 |
ABOUT INTERNSHIPS
& VOLUNTEERS |
 |
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN INTERNSHIP AND A VOLUNTEER? Generally speaking, the major difference between an Intern and a Volunteer is the commitment level to GTD. An internship is more like a job while Volunteering is more like a hobby. Interns have a higher level of responsibilities, requirements, and accountability and have to put in a certain amount of hours in specific job descriptions. Volunteers help out where they can & when they can. Because of this Interns typically receive larger GTD discounts as well as some extra opportunities, training, and benefits than Volunteers.
HOW DOES GTD VIEW AN INTERNSHIP / VOLUNTEER? We view internships & volunteers as divine discipleship relationships in which God is using the GTD Staff as disciplers of the intern(s) / volunteer(s). And God is using the intern / volunteer to sharpen and encourage (as well as teach) the GTD Staff. One of our main roles is to be a hammer in the hand of God as He pushes an intern / volunteer out of their comfort zone and begins to chisel away the things that may be preventing them from living out their God-breathed potential.
WHAT DO INTERNS & VOLUNTEERS DO? As mentioned on the Internship & Volunteers Welcome link, Interns represent the values & mission of GTD while assisting in the work of planning, preparing and providing the actual events for our participants. Within every GTD event are numerous to-do's and work projects that have to be accomplished as we work together as a team to provide a God-awesome experience. Tasks may be as simple as washing dishes, unpacking & repacking gear or as complex as setting up rock climbing routes & leading group devotions. When possible we try to match up an intern's or volunteer's giftedness with actual tasks that match their talents, passions, interest, temperament & spiritual gift. But there are also countless unglamorous "mundane" jobs that we all have to do as well.
IF AN INTERN OR VOLUNTEER IS WORKING FOR GTD THEN WHY DO THEY HAVE TO PAY TO GO ON EVENTS? We would love to cover every intern's and volunteer's event expenses as a way of saying thank you for their hard work and partnership, but many times that's not possible. So what we usually do is reduce the rate as much as possible to help cover their costs while on the event. Usually it's a 50-75% discount off what the participant is required to pay. To help recoup that discount we put together fundraisers that interns assist with.
DOES GTD HELP INTERNS & VOLUNTEERS RAISE MONEY FOR THEIR EVENT FEES? Yes we do. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization we can set up fundraisers and receive donations on behalf of an intern. One of the most effective ways to raise funds to help cover an intern's expenses is to mail out Support Letters. We also put together an annual Costa Rica Banquet right before summer that interns & volunteers can use to help raise money. And we are working on providing GTD office work projects that can be done in exchange for credit towards an intern's balance. In addition, GTD interns & volunteers should take intiative to work together to put together there own fundraisers such as rummage sales, car washes, etc. A few years ago a group of interns put together their own rummage sale and raised over $1000 in 1 afternoon. We will list all fundraising opportunities on the Internship & Volunteer - Fundraising link.
HOW SHOULD INTERNS & VOLUNTEERS GET TRANSPORTATION TO/FROM ADVENTURE TRIPS? We have a few options for transportation to/from Adventure Trips: (1) Drive your own vehicle; (2) Carpool with other interns; (3) Check with GTD for the availability of riding up & back with one of the participant groups (local churches usually have a few seats open in their van or on their bus); (4) Fly Allegiant Air to an airport near the campsite (If we are at the GA camp then fly into Greenville/Spartanburg SC airport. If we are at the TN camp then fly into either the Knoxville or Chattanooga airports. Flights are usually around $20-40 each way plus taxes. Make sure you coordinate this with GTD before you purchase your tickets).
ARE THERE ANY BENEFITS FOR BEING AN INTERN OR VOLUNTEER?: Obviously, there are internal, external & eternal benefits that God blesses us with whenever we follow Him in ministry. Read the book of Revelation to get a glimpse at those. You also get to be a crucial part of an organization as God uses you to help shape & mold it into something even better... in other words, you get to contribute to the growth and development of a ministry that will continue to impact souls for years to come. Don't underestimate the internal joy that comes with being a part of something God-size. In additon, you will grow as a leader, learn more about God's Word & His principles, begin overcoming certain fears & limitations, gain critical decision-making & life experience that will aid you the rest of your life, learn specific skills (such as camping, rock climbing, rappelling, leading devos, etc), and gain access to some of GTD's equipment for continued growth & development of those skills. It is also our goal to give interns & volunteers discounts on events that they may want to come on as a pure participant. Plus we are now able to give returning interns a discount off their next year's internship.
 |
