The First Presbyterian Church in Germantown

Our PUMI Experience is a summer service-learning program we started in 2005. It is designed to give senior high students and young adults (ages 15-22), a weeklong urban service-learning experience.

The goal of our program is to help participants, primarily suburban and rural youth, gain a better understanding and appreciation for urban life and community development.  

We call upon the city of Philadelphia (its people, its variety of cultures and institutions, and its strengths and weaknesses) to serve as the fertile ground vital for us to achieve our goal. We attain this goal through two primary means.

The first is through service opportunities (volunteer work) within social, political, religious and civic organizations here in Philadelphia in order to give our participants a more holistic and experiential understanding of urban life and community development.

The second means is our morning individual reflection times and our nightly group processing sessions that allow participants to reflect and process the day's events and experiences with specific issues in mind in order for participants to learn and grow from those opportunities as individuals within the context of community. 

7 Major Outcomes of the PUMI Experience 

1. Have young people leave the week having recognized and experienced God moving and working in the city.
2. Help young people experience the beauty,blessings, richness, and opportunities of urban life.
3. Equip young people to think critically,biblically, and theologically about the issues facing the Christian community in urban environments and connect those issues to their own context.
4. Aid young people in understanding the value of studying culture and the importance of contextual ministry. 
5. To engage youth in memorable and meaningful service to God and neighbor, emphasizing the relational nature of all ministry. 
6. To work alongside and empower youth leaders, vocational and volunteer, as partners in our experience recognizing that youth leaders have long term relationships with the youth and will return home with them to continue ministering to and with the students. 
7. Emphasize the need for celebration and recreation in the midst of learning and service.

Participant Requirements 

There are a number of requirements that we ask of participating groups:

• Participants should be senior high age (entering 9th-12th grades) and college age (18-22)
• There should be one adult supervisor for every seven participants registered for the week
• Organization should provide a vehicle if there are more than four participants
• Participants will need to bring sleeping bag, towels, and toiletries (air mattresses will be provided)

Interested?  

Download these forms to learn more about our program and how you can get involved.

Official Registration Form

2009 Camp Brochure 

Leader's Waiver Form

Ministry Sites

Participant Permission Form: Minor

                                                                           Participant Permission Form: Adult

Support This Program

If you would like to support this outstanding service-learning program with a financial contribution, please visit our secure online giving page now!