X-treme Commitment Weekends
XCW: Rock Climbing
"There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.” 
1 Samuel 2:2

Purpose: X-treme Commitment Weekends (XCW) allow Grace University to serve your church family by providing unique, team-building, faith-growing activities for your youth.  XCW also gives your youth the opportunity to get to know Grace through its faculty and students.
Location: Palisades State Park 25495 485th Avenue Garretson, SD  57030-6117 (605) 594-3824 Website: http://www.sdgfp.info/Parks/index.htm Fall 2007 Dates Available (all dates are Saturdays):  September 8, 2007                              September 22, 2007 October 6, 2007 October 13, 2007
Registration Prices: Activity fee:  $450 per date There is a 7-person minimum and a 16-person maximum on each of the above dates.

Registration Deadlines:
Groups must pre-register and submit all fees in advance.  If cancellation is necessary, a 5-day advance notice is requested. Activity fee is fully refundable through the Monday before each date.  No refunds will be given for cancellations after that date.  If, due to unforeseen circumstances, Grace University must cancel the trip, the activity fee will be refunded in full.

How to Register:
Contact the GU Admissions Office to register for the date of your choice.  There is a
7-person minimum and 16-person maximum on each of the above dates.  If your group has less than 7, you may want to consider inviting a sister church or another group to join you on the trip (up to a max of 16 people per date).    

Making Park Reservations:
Once you have registered with the GU Admissions Office you will need to contact the park directly to make your camping reservations if any are necessary.  You may do this by calling the South Dakota State Parks Reservation System at 1-800-710-CAMP.

Grace Provides:

Group Provides:

Camping overnight? What to bring:** Tents for your group Sleeping bags Comfortable shoes Snack food Food for meals (fruit and sandwiches work great!) Sunscreen, insect spray Bathing suit if you wish to swim (there is a lake in the park) Plenty of bottled water (water is also available near the climbing area).

**There is currently a ban on bringing out-of-state firewood into South Dakota state parks.  Firewood is available for purchase at the park.

XCW FAQ’s:

Q =  What if someone from my group wants to attend but does not want to climb?
A = No problem…bring them along!  However, some students or sponsors will arrive and decide to give it a try -- so the full activity fee is still required for your group. 

Q = Who is the instructor?
A = Dr. John Holmes is certified by the American Mountain Guides Association as a single-pitch rock climbing instructor.  He has been climbing for over 20 years and even spent much of his 6 month honeymoon climbing in Wyoming, Oregon and California. As a faculty member, John enjoys leading Grace students on rock climbing and backpacking trips during the school year as well as teaching in the classroom.  John also serves as Dean of the Undergraduate College and is a faculty member at Grace University in Omaha, Nebraska. 

Q = What clothing is appropriate for the trip?
A = Shorts and/or loose fitting pants, sunglasses, t-shirts, long sleeved shirts (it can get cool at night, and this will also help protect against bug bites). There is also a river in the park so feel free to bring your swimsuit.  It’s always wise to bring a windbreaker or rain coat, too. Just remember – modest dress is expected at all times.

Q = Should we camp overnight?
A = In order to take full advantage of the weekend, you’ll need to arrive at Palisades State Park by 9:00 a.m. on Saturday morning.  We encourage you to consider camping for at least Friday night if your drive is longer than 2 hours. 

Q =  Is there going to be a spiritual emphasis during the trip?
A = YES!  Dr. John Holmes is a professor at Grace when he’s not out enjoying nature!  His desire is for your students to experience Christ in some way during this trip.  Dr. Holmes will use the experiences of rock climbing to encourage your students spiritually. 

Q = I know this trip is being sponsored by Grace.  Does that mean there will be some sort of “program” with college information?
A = The goal of these Xtreme Commitment Weekends is two-fold:  to provide an atmosphere of spiritual challenge and community-building for your youth group and to present Grace as an option for a college education.  An admissions representative and a current student will be present so a short testimonial and information time will be a part of the trip – but certainly not the main focus.  All the XCW staff want you and your students to have a great time together!