The provided source material focuses exclusively on free resources offered by LeaderTreks, a youth ministry organization, specifically targeting youth pastors and volunteer leaders. The sources describe downloadable tools, training materials, and planning guides designed to assist with school-year preparation and mission trip organization. These resources are available at no cost but require users to provide personal information to access downloads or sign up for email communications.
Overview of Available Free Resources
LeaderTreks provides several free resources aimed at supporting youth ministry leaders. These materials are primarily digital downloads intended to assist with training, planning, and logistical preparation. According to the source data, accessing these resources typically involves signing up for the LeaderTreks email list or providing contact information.
Youth Leader Training Materials
One specific free resource mentioned is a lesson from the LeaderTreks Square One series titled "The Purpose of Youth Ministry." This training material is designed to help adult volunteers understand the correct perspective on youth ministry, shifting the focus from a ministry to students to a ministry of students to their world. This resource is available as a download in exchange for joining the LeaderTreks email list.
Mission Trip Planning Guides
LeaderTreks offers a "Mission Trip Planning Guide" as a free resource. This guide is described as a tool to simplify the trip planning process. It covers aspects such as pre-trip training, staff preparation, relationship building, and creating teachable moments during the trip. The goal of the guide is to help leaders transform a short-term mission trip into an intentional environment for student growth, similar to a greenhouse for plants.
Mission Trip Packing List
A specific "Mission Trip Packing List" is available as a PDF download. This list provides a comprehensive checklist of items youth workers should bring on a mission trip. It is categorized into four sections: Clothing, Bedding, Personal Care, and Miscellaneous.
Mission Trip Packing List Categories:
- Clothing: Includes items such as jeans, shorts, t-shirts, underwear, socks, pajamas, a bathing suit, a light sweatshirt, a rain jacket, church clothes, sandals, shoes, shower shoes, and a hat.
- Bedding: Includes a sleeping bag, sleeping pad or air mattress, and a small pillow.
- Personal Care: Includes a towel, water bottles, a thermos, work gloves, glasses or contact solution, sunglasses, toiletries, lotion, feminine products, sunscreen, bug spray, baby wipes, chapstick, and ibuprofen.
- Miscellaneous: Includes a Bible, pens, a first aid kit, a small notepad, a journal, a cell phone charger, headphones, an auxiliary cord, duct tape, a multi-tool, plastic shopping bags, and dryer sheets.
The source notes that LeaderTreks provides additional free resources beyond the packing list for those beginning the trip planning process.
Mission Trip Program Options
While the primary focus of the source material is on free planning resources, Source [5] outlines specific mission trip programs offered by LeaderTreks for the year 2026. These programs are categorized by focus and level of challenge, with specific sites listed for each.
Urban Adventure
- Focus: Serving alongside urban ministries and participating in the "Mission Race," a competitive learning experience.
- Age Group: Junior High, High School, Combined.
- Sites: Austin, TX; Chicago, IL; Denver, CO; Kansas City, MO; Memphis, TN; Milwaukee, WI.
Mission Ready
- Focus: Learning to lead while embracing a community. Leadership of the team house and worksite is gradually handed off to students. Students also plan and lead a 3-day VBS.
- Age Group: Junior High, High School, Combined.
- Sites: Dayton, OH; Georgetown, SC; Kentucky; Knoxville, TN; Pawleys Island, SC; San Marcos, TX; Costa Rica.
Intense Impact
- Focus: A completely student-led trip, pushing students out of their comfort zones to prepare them for real ministry and life.
- Age Group: High School.
- Sites: Georgetown, SC; Knoxville, TN; Pawleys Island, SC; San Marcos, TX; Costa Rica.
Accessing Resources and Privacy Considerations
The source material indicates that accessing free downloads, such as the training lesson or the packing list, requires users to "part with some personal information and sign up for their email list." This is a standard requirement for accessing gated content on the LeaderTreks website. The sources do not specify exactly what personal information is required beyond an email address, nor do they detail the privacy policy regarding how that information is used. Users interested in these free resources should be aware that providing contact information is a prerequisite for access.
Conclusion
The provided sources detail a collection of free resources offered by LeaderTreks to support youth ministry leaders. These include a specific youth ministry training lesson, a comprehensive mission trip planning guide, and a detailed packing list for mission trips. While the organization also offers structured mission trip programs for 2026, the free resources are focused on preparation and training. Access to these digital materials requires users to sign up for the LeaderTreks email list, involving the submission of personal contact information.