grade to register. This means youth will be rising 7th graders in summer 2023, so at the time of registration they could be in 6th grade. These missions are a mix of youth 7th-12th grade.
Summer Missions run Sunday through Friday. Arrival is 2pm on Sunday and departure is before noon on Friday.
Early Bird total is $300, $100 deposit due at registration. Early Bird pricing available for youth and adults registered and paid in full on or before December 31, 2023.
Late Registration total is $350, $100 deposit due at registration. Late Registration pricing is for youth and adults registered on or after January 1, 2024, or those not paid in full by December 31st.
Adults and Vehicles
For every 3-10 youth registered, 2 Adults per vehicle are required.
Adults serve as family group leaders. 2 adults in every vehicle will transport 3-10 youth to and from job sites, participate in the project and mission activities, and will assist in maintaining the safety and positive atmosphere for youth throughout the mission week. Adults must have a vehicle that can safely transport the appropriate number of youth. See Vehicle Types.
“The opportunity to serve and give of our time and energy was an important part of learning to put our faith into action. It also built confidence that even young and inexperienced people had something to give—they could do it! ”
Family Groups
Family group is the term we use to describe the team of people who work on one project site. This group is made up of a minimum of two adults, and up to 10 youth. Family Groups ride in one vehicle to the project site. There are two options. You can choose for your church to remain together in family groups, or we can split your group up among other churches to form family groups.
Important dates
October 1 - Registration opens
December 31 - Early Bird registration deadline and and Early Bird payments due
February 1 - Receive group materials for summer
February 15 - All participants registered at this time considered final and full payment is required
April 1 - All registration payments due, Background Verification Forms and Group Rosters due
May 1 - All participant release forms due
Frequently Asked questions:
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Groups typically arrive on Sunday and go home on Friday. Our work days are Monday-Thursday. The typical schedule is outlined as follows, though this will vary slightly by location. This schedule can also be found in your group manual.
FIRST DAY (SUNDAY)
• 2:00- Arrival Time
• 3:00- Adult Meeting/Youth Games
• 3:30- Orientation/Games
• 6:00- Dinner
• 6:45- Kitchen Cleanup/Break
• 7:15- Group Activity
• 8:30- Worship
• 10:00- Get Ready for Bed
• 10:30- Lights Out
WORKDAYS (MON-THUR):
• 7:00- Wake Up
• 7:30- Breakfast/Pack Lunches
• 8:00- Morning Watch
• 8:15- Major Group
• 8:30- Load Up/Leave for worksite
• 12:00- Lunch and Devo with neighbor
• 3:30- Leave Worksite
• 4:00- Shower House
• 6:00- Dinner
• 6:45- Kitchen Clean Up
• 7:00- Group Activity
• 7:45- Free Time/Mission Store
• 8:30- Sharing/Worship
• 10:00- Get Ready for Bed
• 10:30- Lights Out
LAST DAY (FRIDAY):
• 7:00- Wake Up
• 7:30- Breakfast
• 8:00- Morning Watch
• 8:15- Meeting for 12th-grade students
• 8:15- Clean/Pack Up Personal Area
• 8:45- Major Group Cleaning Church/Site
• 9:30- Worship/Group Picture/Slideshow
• 10:00 - 11:00 – Load up and Go Home
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We’ve got a list for that! Please find our recommended packing list HERE.
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Ozark Mission Project completes a variety of projects for our neighbors in Arkansas. Construction projects consist mostly of accessibility projects and minor repairs, including wheelchair ramps, porch repairs, and handrail construction. Projects also include beautification work such as painting and yard work. Any person can apply for work to be done on their home. Projects are assessed by our Leadership Teams at each location and assigned to team prior to their arrival. If you have specific requests for types of projects, reach out to Jules to talk more about projects.
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Lodging
All meals from Sunday dinner through Friday breakfast
On-site college staff, site director and leadership volunteers
All project materials for your worksite
Comprehensive safety training
Community history and sensitivity training
Worksite instructions and advising
Project site coordination
Additional tools
Participant t-shirt and pin
Participant devotional for the week at camp
Times of devotion throughout the day including evening worship
Customized support leading up to the mission week
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OMP has a WORKSITE DRESS CODE: For protection purposes, long pants, shirts with at least short sleeves, and sturdy, close-toed shoes must always be worn while on the worksite. OMP recommends scrub bottoms for long pants and light-colored t-shirts to help stay cool in the Arkansas summer heat.
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““At OMP I met new people, built relationships, and God changed the lives of my neighbors using us. In doing that, I was changed and will never be the same.””
Who are our neighbors?
At Ozark Mission Project, we lovingly use the term “neighbor” in reference to the homeowners we work with. Jesus said to love our neighbors as ourselves, so we put that love into action by completing minor home repair, beautification, and accessibility projects for our neighbors.
More information for neighbors who would like to apply for assistance can be found HERE.
