Excursions and Service Projects
If you have already registered for CHIC 2015, you should have received an email from UT that includes instructions for registering your group for excursions online and your links for excursion and afternoon activity registration are now live in your personal Group Registration Portal. If you register your group after March 20, your confirmation email will contain instructions for excursion registration and your excursion links will be live in your Group Registration Portal within an hour of submitting your initial group registration.
You may pre-register for up to 2 excursions (not counting pre-CHIC excursions) and 1 service option. Excursion registration will close on June 15. Any remaining excursion and service option tickets will be available for sale at CHIC during the Welcome Party on your arrival day. Cancellations and refunds are not permitted for excursions or service options, but substitutions are always welcome. If you have questions regarding your excursion registration process or your online links do not appear to be working correctly, please call UT at 865-974-0280.
Purpose of Excursions
CHIC Excursions offer students fun and adventurous activities that support the mission, vision, and ministry of CHIC 2015. By facilitating activities that may be outside of students’ normal routines back home, our hope is that the memories that they make on excursions will be woven into the tapestry of the once-in-a-lifetime event that is CHIC.
Excursions provide great options for groups, both large and small. They are a fun way for students to experience the beauty of Tennessee while enjoying time with both their group and new people they will meet. We believe that Excursions are an exciting piece of CHIC that will amplify each participant’s overall CHIC experience.
Excursions
[creativ_columns structure=”50|50″][creativ_col position=”a”]White Water Rafting ($75 on Sunday, $65 during the week)Sunday – Thursday
Brave the rapids on the Pigeon River, located in the heart of the Smoky Mountains. This is a great trip for everyone, and no experience is necessary.
Tuckaleechee Cave Tour ($40)
Sunday – Thursday
Journey underground in a mile long informative and historical tour. The cavern is big enough to lay down a football field inside, and you can also see large, underground waterfalls.
Outdoor Paintball ($50)
Sunday – Thursday
Have fun battling for control in this wooded, outdoor paintball field. Prices include equipment rental and 200 paintballs. Extra paintballs are available for purchase at the field.
Horseback Riding/Cave Tour Combo ($65)
Monday – Thursday
Take a ride in the beautiful, rolling hills of the Tennessee countryside (no experience necessary), and then take a tour of the Tucckaleechee Caves[/creativ_col]
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Alpine Tower Challenge Course ($55)
Monday – Thursday
Think of the 55-foot Alpine Tower as an adult jungle gym that challenges you physically and mentally and provides some of the “uh-oh” moment to build teamwork, problem solving, and leadership. A great chance to feel a sense of accomplishment and triumph and to have some fun!
The Lost Sea Underground Lake ($40)
Monday – Thursday
New for CHIC 2015! Explore America’s largest underground lake as you walk through the immense caverns and enjoy a glass-bottom boat tour on the Lost Sea.
Hiking in the Smoky Mountains ($40)
Monday – Thursday
Take a hike that features historic civil war sites, such as Court House Rock, 200-year-old homesteads, and Court House Falls and Cave, which are not on typical maps. The hike lasts 1.5 to 2 hours.
Shopping at the Mall ($15)
Monday – Thursday
With over 140 specialty shops and 4 major department stores, you’ll have plenty of places to hang out with friend or pick our a souvenir. [/creativ_col][/creativ_columns]
Service Projects
[creativ_columns structure=”50|50″][creativ_col position=”a”]Salvation Army ($5)Monday – Thursday
Volunteers will handle clothing and furniture intake at their warehouse, which feeds not only to their stores but provides for emergency assistance to those they serve. Work will involve sorting, hanging, and tagging product, as well as some lifting and moving. The warehouse may get hot so dress appropriately; closed-toe shoes are highly recommended. Application and release form must be completed by all volunteers.
Beardsley Farm ($5)
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday (sold out)
Volunteers will help with various physical tasks around the farm – primarily weeding – but also possibly harvesting, irrigating, turning compost, litter pickup, and mulching. Please wear closed-toe shoes and comfortable clothing for the hot weather – hats and water bottles are recommended. Volunteers will need to complete a liability form.
Bridge Refugee Services ($5)
Thursday only – (sold out)
Volunteers will assist refugee families with tasks such as moving furniture and organizing new apartments.[/creativ_col]
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CAC Office on Aging ($5)
Tuesday, & Thursday (Monday & Wednesday- sold out)
Volunteers will help senior citizens with indoor and outdoor projects around their homes, possibly from raking and painting to moving furniture, as well as possibly assisting with cleaning and packing equipment for mobile meals.
Head Start – Claxton West ($5)
Monday only (sold out)
Claxton West volunteers will serve on various work projects, primarily indoors. Volunteers will receive an orientation to Head Start.
Head Start – L.T. Ross ($5)
Tuesday only – (sold out)
L.T. Ross volunteers will serve on various work projects. Volunteers will receive an orientation to Head Start. More details to come.
Head Start – Anderson South ($5)
Wednesday only
Anderson South volunteers will serve on various work projects, likely outdoors, such as landscaping and yard work, trimming shrubs, picking up trash, painting playground equipment, weeding. Volunteers will receive an orientation to Head Start.[/creativ_col]
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Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM)
Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM) provides daily for those most vulnerable and desperate among us, supplying rescue services of food and shelter, and healthy, supportive relationships. The ultimate goal is restoration to God, self, family and community. ALL KARM service opportunities require completion of a liability form.
[creativ_columns structure=”50|50″][creativ_col position=”a”]KARM courtyard entertainment ($5)Monday – Thursday
In KARM’s new outdoor courtyard and stage area, students can entertain KARM’s guests from 2-4 pm, providing snacks and music or performances (i.e., talent show). Students must bring their own musical equipment (sound system provided by KARM) and ready-to-eat food (like fruit, crackers, cookies, and bottled drinks) for about 100 people. A handful of students are welcome to come and pray over the empty beds of guests who stay KARM’s shelter.
KARM thrift store assistance ($5)
Monday – Thursday
Volunteers will get an orientation on KARM’s unique thrift stores, and will either assist in several of the retail stores (in groups of 12) with customer service, arranging displays, and replenishing stock, or on the processing side, by receiving, sorting, and processing merchandise.
Make KARM Shine ($5)
Monday and Wednesday only
Volunteers will help beautify and maintain KARM’s facilities through painting, building, cleaning, and housekeeping projects. Lunch will be provided on the bus on the way to KARM.[/creativ_col]
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Nightly worship service at KARM ($5)
Monday only (Wednesday – sold out)
We’re looking for experienced musical worship leaders and preachers to lead KARM’s nightly worship service from 6-7 pm. Volunteers will visit the KARM facilities and practice, and then provide musical worship (sound system provided, but not instruments) and a positive gospel message for KARM’s guests. (If a choir is interested, we can accommodate up to 20 volunteers total.) Dinner will be provided for volunteers. *After serving, volunteers will be dropped off directly at arena for Mainstage.
Dinner service at KARM ($5)
Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday – (sold out)
Volunteers will help KARM staff serve dinner to approximately 300 guests. A few students may be able to help serve in the kitchen; the remaining will spend their time visiting with guests, refilling drinks and assisting guests as needed, focusing on providing guests with a positive experience and conversation; dinner for volunteers will be provided at KARM after they have served KARM guests. *After serving, volunteers will be dropped off directly at arena for Mainstage.
KARM Red Carpet dinner event ($5)
Thursday only (sold out)
On the last night of CHIC, we want to provide a special meal for the guests of KARM. 10-15 volunteers will help KARM staff prepare the dinner; the remaining students will help decorate, serve, and focus on conversing and lingering with guests. Volunteers will eat dinner with KARM guests. *After serving, volunteers will be dropped off directly at arena for Mainstage.[/creativ_col]
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