Gauntlet Parent

Meeting

Thank you for trusting us with your student for a few days.

We know it can be daunting to send them to Daytona Beach, Florida, with a couple thousand people. We want to do more than tell you what is going to happen; we want to show you. This way, you can see where students will be and what they will be doing.

This booklet is your complete guide on how to prepare for Gauntlet. From the morning students leave until the time they get back, we want you to understand what they will experience and help get them ready for the best week of their lives. So listen in. Take notes. Write down any questions you have. And get ready for Gauntlet!

The vision of Fuse is the vision of Gauntlet: We want to connect students to Jesus and each other.

We believe your student’s best self is found in their identity with Jesus. Every week at Fuse, we share the Gospel and show students what Jesus wants for them. But there is nothing like getting students away from everyday distractions — phones, friends, weekly routines, and neighbor-hood influences — to help them hear from Jesus about who they are and who He wants them to be.

Plus, we want them to have a week where they can have fun (and you don’t have to worry about whether it’s the good kind or not).

Let’s walk through the week, day by day and step by step.

BEFORE YOU ARRIVE AT YOUR CAMPUS

Check out the packing list.

• Make sure your student isn’t packing too much. We have provided a packing list in this booklet to help them prepare for the week.

• Take note: Your student will be carrying their own bag off the bus, upstairs, and into the ho-tel. Ladies, especially, make sure you can car-ry your own bag everywhere we go.

Follow us on social media.

• We will update you as much as we can on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat. If you don’t know what any of these are, ask your stu-dents. I promise they know.

Instagram: @newspringfuseTwitter: @newspringfuseSnapchat: newspring_fuse

• Speaking of social media, let’s talk about cell phones.

No cell phones.

We know how intimidating it can be to feel dis-connected from your student. But over the past several years, we have seen so much benefit from removing the distractions that come with texting, social media, etc.

We are taking our Campus Safety team to en-sure that every student is accounted for and safe. Should you have an EMERGENCY, call 1-203-SAFETY1, or 1-203-723-3891.

Welcome toGauntlet!

Why do we Gauntlet?

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How do we Gauntlet?

MONDAY MORNING

The week is about to start. It will be early. There will be a lot going on, but here are a few things to keep in mind as you arrive at your campus.

Don’t forget your lunch!

• Dinner will be provided in Daytona Beach, but buses will stop at a rest area halfway there to give students a break and time to eat lunch. Grab a paper bag and some PB&J and pack a lunch for the ride down. We will provide bot-tled water.

Arrive at your campus on time.

• It may seem simple, but this is key to starting the week well. We are trying to get more than 5,000 students checked in and down to Day-tona Beach on time.

I will need to arrive at my campus at _________________________.

ARRIVAL AND HOTELS

Students will be staying in great hotels with NewSpring staff and Campus Safety teams who are committed to creating the best possible ex-perience for your student.

Holiday Inn Express930 N. Atlantic Ave.Daytona Beach, Florida 32118

Residence Inn3209 S. Atlantic Ave.Daytona Beach Shores, Florida 32118

The Shores Resort and Spa2637 S. Atlantic Ave.Daytona Beach Shores, Florida 32118

Daytona Hilton100 N. Atlantic Ave.Daytona Beach, Florida 32118

The Plaza Resort & Spa600 N. Atlantic Ave.Daytona Beach, Florida 32118

Holiday Inn and Suites930 N. Atlantic Ave.Daytona Beach, Florida 32118

Hampton Inn1024 N. Atlantic Ave.Daytona Beach, Florida 32118

The volunteer to student ratio is 1 to 4. Every room will have one leader and no more than four stu-dents. These are trained volunteers. No leader will be sleeping in a bed with a student, and no one leaves without their room leader knowing about it. Wherever students go, the leader goes, too.

MEALS

We promise to feed your student well! However, there are a few things we would suggest:

Let us know about diet restrictions.

• If your student has a diet restriction, hope-fully, you included that information when you registered them for Gauntlet. We will have a clearly marked food station where students with food restrictions can pick up their meals.

• These meals are only for students with food allergies!

Your student will be responsible for their own breakfast Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday morning.

• Be sure to pack something your student can eat in their hotel room or on the go. Pop-Tarts, protein bars, and oatmeal are all good op-tions.

Snacks are also a good idea!

• There will be plenty of food at mealtimes, but one thing we know about students is they can eat. Sending your student with snacks or cash to buy snacks is a great plan.

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AUDITORIUM

Every day will start and end with a session at the Ocean Center, the conference center we meet in. Every year, we answer the questions your kids are asking about life, relationships, and following Jesus. And every year, we see God do incredible things.

If you are interested in what your student will be hearing, you can tune in live.

www.newspringfuse.com/live

COMMUNITY GROUPS

After each morning session, students will have the opportunity to meet in Community Groups.

Why do we have Community Groups?

• Community Groups help students see we are one church in many locations. We work hard to make sure every group includes students of different ages, genders, and campuses then encourage them to talk through real life situations.

• Community Groups are an opportunity for students to minister to students. (Don’t worry, leaders will be there, too, helping to guide and direct conversations.)

• Community Groups reinforce the importance of not doing life alone.

THE BEACH

The beach is the main event for free time. And I know what many of you are probably thinking, “How are we keeping track of every single student while they are in the ocean?”

Good question. A few things...

• Lifeguards are stationed along the beach like normal. And again, volunteers are trained to

stay with your student at all times. They know if one student wants to go to the beach, ev-eryone is going to the beach.

• We will have medics stationed up and down the beach in case of an emergency.

GAUNTLET SESSION 8

The main event at the beach in years past has been baptism on Thursday morning. But this year, we are doing something new! We will not have baptism in Daytona Beach. Instead, we will keep the Gauntlet going and hold Session 8 at our campuses the following Sunday.

As we were praying about Gauntlet this year, we felt the best way to close the week is at church on Sunday with all of you! We would love to invite you

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to join us for Gauntlet Session 8 on July 30. You can find service times for your campus at www.newspring.cc/locations.

At Fuse, we believe the wave starts in the stu-dent section, and we want you to experience the tidal wave returning from Daytona Beach. So in-vite your extended family, friends, and neighbors to our final Gauntlet session — especially if your student is getting baptized. We cannot wait to celebrate together!

HEADING HOME

On Friday morning, we’ll load the buses and head home. We’ll keep you updated via text message about when to pick up your student. Simply text GAUNTLET PARENT to 30303.

Final Helpful Hints

1. Know the safety policies and procedures.

The safety of your student is our priority. We work to keep students safe in a few different ways:

• Local law enforcement’s canine unit will check all luggage before we leave to make sure any unsafe material is removed before we load the buses.

• Medics and Campus Safety teams will be sta-tioned along the beach, in hotels, and at the Ocean Center.

• Students should come to Gauntlet prepared to self-administer any prescription medica-tions they take. We will address any special circumstances case by case.

• If there is an emergency and you need to reach your student, please call 1-203-SAFE-TY1, or 1-203-723-3891.

*If a situation arises that is questionable, unsafe, or inappropriate, Campus Safety and Fuse staff will determine an appropriate course of action. This could include students being sent home at the student/parent’s expense.

2. Be prepared.

You can do this by helping your student stick to the packing list, following us on social media and signing up for text alerts to stay in the know, and saving the emergency number in your phone. You never know when something will happen and you need to contact us quickly.

3. Be flexible.

We know it can be nerve-racking to send your student away for a few days. We promise every decision was prayerfully considered. We have planned and prepared better than we ever have to make sure Gauntlet is safe and fun! Gauntlet has been a staple in our church for years. We are always learning, but we have already learned a lot.

4. Be expectant.

No matter what we do in Daytona Beach, prayer from home has the power to change the game at Gauntlet. Join us in praying for salvation and for students to experience the power of the presence of God!

DRESS CODE

We want everyone to focus on Jesus, so we ask that everyone dress appropriately.

Specifics for ladies:

• No bikinis. Appropriate swim options include tankinis that cover your stomach, a one piece without massive cutouts, or a dark tank top over your two-piece.

• Tank tops with straps less than two fingers wide should not be packed.

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• Shorts should reach your fingertips when you put your hands by your side.

• No crop tops.

Specifics for guys:

• No Speedos.• No clothing with inappropriate language or

illegal substances on it.• No super tight-fitting shirts.• Shirts must be worn at all sessions and meals.

PACKING LIST

What To Pack

• Bible• notebook• pens• multiple swimsuits that are dress-

code appropriate• toiletries (soap, shampoo, deodorant,

toothpaste, etc.)• lip balm with SPF• sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher)• food 1. lunch for the way down 2. non-refrigerated breakfast for

each morning 3. snacks• money for additional snacks or Gauntlet

Store merch• comfortable and dress code

appropriate clothing

Everything you pack must fit in two bags max (one bag for under the bus and one carry-on). Also, you must be able to carry your own luggage. What Not To Pack

• tobacco products, alcohol, or drugs**• weapons**• fireworks**• lighters or matches**• pranks**• water balloons or water guns• iPads, gaming devices, etc.

• jewelry or anything of value• soft drinks• guitars or any other instruments• skateboards, surfboards, or skimboards• clothing that is not dress-code appropriate

**We will confiscate any of these items. If a stu-dent or volunteer is in possession of any of the starred items, the campus pastor, as well as Campus Safety, will be immediately notified and respond accordingly.

GAUNTLET SCHEDULE

MondayDinner 5pmSession 8pmSmall group timeLights out 11pm

Tuesday through ThursdayQuiet time 7amBuses shuttle to the Ocean Center 7:45-8:30am Session 9am Community Group LunchBuses shuttle to and from hotels 12:30-2:30pm Free timeBuses shuttle to the Ocean Center 4-6pm Dinner 5pmSession 7pmBuses shuttle to hotels Small group timeLights out 11pm

Friday Wake up/report to the lobby 6-9:30am Load buses and depart 6:15-9:45am

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