Health Considerations
These trips are very physical, and may involve a good amount of walking, lifting, and exertion. The areas we serve are at about 6,000 feet elevation (similar to Denver), which can also make a difference. Team members may be exposed to new bacteria and possibly malaria. Please consult your physician if you are concerned about the possible health problems travelers confront in the Third World. If you have any health issues that might impair your ability to serve on a work team, please talk with the trip coodinator before signing up.

Drugs and Alcohol
The communities and organizations we work with in Guatemala and Kenya have strong prohibitions against the use of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. As representatives of the church in the United States it is important that our actions are in keeping with the practices of the local communities. If a potential team member has personal problems with this policy they should speak to the trip coodinator before they agree to be a member of the team.

Youth Participation
Youth can bring great enthusiasm and a fresh perspective to a work trip. Due to health and safety issues and the distances involved, there are some specific criteria for youth involvement in a Pura Vida work trip:

• On a normal work trip, youth ages 15 and older can participate as long as one of their parents is also on the team.
• Youth currently in (or leaving) the 11th and 12th grades can attend without parents as long as there is one dedicated responsible adult along for every three to four youth. That adult would be someone willing to take responsibility for looking out for the youths' health & safety. That might also entail staying back at the hotel with any youth that are sick, for example. Please bear in mind that the adult's focus would have to be more on the youths' mission experience than on his or her own.
• College students would be able to attend with a recommendation from their pastor.

Please note that Pura Vida can arrange a youth-specific work trips for 11th and 12th graders upon request.