Appalachia meetings are an essential part of what makes our trip unique! While we know (we really do!) that they can feel repetitive if you've been on the trip before, engaging as a group with the whole planning process ensures that we are fully prepared to maximize the impact of the trip for the Booneville community - and ourselves.
In 2026, we will be asking participants who miss an Appalachia planning meeting to take about 10 to 15 minutes in the week following the meeting to catch up on some key content. This will help ensure we are all on the same page!
INSTRUCTIONS
Review the Weekly Snapshot: Open the section for the meeting you missed. Review the content and any links shared. Each Snapshot will be added the day of the meeting.
Complete the Google Form: When you have finished reviewing the content, please complete a quick Google Form to let us know you are up to date! If you have any questions, you can reach out to Katharine or Erin.
NOTE: By completing the Meeting Matters process, you're automatically entered into the Photo Challenge for the week!
WEEKLY SNAPSHOTS
(Each Week's Snapshot Will Be Added the Day of the Meeting)
At our first meeting, we laid the groundwork for everything to come. In addition to discussing some logistics, our primary focus was on learning about our destination of Booneville, Kentucky.
KEY LOGISTICS WE COVERED
Trip Dates: 6/18/2026 - 6/28/2026
Meeting Roles: Each week, we’ll ask for a volunteer to sign up for one of three jobs for the next meeting:
Facilitator: Run the meeting agenda and start or lead our discussions on key topics (don’t worry - Kat and Erin will work with you!)
Opening Prayer or Reflection: A short prayer, story, song or other reflection to bring us together to start the meeting.
Closing Prayer or Reflection: A short prayer, story, song or other reflection to ground or inspire us as we conclude our meeting.
Commitment Form & Money: Each participant is asked to contribute $150 of their own money to the trip's fundraising efforts. This, along with a short form, will be due April 30th at the Week #3 meeting.
Parent/Guardian Meeting: A mandatory meeting for one parent/guardian of new trip participants under the age of 18, who have not had a family member go previously. It will take place on April 30th, parallel to our Week #3 meeting. Click the link for more info!
ABOUT BOONEVILLE
For 43 years, our Appalachia group has traveled to Booneville, Kentucky. To learn more about Booneville, please go to the About Booneville page on the Appalachia website and:
Look at the Quick Stats
Watch the short video clip titled, “Sean Grimm: A Football Star in Appalachia”
COMPLETE THE GOOGLE FORM
Click to complete the form and answer two short questions!
This week, our main topic is volunteerism - the sharing of ourselves and our talents with the group! Volunteerism is an essential part of the fabric of Appalachia, because each person’s contributions are what make each year unique. Your generosity and leadership are also essential to us completing all of our logistical tasks.
KEY LOGISTICS COVERED THIS WEEK
Parent/Guardian Meeting: A mandatory meeting for one parent/guardian of new trip participants under the age of 18, who have not had a family member go previously. It will take place on April 30th, parallel to our Week #3 meeting.
Commitment Form & Money: Each participant is asked to contribute $150 of their own money to the trip's fundraising efforts. This, along with a short form, will be due April 30th at Meeting #3. If you have any concerns about being able to contribute $150, please talk to Katharine, Erin, or Jenny - no one is excluded for financial reasons, and everything you share with us will be kept confidential.
Taco & Trivia Night: If you can participate, sign up here!
VIRTUS: Safe Environment/Protection of Youth training - needs to be completed by anyone age 18+ who hasn’t been trained previously. Details to come by email!
VOLUNTEERISM
As we shared above, volunteerism is one of the key tenets of the Appalachia Trip. There are quite a few definitions of volunteerism, but they all share the same core concepts:
Giving time and energy
Giving that time and energy:
Intentionally and freely
Formally (through an organization/organized effort) or informally
Without expectation of getting something–including payment–in return
In service of giving back or contributing to the greater good
What does this actually mean in real life–specifically in the context of Appalachia?
Volunteerism, in so many ways, showcases the best of who we are as individuals and as a group. What makes the Appalachia trip so special each year is the way YOU bring your talents, ideas, and ways of moving through the world to each of our tasks–from construction and card games to chores and meetings.
Participating in Appalachia is, in and of itself, volunteerism. But within the trip, volunteerism can look like:
Signing up to facilitate or do an opening or closing prayer/reflection
Proactively paying attention to what needs doing–and then doing it, with or without being asked (as simple as organizing a messy pile of tools on the worksite, switching to a committee that doesn’t have enough people, changing out the paper towels in the Appalachia kitchen…)
Speaking up in meetings to ask questions or share about your past experience
Taking on a leadership role in a committee or on the worksite
Contributing something extra to a fundraiser
Being open to/taking a chance on something new
And much more!
Volunteering sometimes means stepping out of our comfort zones. This may feel scary at first - and that makes sense! But we encourage you to be open to taking a chance! Anyone who has gone on the Appalachia trip before will tell you that the more you take on within the trip, the more rewarding the experience. In fact, most volunteers will tell you that even though the definition of volunteerism talks about giving without the expectation of receiving, we get more than we give by sharing of ourselves.
The "Temperament Test” is a unique way to learn a bit more about ourselves and our natural comfort zones. Appalachia and volunteerism aren’t about making ourselves something we’re not or doing something before we’re ready–they’re about having a place to be ourselves AND learn (sometimes by stepping out of our comfort zones!) while surrounded by support, community and love. No matter what you can or cannot take on, you’re a valued member of our group!
Take the Temperament Test! (It’s short and sweet.)
COMPLETE THE GOOGLE FORM
Click to complete the form and answer a few short questions to complete Meeting Matters - Week #2.
This week, we tackled a major Appalachia principle–simplicity–and formed our planning committees. Both are essential threads we will carry with us through the rest of our planning and the trip itself!
KEY LOGISTICS
Committees
At every remaining meeting, we will break out into committees. Each committee handles an essential part of the Appalachia planning process. At the next meeting, you can choose which committee to join–Food, Tools, Supplies/Residence, Fundraising/Vehicles, T-shirts or Liturgy.
BetterWorld Platform For Individual Fundraising: Link Coming Week of May 4th
Each participant is asked to raise at least $250 from family, friends, neighbors, coworkers or others in the community who may be open to supporting Appalachia. You can collect this money as cash or checks, or you can share the link to your individual fundraising page on BetterWorld (it’s similar to GoFundMe).
Commitment Form & Money
Each participant is asked to hand in a Commitment Form and contribute $150 of their own money to the trip's fundraising efforts. Both were due this week. If you weren’t at the meeting, you can bring these to Taco & Trivia Night or the next meeting. If you have any concerns about being able to contribute $150, please talk to Katharine, Erin, or Jenny - no one is excluded for financial reasons, and everything you share with us will be kept confidential.
Vehicles
We still need seats! Please continue to ask family, friends or others who might be willing to loan us their 6-8 passenger vehicle, truck or cargo van. If anyone has questions about how we care for vehicles, insurance, drivers, etc., please have them contact Kat!
SIMPLICITY
A key element of the Appalachia philosophy is that we are working with families–not for families–and that we are sharing resources, not telling others what we think their homes need. Through this approach, we are reminded of the power of humility–or being open to being taught by the experience and wisdom of others instead of being driven by our own pride or pre-conceived notions.
Appalachia helps create the space for that openness and learning through a focus on simplicity. Nothing about the trip is fancy–we pack with us only what we need, stay in simple lodgings, and take cold showers! This can be challenging at first, but it allows us to focus more on what is most essential and precious to us. Through the trip, we also have a chance to step away from the “noise” of daily life that comes from school, our jobs, and social media. While these things have value, too, Appalachia is a rare opportunity to go “back to basics.”
We all know who and what are most important to us. At the meeting, we took a moment in our Committees to pause and reflect on what really gets us through the day. You can do the same by thinking about what things in your life you’d put into each of these four categories. When you’re packing for Kentucky–or even popping into a gas station to buys snacks and drinks while we’re traveling–keep your answers in mind!
My Essentials
My “Nice-to-Haves”
My Luxuries
My “Can’t Wait to Take a Break From”
COMPLETE THE GOOGLE FORM
Click to complete the form and answer a few short questions to complete Meeting Matters - Week #3.
This week, we took a breath after a busy week 3 (thank you so much to everyone who helped out with Taco & Trivia Night!). Our focus was on allowing each committee time to meet and prepare for next steps.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Food Signups
Next week, we will each sign up for the two meals we make and freeze ahead of the trip. To get ready for the May 14th meeting, please:
(1) Review the Food section on the Participant Resources page of the website (you'll need it for the Google Form!)
(2) Look over the meals list
(3) Come prepared knowing which meals you’d like to sign up to make (pick out your top 3!)
Mini-Retreat: Come at 6 PM on June 4th!
Each year, we host a “mini-retreat” to get to know one another a bit better and introduce some key elements of the trip. This year, it will take place on Thursday, June 4th. Please arrive at 6 PM for the mini-retreat, which will be followed by the regular meeting at 7 PM.
Fundraising Money
In addition to our Commitment Money, each participant is asked to raise $250 from friends, family, co-workers and community. Fundraising Money will be due June 4th. Fundraising Money can be collected as checks (made out to St. George), cash (bring in an envelope with your name) or online through BetterWorld.
Each participant has their own personal page within our BetterWorld campaign. Please check your email to claim your profile and get your personalized link. Any donations made online on your page will be counted towards your $250.
Car Wash
Save the date for the Car Wash - Saturday, June 6th at 8 AM! If you haven’t yet attended a group fundraiser, please plan to be there! If you haven’t been to a fundraiser (Bosco Benefit, Taco & Trivia Night) and can’t make the Car Wash, please let Kat or Erin know.
COMPLETE THE GOOGLE FORM
Click to fill out the form and answer a few short questions to complete Meeting Matters - Week #4.
We’ve officially switched gears from broader learning about the trip to logistics and signups! Our committees are in full swing, and this week we signed up for the two meals we will make and freeze for trip dinners.
OUR ASKS OF YOU THIS WEEK!
Review Appalachia Food 101! We work hard during the week - and we’re hungry at the end of the day! We also travel to a very rural area with no major grocery stores, so we need to bring most of our provisions with us. Please review the Food section of the Participant Resources page to get a sense of how we handle breakfast, lunch, dinner - and of course snacks!
Start Working on Forms! All Appalachia participants are required to fill out some basic forms. These help us gather the information we need to ensure your safety during the trip. You can pick up hard copies at the meeting on May 21st or download them from the website. Forms are due back May 28th. Please make sure you follow all instructions and bring two copies of the medical form.
Save the Key Dates! Meals must be in the freezer by Sunday, May 31st. The Mini-Retreat is Thursday, June 4th at 6 PM (fundraising money is also due that day!) and the Car Wash is Saturday, June 6th at 8 AM.
COMPLETE THE GOOGLE FORM
Click to complete the form and answer a few short questions to complete Meeting Matters - Week #5.
Without our basic tools - hammers, circular saws, levels, and so much more - we can’t accomplish the projects that bring us to Kentucky in the first place! All of our tools are sourced from within the group, thanks to the generosity of our participants and their families. This week, we began sign ups for those tools. We also talked through, in detail, the Behavior Policy. This document helps us maintain the spirit of the trip and ensures we are all safe and healthy - in body, mind and spirit.
OUR ASKS OF YOU THIS WEEK!
Review the Behavior Policy: It is incredibly special that, in 2026, we still get to do a trip like Appalachia. Our Behavior Policy helps us establish how we’d like to engage with each other and the rules we all agree to in order to ensure we can carry the trip forward for years to come.
In addition to reading through the policy together, we talked about what it can look like if a situation that “violates” the BPo (as we affectionately call it) comes up. The trip adults are always here for you - you can let us know anytime if you hear or see something within the group, or even with a family in Kentucky, that makes you uncomfortable or doesn’t seem quite right. We will always protect you, and we will always gather more information before making any decisions - it’s best to let us know what’s going on so we can work together to find a resolution.
The Behavior Policy is included in your Forms packet. Please review it carefully before signing and returning it next week. If you are under age 18, a parent/guardian will also need to sign it. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Review the Tools List! Shortly, our Sign Up Lists spreadsheet will be updated with the tools volunteered this week. Please review the list and see if you can help fill any of the gaps and come prepared to the next meeting ready to sign up! Remember that each person is also asked to bring a few personal tools - a hammer, tape measure, tool belt, utility knife and safety goggles. We’ll discuss procedures for this at the next meeting.
Note the Upcoming Deadlines!
Forms: Your Forms (can be downloaded from the website if you didn’t get hard copies at a meeting) are due at the next meeting on May 28th. Please bring them back fully completed and signed (including by your parents if you’re under 18).
Food in Freezers: The two meals you signed up to make must be in the freezer by Sunday, May 31st. Remember to check the instructions on our website!
Fundraising: Your $250 in Fundraising money is due at the June 4th meeting. You can collect donations as cash, checks or through BetterWorld. Please reach out if you’re running into any challenges - we're here to help.
COMPLETE THE GOOGLE FORM
Click to complete the form and answer a few short questions to complete Meeting Matters - Week #6.
Just three weeks until we head out for Kentucky! Tonight, we reviewed two crucial resources - our packing list and our cell phone policy. We also signed up for the additional supplies we will need to make the Rec Center and the garage home for the week!
Essential Step-of-the-Week #1: Review the Packing List
We have developed this using our 40+ years of Appalachia experience. Please follow it closely. The items highlighted in yellow are especially important, and if you use this list as your guide, you should have exactly what you need for the week.
Essential Step-of-the-Week #2: Cell Phone Policy
The Appalachia cell phone policy is not just a policy - it’s an honored tradition and a part of what makes our trip so special. Please review the policy and bring a signed copy to the next meeting (we’ll have extra hard copies, if you need one). If you are age 18 or under, your parent/guardian will need to sign it, as well.
VIEW & DOWNLOAD THE CELL PHONE POLICY
Essential Step-of-the-Week #3: Check Due Dates & Deadlines
ALL MEALS SHOULD BE IN THE FREEZER AS OF LAST SUNDAY, MAY 31st! If you haven’t been able to make your meals yet, please still do so and get them in the freezer as soon as possible. Let us know if you need extra freezer space - we have it available!
FORMS & FUNDRAISING MONEY: If you haven’t yet turned in your Forms, please bring them next week (June 4th). On June 4th, our Fundraising Money is due, too - please bring any checks (made out to St. George) and cash (in an envelope with your name). We can continue to accept donations after Thursday, but bringing what you have next week helps our budgeting process immensely. Any donations made on your page on BetterWorld will be automatically counted towards your $250.
CAR WASH: If you haven’t been to a Fundraiser yet (or just want to come to another one!), join us on Saturday, June 6th at 8 AM at St. George. We will stay until about 12:30 PM or until we wash 100 cars - whichever comes first!
VIRTUS: If you received the email from Kat about completing VIRTUS training, please be sure to fulfill all requirements (including filling out the background check form at a meeting) by this Sunday, June 7th.
COMPLETE THE GOOGLE FORM
Click to complete the form and answer a few short questions to complete Meeting Matters - Week #7.
We are T-14 days from the trip! Over the next two weeks, we will be busy finalizing our arrangements, bringing in the items we signed up for, and packing our personal belongings.
The key highlights of the week are:
Mini-Retreat: We hosted our annual Mini-Retreat to start to get to know one another better, reveal this year’s trip theme (Faith. Presence. Service.), and get our Prayer Partners! If you weren’t able to attend, don’t worry - you’ll get a Prayer Partner the day we leave!
Schedule for Last Two Weeks: A lot happens between now and the trip. Please use this document as a guide - it contains a checklist of everything you need to bring on the trip, as well as a schedule for now until June 18th.
Start Bringing Items Next Week: You can begin bringing non-perishable food items, tools, and supplies next Thursday, as we have storage space at St. George. All tools must be at St. George by Wednesday, 6/17 (see schedule document for details). Please do NOT bring frozen meals, perishable foods, or your luggage/personal items until the day we leave.
Email Chain: Next week, Kat will send an email to all parents/guardians with contact information, details of where we stay, and a few other items. Please let your parents/guardians know to be on the lookout for this email. If any contact information has changed since the beginning of the meetings, please send that to Kat ASAP.
Car Wash This Saturday: If you haven’t been to a Fundraiser yet (or just want to come to another one!), join us this Saturday, June 6th at 8 AM at St. George. We will stay until about 12:30 PM or until we wash 100 cars - whichever comes first!
Food / Tool / Supplies / Residence Signups: The items you signed up for matter! Please click here to double check what you committed to bringing. If anything changes and you can no longer bring an item, it’s no problem - just let us know so someone else can grab it!
And as always, you know how to find us if you have any questions!
COMPLETE THE GOOGLE FORM
Click to complete the form and answer a few short questions to complete Meeting Matters - Week #8.
It’s our final meeting - just one week left until we head for Kentucky! 🎉
Final Schedule: Please click here for everything you need to know to finish getting ready! This document contains all schedules, deadlines and links to resources for the last week. You can also visit the Participant Resources page of the website for additional information.
Tools Drop Off: Remember, if you can’t make the packing session on Wednesday, June 17th, all tools must be dropped off at St. George on Monday, June 15th. Please see the Final Schedule for details. All other personal items (frozen/perishable food, luggage, etc.) can come the day we leave.
Food / Tool / Supplies / Residence Signups: The items you signed up for matter! Please click here to double check what you committed to bringing. If anything changes and you can no longer bring an item, it’s no problem - just let us know so someone else can grab it!
There are no silly questions! If you have the question, we’ve definitely answered it before. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.
COMPLETE THE GOOGLE FORM
Click to complete the form and answer a few short questions to complete Meeting Matters - Week #9.