Trips – Chicago Site Information
You are about to embark on a journey with your students. A journey that will challenge, grow, and equip them to be a stronger follower of Christ. As you prepare to go use this info about your site to equip your team and learn more about your site.
We would love to put every detail of your trip down, however the size of our website would be much too large; therefore, you will have questions. Call us and we can answer any and all questions you have.
Chicago, IL
Urban Adventure Serve | Leadership & Community Impact
Step out in faith, serve the city, and grow as a Christ-centered leader in Chicago.
Trip Type:
Urban Adventure Serve
(urban ministry + leadership development)
Age Group:
Middle School, High School, Combined
Why Here?
Serve Christ, grow in faith, and lead with purpose across Chicagoland’s communities.
Chicago is a city of neighborhoods, culture, and deep need. Your team will partner with ministries serving families, youth, the homeless, and more in the suburbs and city of Chicago. Students will learn how the church serves its city by stepping into hands-on, relational ministry.
This trip combines hands-on community impact with intentional leadership development, including the signature Chicago Mission Race—a high-energy city challenge that pushes students to communicate, solve problems, and lead under pressure.
Facts About Chicago
- Population: 2.7 million
- Demographics: 32.1% White; 29.7% Hispanic/Latino; 27.9% African American; 7.3% Asian; 3% Other
- Poverty: 17%
- Famous for: the birthplace of the skyscraper
What Students Will Experience
- Serve life-on-life with local ministry partners across Chicago and its suburbs.
- Connect with diverse community members and neighborhood settings.
- Participate in structured leadership training integrated with the mission experience.
- Reflect daily through guided discussions, devotionals, and team debriefs.
- Return with practical leadership tools and a renewed sense of service and purpose.
Ministry Partners
Each week’s schedule varies, but teams may serve with:
- a global food distribution ministry – Packaging food to be delivered overseas
- a local homeless and recovery ministry – Working in several areas from a thrift store to car detailing to landscaping and more
- a kids ministry – Engaging with children through programs, games, and activities
- and more!
The Chicago Mission Race
A city-wide challenge that turns downtown Chicago into a leadership lab. Teams navigate checkpoints, complete service-based tasks, solve problems under time pressure, and collaborate to earn the most points.
Students will grow in:
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Risk-taking
- Leadership under pressure
- Real-world decision-making
- Evangelism
This is leadership in action—students don’t just learn it, they live it. The Mission Race is more than just a scavenger hunt. We want students to step up in leadership, but also step out of their comfort zone and into the growth zone. They will earn points for finding landmarks, but they will also earn points for having gospel conversations and praying with people they meet. We provide a “7 Questions” template for them to use, and walk them through it at the start of the day. They can use that as a script, or as a jumping off point. But this is really the heart of the Mission Race—meeting people where they are and offering them the hope of Christ in the form of prayer.
Typical Weekly Schedule
Day 1 – Sunday:
Arrive at site (4–6pm), settle in, dinner provided
Day 2 – Monday:
Day 3 – Tuesday:
Day 4 – Wednesday:
Mission Race
Day 5 – Thursday:
Serve with local community ministry
Day 6 – Friday:
Team house clean up and pack in the morning. Team Adventure in the afternoon (beach, zoo, kayaking, city experience, Chicago pizza etc.) *Adventure cost + dinner out not included in trip price
Day 7 – Saturday:
Typical Daily Schedule
(Exact times and activities may vary)
7:00 AM
Breakfast & Devotions
8:00 AM
Depart for Ministry Site
9:00 AM
Morning Service Project
12:00 PM
Lunch (on-site or packed)
1:00 PM
Afternoon Project or Outreach
4:30 PM
Return / Showers / Free time
6:00 PM
Dinner
7:00 PM
Team Debrief + Leadership Lesson
8:30 pm
Worship / Small Groups / Staff Teaching
10:30 pm
Lights Out
Lodging & Facilities
Teams stay at a local host church in the suburb of Plainfield:
- Group sleeping areas
- Fellowship space & kitchen
- Areas for worship and debriefs
- On-site parking for vans & buses
Included in Every Trip
- Housing and 16 meals
- All project supplies and tools
- Student devotional journals
- On-trip certified LeaderTreks staff
- Pre-trip Leader Training
- Post-trip follow-up resources
Trip Highlights
- Hands-on urban service where students engage meaningfully in ministry.
- Leadership development built into every day — not just an add-on.
- Strong local partnerships with established ministries, ensuring impact and relational connection.
- Team time, worship, and reflection built into the rhythm of the week.
- Return home with both memories and tools for ongoing leadership and service.
- Mission Race team challenge
- Pre- and post-trip training included
- Team Adventure Experience built into your week
Logistics
Weather:
Mild- to warm- weather. Average temperature during the day typically in the 80s in the summer.
Team House:
Located in the suburb of Plainfield
Airport:
O’Hare International (ORD) or Midway International (MDW)
Van Rental:
Most major car rental carriers
First Aid:
Please bring your own team first aid kit
