Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Summer Training Project?
Summer Training Project (STP) is living, playing, working, and learning with other college students for eight weeks in Myrtle Beach, SC. Each student has the opportunity to work a full-time job during the day and participates in evangelistic outreaches, Bible studies, discipleship groups, ministry training, and other activities throughout the week. This challenging schedule creates an environment for students to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ as well as develop ministry skills and leadership qualities.
Q: Will I be able to visit my student?
Yes, parents are always welcome to visit their students, assuming it does not interfere with the goals of the project. There is also a special weekend in June (Friday, June 21 - Sunday, June 23) where families are invited and encouraged to visit, and Project hosts a program catered to parents so that they can get a picture of STP. For this weekend, students are not required to work (they must request time off from their employer) and additional free time is set aside so that families can spend the maximum amount of time with their student. We will have breakfast and a Q&A time with Campus Outreach staff on Saturday, June 22 from 10:30-11:30am. More details will be given to students to relay to parents. The rest of the weekend is free to spend how you choose with your son or daughter. On Sunday morning you will have the opportunity to go to church with your son or daughter. Contact our Project Director, Derek Franze if you have questions about the weekend.
The following are a few nearby options to stay, both have varying price differences. If you choose to stay in downtown Myrtle Beach, please know that this is about a 30-minute drive from the project. The airport we would suggest you fly into is Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR), it is a 20-minute drive to the project and has rental cars available.
Local Accommodations:
Holiday Inn - 1303-A Tadlock Drive Murrells Inlet, SC 29576 - 1 888 465 4329
Hampton Inn - 512 Courtfield Drive, Murrells Inlet, SC, 29576 - 1 843 651 6687
If you have any other questions please contact our office (minneapolis@campusoutreach.org).
Q: What is Campus Outreach?
Campus Outreach is a ministry targeting college campuses in various locations around the world. Our mission is to “Glorify God by building laborers on the campus for the lost world." Through evangelism and discipleship, we passionately reach students with the gospel and train them to be mature followers of Christ with a commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. Our desire is to see students leave college passionate about Christ and equipped to labor in the harvest fields for the glory of God!
Q: Who attends STP?
Students from Bethel University, University of Northwestern St. Paul, University of St. Thomas, the University of Minnesota, St. Cloud State University, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and others attend STP.
Q: What is the history?
STP has been in the Myrtle Beach area since 1997, and the first summer project sponsored by Campus Outreach was in 1983. Each Campus Outreach region, including Minneapolis and St. Louis, hosts a summer project for students in different cities across the country as well as shorter-term projects internationally.
Q: Will my Student be safe in Myrtle Beach?
The Campus Outreach staff take the safety of your son or daughter seriously. STP has several policies designed to safeguard participants. There is also a curfew each night to ensure students are not out too late: 11pm during the week and 12am on weekends. To maximize fellowship and learning opportunities, as well as for security, no one other than project participants will be permitted in the hotel.
Q: How will my student get down to Myrtle Beach?
Minneapolis students will meet on the morning of June 1st in Minneapolis to travel in one caravan. Students from St. Louis are able to arrive at STP on June 2nd. It is helpful if your student can bring his or her car to STP. Minneapolis students with vehicles will be compensated for fuel costs to and from Myrtle Beach. Your student may also fly to STP if he or she does not live around Minneapolis, and we can arrange for someone to pick them up from the airport. St. Louis region students are required to find their own transportation to and from STP whether that be driving their own car, riding with others, or flying.
Q: Where will my student live in Myrtle beach?
Campus Outreach rents a full hotel that acts as our project grounds each summer. Students will live at the hotel. There are typically 4 students sharing a room. Each room has a bed space for each student to sleep, a shared bathroom, a small kitchen with a microwave, a small stove or burner top, and a refrigerator.
Q: Why does my student work while at STP?
Summer Training Project incorporates a job into its design because of the invaluable learning experience where students learn responsibility and dependability and get exposed to the real world through a job.
Q: Will my student need to find a job before arriving at STP?
We do not require students to have a job before arriving at STP. Jobs will be secured by CO Staff members before students leave for STP. Students will be informed of their specific responsibilities in the application process at our Launch and Prep Parties. We have taken it upon ourselves to find jobs for students participating in STP the past few years and will continue to do so utilizing the employer relationships we have formed.
Q: What is support raising?
Support raising is asking individuals, families, and churches to invest in a student for their summer experience of growing in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Support raising helps offset the expenses of the project. Raising support can be a great way to cover the costs of the project as well as a great way to let others participate in your student’s summer experience of growing in their walk with the Lord. You can find out more about support raising by visiting our support raising resources page.
Q: How much does STP cost?
The cost of STP is $2,500 (plus $250 for transportation for Minneapolis students not bringing their own car). This price includes rent, two meals per week, social events, and other program costs for the project. Wages earned from working can be used to pay for STP, for personal savings, or to help pay for college expenses after the project is over.
Q: How much money will my student earn?
Money a student earns while working during STP can cover the costs of the project and help towards the upcoming school year. Most students will earn at least $14/hr working during the summer. We also strongly recommend that students raise tax-deductible donations that go toward the cost of STP, enabling them to save more for the fall term.
Q: Why is STP a good investment for my student?
Summer Training Project is the most intentional opportunity Campus Outreach provides for students who are interested in growing deeper in their relationship with Jesus Christ. We intentionally train students in how to study the Bible, how to talk about their faith with friends, family, and peers, how to be a leader, and many practical life skills. There is no other time in a student’s life when they get to live, work, and invest in peer relationships like spending eight weeks at Project. Please take a look at the videos below to get a better picture of what Project is like.
Q: Can I hear a testimony from a past participant?
Video testimonies from past STP participants are posted on our Vimeo page.
Check out Nicole’s testimony or this STP recap.
Q: What is the mailing address?
Campus Outreach STP
C/O (Student's Name)
131 North Waccamaw Drive
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
Q: What ways can I help?
Most importantly, you can pray for them.
For a sincere love for Christ (Ephesians 3:14-19, Philippians 1:9-11)
That they would grow as Christ’s disciple and shine as a light in the world (Romans 12:2, 1 John 2:15-16)
That they would grow in Christ’s likeness in love, faith, and good works (John 13:34-35, Romans 4:20-21)
Q: Who can I speak to if I have more questions?
Please email the staff member closest to your student, or contact one at the school they attend.
Minneapolis Staff, St. Louis Staff
If you have an urgent question for our office, call (612-217-2661) or email minneapolis@campusoutreach.org.
We thank you for your commitment to your student. We believe that the Bible is clear that your student is to honor his or her parents, therefore we ask all students to have a discussion over the Summer Training Project with their parents. When a student is accepted to the project, parents will receive a packet of information with further details about the summer.