First Congregational Church
Boundary Waters Canoe Trip
July 17 – 25, 2009

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), as we know it, was established in 1978 by Congress through BWCA Wilderness Act. This Act restricted logging, mining, and most motorized access to this 1,000,000+ acre area in northern Minnesota. The BWCAW is part of and managed by the Superior National Forest. The BWCAW is visited by more than 200,000 visitors who travel the more than 1500 miles of canoe routes and stay at the 2000+ camp sites. The Boundary Waters is a pristine, yet rugged wilderness. The lakes are cut from granite and surrounded in old pine growth, creating a wonderful habitat for all sorts of woodland creatures- big and small. 

You are invited to join us as we make a 40 – 50 mile loop through this wilderness, canoeing and portaging from lake to lake.  You will cook over an open fire, sleep in tents or under the stars. There is no electricity, no cell phone coverage and no modern conveniences. We will work together to carry all of our gear between lakes on our backs.  This is a rugged trip but people of varying skill levels – beginners to experienced outdoors-people are encouraged to participate. 

Youth teams – For students who are currently in 6th – 12th grade
Female Teams, Male Teams, Co-ed Teams

Cost:
The cost for the trip is $325 per person which includes all travel expenses, gear and food during the canoe trip.  Participants will need to pay for their own food during van travel.

Youth will have the opportunity to reduce their cost by participating in Ichthus activities and Fund-raising events.  Each qualifying event will reduce the youth cost by $25 for a maximum credit of $225.  If youth participate in 4 fund-raising events and 5 Ichthus activities, youth will reduce their expense to $100.  Scholarships are available. 

BWCA.com

PAST TRIPS

Fair Trade Delegation January 2009
Chiapas, Mexico

First Congregational United Church of Christ Members Join Fair Trade Delegation to Mexico
For ten days in late January, Shannon Hanley and Mattie Kropf of First Congregational Church of Lowell will join 18 other people of faith on a delegation to visit small-scale coffee farmers in Chiapas, the southern most, and poorest state in Mexico. The delegation, entitled “Globalization, Justice and Coffee”, will explore the impact of the free trade policies and economic crises of the last fifteen years on the lives of Mexican farmers, and consider what we in the United States can do to support small farmers struggling for economic justice.

Hanley, Christian Education Director, and Kropf, Lowell High School Junior, were invited on the delegation as a result of their work with bringing fair trade products to their congregation and community. Fair Trade means paying talented artisans and hard working farmers in developing countries fair and equal wages for the work that they do. Four years ago, First Congregational Church began using fair trade coffee every Sunday and for all events held by the church. Since then, the church has begun selling fair trade coffee, tea, chocolate, and crafts at their Global Bazaar, open year round at the church. “We are very excited to be included in this delegation,” says Kropf. “It will give us the opportunity to educate our community as well as learn more about fair trade and the people it affects.”

The delegation is sponsored by the Jubilee Justice Task Force of the United Church of Christ denomination and Equal Exchange, the oldest and largest 100% Fair Trade food company in the United States. It will be led by Witness for Peace.

In Chiapas, Hanley, Kropf and other delegates will meet with numerous local organizations involved with human rights, grass roots education, and economic development. Visits and presentations will focus on the economic crisis in the Mexican countryside and the struggles of small farmers for land, fair prices for their crops and the rights and support they need to develop their own communities. Mexico’s rural crisis is viewed by many as a root cause of emigration to the United States.
The group will visit farming co-operatives, who trade with Equal Exchange, and will spend two nights as the guests of a coffee-farming village in the mountains. During their stay, Hanley and Kropf will help to pick and process coffee and learn about the lives of the farmers. “We have been learning Spanish and this will give us a great opportunity to use it,” says Hanley.  “We have also been studying the coffee process as well as gaining an understanding of the global debt crisis.  We need to be prepared for a lot!”

The delegation will also examine relations between Mexico and the United States, and assess the impact of U.S. economic policies on the Mexican people. Delegates will consider actions they can take to support farmers, including buying their coffee through Fair Trade organizations like Equal Exchange, and campaigning for U.S. policies which support human rights, fair trade, debt relief and sustainable grass roots development.

Hanley and Kropf will return in early February, eager to share their experiences with our community and others.   Kropf is hopeful, “I want people to think about the people who made the things we buy.”  Fair Trade stores are popping up in West Michigan.  “The word is getting out.” says Kropf, “People should stop by the church and check out our Global Bazaar or look for other Fair Trade stores.  Every purchase helps someone earn a fair price for the item they made.  Every purchase makes a difference.”   

Boundary Waters Canoe Trip
August 2007  August 2005 August 2003 July 2002 August 2001 August 1999

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), as we know it, was established in 1978 by Congress through BWCA Wilderness Act. This Act restricted logging, mining, and most motorized access to this 1,000,000+ acre area in northern Minnesota. The BWCAW is part of and managed by the Superior National Forest. The BWCAW is visited by more than 200,000 visitors who travel the more than 1500 miles of canoe routes and stay at the 2000+ camp sites. The Boundary Waters is a pristine, yet rugged wilderness. The lakes are cut from granite and surrounded in old pine growth, creating a wonderful habitat for all sorts of woodland creatures- big and small. 

Our groups made a 40 – 50 mile loop through this wilderness, canoeing and portaging from lake to lake.  We cooked over an open fire, slept in tents or under the stars. We survived with no electricity, no cell phone coverage and no modern conveniences. We worked together to carry all of our gear between lakes on our backs. 

National Youth Event 2008
Youth Small Group – Sr High
Knoxville, TN

About 3,000 youth attended the UCC's National Youth Event, July 22-26, at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Young people trekked from each of the denomination's 39 Conferences to participate in this once-in-every-four-years gathering.

A packed itinerary included scores of musical performances, 129 workshop offerings and 236 possible activities, including service projects, coffee houses, movies, and access to campus recreational facilities. 5 youth from our church, one leader and one new friend from United Church of Big Rapids joined others from across the state to represent Michigan at the event.

Chicago Mission Trip 2008
First Congregational United Church of Christ
Ichthus Group – 6th -12th grade students

Examples of mission assignments were: preparing and serving meals at a soup kitchen; helping with homeless children’s programs, cleaning feeding kitchens and shelters, urban gardening; meeting and listening to groups and individuals who are working for change in the city, conversing and worshiping with city folks.
We:

• Volunteered at a variety of community agencies
• Stayed at Historic Church of the Brethren in Garfield Park 
• Participated in a network of service-learning opportunities
• Heard a local perspective on the city
• Used public transportation- the El, the bus and other transportation
• Interacted with people of the city, including buying dinner with just $1
• Reflected on our experiences and grew in our understanding of poverty

http://www.doornetwork.org/

Summer Trip- Heifer Ranch
2006    2004

Students in the 7th grade through graduated Seniors participated in the Summer Trip to Perryville, Arkansas.

Heifer Ranch is a hands-on learning center providing education that promotes sustainable solutions to global hunger, poverty and environmental degradation. We spent three nights in the Global Village, living and working much like Heifer’s project partners live and work all over the world.  We tended gardens and livestock, bought our supplies from an international market, cooked our meals with appropriate technology, and slept in representative housing.  We were led through powerful and surprising experiences that opened up the world beyond our own borders. 
Link to http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.201557/

Summer trip to Re-Member
Youth trips 2000, 2002,
Men’s Fellowship 2002, 2004, 2005
Adults 2002
Family 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

Re-Member is an independent non-profit organization on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in southwest South Dakota. Established in 1998, Re-Member works with the Oglala Lakota People, forming lasting relationships and bridging two worlds.

Re-Member is a non-profit organization which works with the Oglala Lakota Nation on Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota. Volunteers comprised of individuals and groups (adult and youth) from churches, high schools, colleges, and corporations join us at our facility on Pine Ridge for one week at a time. Our volunteers participate in various work projects across the Reservation, helping to rebuild relationships, homes, and lives.

Re-Member is an organization that exists to recall our country's treatment of the Native people of the Americas and to repair the broken pieces of that relationship. Guided by the aspirations of the Oglala Lakota communities we serve, Re-Member seeks to improve the quality of life on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota through relationships, shared resources, and volunteer services. Through work projects and cultural immersion, we continue to develop a growing circle of advocates standing in solidarity with the Lakota people on Pine Ridge. http://www.re-member.org/

The family trip was created by the staff of First Congregational and is still offered through Re-Member.
The program based out of the Re-Member center in South Dakota consists of 5 independent days of travel, experience and learning activities that enhanced the child’s understanding of tolerance, Lakota culture and history, and caring for the earth.    The program makes use of local opportunities for education like the Mammoth site and Custer State Park as well as coordinating efforts with the existing RE-MEMBER program.