Encounter 2016 Registration Instructions

Encounter the Gospel of Life is an annual summer mission trip to Washington, DC for youth having just completed the 8th Grade through age 20. The youth spend six days (July 10-15) volunteering among the poor & marginalized in & around our nation’s capitol. Participants are housed at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Please follow these instructions completely if you wish to register for Encounter 2016. Note: The regular registration fee for Encounter this year is $575, BUT if you complete your registration before 3/28, you get the Early Bird Discount of $525. Save money, don’t delay!

Two Steps to Register (registration not complete until you’ve completed both steps):

  1. Read carefully the attached 2016 Encounter Flier/Archdiocese of Baltimore Permission Form & Release. If you are under 18 years of age, your parent must complete & sign the permission form. Return the completed form to Leah along with a $100 non-refundable check payable to SKD by 3/28 if you want to benefit from the Early Bird Discount. If you are ages 18-20 you do not need to submit a parent signed permission form, BUT to reserve your spot with our SKD group, please send your $100 non-refundable check payable to SKD by 3/28 if you want to benefit from the Early Bird Discount.
  1. In addition to Step #1 above, every participant – teen, young adult, & adult chaperone – must register online. To benefit from the Early Bird Discount, you must register online and have your online paperwork to Leah by 3/28. Please follow these instructions to access the online process:
  1. Go to
  2. Under Service Camps menu, click on “Participant Registration”
  3. READ ENTIRE page and click on “Register Now”
  4. READ carefully instructions (remember to record special code for your form)
  5. Start application.
  6. Choose your parish (Saint Katharine Drexel) from “Name of your Parish” in the drop-down menu for parish.
  7. All information must be completed in order for the form to be submitted.
  8. Print off all application forms that are generated once you hit “SUBMIT.”
  9. Sign and send your forms to Leah (drop off at parish office or mail) to arrive by 3/28 in order to benefit from the Early Bird Discount. Note: Medical Release Form isn’t due until 6/1 so you don’t have to submit that by 3/28 to get the Early Bird Discount.
  10. Medical Release Form must be signed by a medical professional and must be CURRENT to this year (signed as of 2016). Information may include TB testing done within two years, but signature must be dated 2016 by a medical professional. Don’t wait too long to schedule an appointment with your doctor because Medical Release Form is due by 6/1.
  11. All forms must be original signed copy (no FAX or scanned copies).

REMEMBER: Early Bird Discount cannot be honored unless you submit the following items to Leah by 3/28:

  1. Parent signed Archdiocese of Baltimore Permission Form & Release (forthose under 18 years)
  2. $100 non-refundable payment (for those 20 & under)
  3. Signed hard copy of online application form (for all youth, young adults, & adult chaperones)
  4. Signed hard copy of online Finger Printing Permission & Release Form (for all youth, young adults, & adult chaperones)

Mail forms & check to:

Saint Katharine Drexel Church

Attention: Leah Huber

8428 Opossumtown Pk.

Frederick, MD 21702