Chapter Focus Week FAQ for Staff
What is the purpose of Chapter Focus Week?
Chapter Focus Week is a place for our students to rest and engage inner care that propels us to engage God’s love for the world, learning to follow the Holy Spirit on campus and beyond.
Logistics
Do I (as a staff) need to sign up?
Yes! You will click to register as an InterVarsity Staff (separate button). You will use this coupon code at the end: STAFFARECOOL Your staff budget will be charged after the conference is over.
What are the sleeping arrangements for staff?
Students and Staff are in the Fort. But staff will have rooms that will only have other staff. For married staff, staff with kids and staff with different abilities, we will make accommodations. Please bring your own pillows and bedding/sleeping bag for a twin sized bed.
Do all staff need to attend?
Yes for full-time staff. For part-time staff talk to your supervisor.
What is my role?
You can find your job assignments on this google doc: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1TniI-gXgdX6WcmhtzbhjcXdZlfLlDrEokU5mKMtdh9M/edit?usp=sharing
What can I expense, from what account, and when is the deadline to expense?
You can expense travel and supplies for the conference to the region. The deadline to expense travel and conference supplies is June 1st or it will go to your personal staff account. You can expense travel meals to your own account.
Can family come? Do they have to register?
Yes; but please have them register. They cannot be included in your travel expenses (e.g. travel meals and flight costs). However, if you are driving your family they will be included in the cost of your rental car or mileage expenses.
What if students can't make it the whole time? Can they pay for only a few nights?
If it is unavoidable, please let Bill Depury know. Unfortunately, we cannot offer a discount if your students will not be there for the whole time.
What should I pack?
Clothes for the week suitable for enjoying outdoor activities, sleepbag or bedding(twin sheets and blanket), pillow, towels, bathing suit, bible, notebook and pen!
What if I’m on a special diet?
Please mark that on the registration form. We will make dietary provisions based on what is provided on registrations.
Travel
What if a student doesn’t have a ride?
Here are a few questions and suggestions to help you find solutions.
As a staff staff or volunteer you should provide details about location and arrival time as a part of your invitation.
Can you, a student, or volunteer to carpool?
Is your student in a city where other students from the region will be traveling? Can we coordinate a ride with them?
Organizing rides will require asking if students need a ride AND if they can drive. Then assign students to cars with drivers.
What are the arrival and departure times?
Staff need to arrive by 4pm on Monday May 9th.
Students should plan to arrive between 3pm-5pm Tuesday May 10th. They should plan to depart at 10:30am sat May 14th.
It would serve your students to tell them how long the trip will take, and to try to have them all leave and arrive around the same time.
If my students take a flight to Atlanta, how do they get to camp?
Here are a few ideas to help you problem solve.
There may be students driving from Atlanta that these students could ride with.
Is there a volunteer who could be prepared to pick students up from the airport and drive them down?
Ask your donors to give towards rental transportation to and from the airport.
What are the driving directions?
DIRECTIONS FROM ATLANTA
South on I-75 to Exit 187 Forsyth/Monticello
Make a Right off the exit on to Ga 42
Continue on Ga 42 for 18.5 miles
Turn Left when it dead ends to continue on Ga 42
Travel 5.8 miles on Ga 42 then make a right on W Agency St/Ga 128 (the second traffic light once in the town of Roberta)
Travel 2.9 mi and make a Right on to Walker Chapel Rd.
After 1.4 mi make a Left to continue on Walker Chapel Rd.
Travel 1.2 mi and make a Left at the entrance
Physical Address
2559 Walker Chapel Rd.
Roberta, GA 31078
Phone: (478) 957-5215
Get directions from your location via GOOGLE HERE
Where type of property will be using?
We will be using a retreat center called Camp Grace - https://thecampgrace.com/
Recruitment
Staff should refer to the location as a “retreat center”
Is there a deadline for students signing up?
Yes and No. Every student must sign up for Chapter Focus Week. There are different costs depending on the time you sign up. See below or check the registration deadlines here. Walk-ons are accepted and are encouraged to sign up before arriving but there will be onsite registration.
Early Bird Registration (ends 11:59pm April 29th, 2022)…$290
Regular Pricing (ends 11:59pm May 9th, 2022)…$310
Walk-On Registration (May 10th and after)…$330
Why should my students go?
There are many good reasons to go to Chapter Focus Week. Here are a few explanations you can give your students:
Jesus. We believe it’s worth giving Jesus dedicated time to hear and respond to him without the everyday distractions of life. There is no replacement for engaging Jesus with students from around the region.
Rest. Vegging out isn’t true rest. You have been through the first year uninterrupted by COVID(kinda). Our bodies are more tired than we know and we need rest. But not just any rest. We need deep soul reviving rest. This is what Chapter Focus Week will provide.
Spiritual Encouragement: Every human needs to nurture their spiritual health. Chapter Focus Week is a place where you will be encouraged spiritually through scripture, worship and play. Let’s learn how to eat fruit and not just see fruit.
Leaders should go in order to grow deeper in Jesus and to partner with how God is calling new leaders in their chapters and helping other members take significant spiritual steps.
Members should go to see how God will sum up the work he has done over the year as a community.
Communal Play: It is important to take time to enjoy one another and meet others from across the region. God has a family of students in the region who need to see each other and enjoy all that God is doing in their communal story.
How can students/staff explain Chapter Focus Week to parents?
Share with parents the purpose of Chatper Focus Week, but also explain that InterVarsity is a national organization and that we use camps and conferences to help equip and train our students. Pointing parents to our website will help parents understand the legitimacy of Chapter Focus Week.
What are the tracks?
Tracks are more like cohorts. These are small groups where students will dialogue and learn as a community. The cohorts are the Servant Leadership, Living for Jesus, and Investigating Jesus cohorts. They are set up to help participants take next steps in following Jesus. Here are the brief explanations of the cohorts that can be found on the website.
Investigating Jesus
If you are curious about Jesus or ever wondered why your friends love Jesus, this will be a great place to find answers about who Jesus is. You will leave Chapter Focus Week with a full understanding of Jesus, his life, teachings, and the loving invitation of life with him, offered to everyone.
Living for Jesus
There are many of us who grew up in Church or have been in the Christian “religion” but want to take more serious steps toward following Jesus. Chapter Focus Week will be a significant step in knowing Jesus deeply and living authentically for Him. We invite you to take small but powerful steps toward Jesus that will renew your love for God.
Servant Leader
God is calling politicians, tech professionals, educators, scholars and more to be Jesus centered leaders who change the world. Stepping into leadership on campus will be the bridge into world changing leadership after college. Come learn the intangible leadership skills and character traits you need for Jesus-centered leadership on your campus.
Onsite
What activities will we be available?
Fun is an important part of Chapter Focus Week. Here are a few things the retreat center provides:
Pool
Lake with blow up toys
Basketball court
Volleyball Court
Game room
Soccer field
Will Black/Asian American/Latino/Native/Mixed students feel comfortable?
The conference planning committee is consciously making a safe space for all students. If a student is unsure of their comfort level, ask them how you/we can make them feel comfortable. It is possible that camp will be uncomfortable due to a number of variables(students first time at a camp, rural GA, sleeping arrangements, etc. But we can promise to be with students in it and we will do our best to make it worth it.
Will there be ethnic breakouts? Who will be leading them? How much time will they have?
Yes - You will hear from the staff responsible for this with details as you’ll need them. Feel free to tell students to expect time for that.
Will my students have time to prepare for the fall?
There will be chapter time. However, your chapter might need to plan extra time during the summer, because the leadership cohort will focus on the students' relationship with Jesus, rather than leadership skills.
Cost and Scholarships
How much does it cost?
The early bird cost is $290. The cost will vary based on when someone signs up. See https://www.ivchapterfocusweek.com/
If your students attended Remix they will receive a $30 scholarship automatically.
Can students get a refund if something happens? Emergency? What's the policy for that?
Refunds will be determined on a case by case basis.
Are there scholarships?
We never want money to be a reason students don’t attend one of our conferences. Staff should ask their donors to contribute to your campus scholarship account and you should help students ask family, churches and friends who might help them pay for camp. Area’s will be able to contribute additional funds for scholarship as well as the region.
If you need help, please consult with your supervisor.
How do I apply coupon codes?
There are also codes to be used during registration (IF NEEDED). Below you will see an explanation of those codes.
RIDEFULL will cover 100% of the cost. This code is to be used ONLY for full scholarships (including the deposit amount).
RIDEPART will initially cover 0% of the cost. This will allow students to register without paying a deposit. Once they register they can log back into their account and pay any amount they would like using the offline payment feature. Then the InterVarsity staff can let the registration team know how much scholarship money to apply.
How do I help students deal with the price?
While $290 might give students sticker shock, it’s helpful for students to realize the value. The Camp is $58 a day and the price includes food, lodging, activities, spiritual resources and registration costs.
Can students bring friends from other campuses? Who can they get scholarships from?
Yes, enrolled college students from other campuses, or enrolled college friends in a gap year are invited to attend Chapter Focus Week. They will need to register. Talk to your Area Director for all scholarship account options. Also talk to your supervisor if non-south east students are needing scholarships.
How much scholarship funds are there?
What information do I need to give to the region, who to send it to? Where does the money come from?
Please record requested information at this link:
Accessibility
Will it be accessible for persons with disabilities?
It is ADA Accessible.
We are working to provide sensory rooms.