FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

General Questions

What airport should I fly in to?

Please fly to The Richmond International Airport. The airport code is RIC

If, for some reason, I have to leave the school earlier than I planned, will there be a refund?

Yes. Though we do not expect a student to have need of leaving early, may be occasion of emergencies that necessitate such early termination of one’s schooling.
 The following is our policy on any refunds need to be made for one reason or another:

• Prior to Arrival 100%**
• During 1st week of classes 75%.
• During 2nd week of classes 50%.
• During 3rd week of classes 25%.
• After the 3rd week of classes, there is no refund.”

**Application fee and Room Reservation fee are Non refundable.

Is Vaccination for COVID-19 required for my participation?

YWAM Richmond does not require COVID vaccinations in order to participate in any of our programs.  However, if you are in another country, please check the requirements to enter the USA, you may need Vaccination and/or a negative COVID test to enter. Check the requirements for entry at the CDC’s website

CDC Entry Requirements

Does YWAM Richmond offer student Visas?

No, YWAM Richmond utilizes B1/B2 visas for our DTS, ELC, and other short term trainings and programs.  Our international staff have to apply for a R-1 visa.

Does YWAM Richmond work overseas?  I would love to help those in need outside the USA.

Yes, we work to bring the Gospel over the world. Some of the places we’ve worked recently are Jordan, Brazil, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Chile, Mexico.

Will someone pick me up at the airport/train/bus station?

We can arrange your personal transportation to student housing starting 3 days before your classes begin, you’ll need to send your itinerary to your school/program leader.

Which bus station should I use to book my ticket?

Greyhound Bus Station (800) 231-2222

I am driving to YWAMVA, how do I get there?

The entrance to our property is on Waverly Avenue Richmond, VA 23231. If using GPS, make sure you turn off toll roads in the Richmond area, for the most direct route.   We recommend searching YWAM Richmond in Google Maps as the pin has been placed correctly.  If you need written directions, then go to ywamrichmond.org/our-base

May I go home on weekends and holidays (like Christmas or Thanksgiving)?

Usually yes, but there are exceptions, each participant will have a specific arrangement with their school or program leaders.

Discipleship Training School (DTS) FAQ

What are the start dates for the 2020-2021 DTS calendar

The start date for the Sports & Fitness DTS are:  March 18,2020 & September 16, 2020
.

Do I have to be 18 to do the DTS?

Yes, you have to be 18 or more to do the DTS.

How much does the DTS cost?

DTS Lecture Fees
 (All fees subject to change at any time)

Worship & Music DTS (12 weeks) = $3500.00 USD
Sports and Fitness DTS (14 weeks) = $3500.00 USD
Classic DTS (14 weeks) = $3500.00 USD

Scholarships are available for international students. For USA citizens, please contact school leaders for financial aid packages.

How do I pay for the non-refundable registration fee?

At the end of the Online Course Registration process, you will be directed to a page to make a payment towards the total fees of your DTS.   Make a payment of any amount at this time.  $40 is the minimum payment and the $40 is non-refundable.

How much does the DTS Field Assignment cost?

DTS Field Assignment Fees
$2000.00 USD ground fees + airfare to outreach destination
 (Ground fees due one month before departure date & tickets upon request)

How do I make a payment for student tuition?

You can make your payment by clicking here.

Which day should I arrive?

Students are permitted to arrive free of charges up to 3 days prior to the start of the DTS.

How much does the Application Fee cost?

Application Fee
 Non-refundable 
Single students = $40.00 USD
Married couples & Families = $40.00 USD

What does the DTS costs include?

The costs include room, board, teachings, books, ground transportation, outreach emergency insurances, conferences & fitness center dues. They do not include airline tickets, immunizations, laundry, lecture phase health or life insurance.

Where is the outreach going to be?

It depends. We have already sent people to a lot of different places, like Amsterdam, India, Angola, Brazil and many others more. But the final answer comes from God.

Do I have to speak English to do the DTS?

Yes, since our classes are in English you need to be able to understand and to speak English fluently. We do not offer a bilingual DTS at YWAMVA.

English Language & Culture FAQ

What can I learn at the English Language & Culture school?

You can learn English as a second language and the basics of American culture in the United States.

Which day should I arrive?

Students are permitted to arrive free of charges up to 3 days prior to the start of the school.

Can I do the ELC with only basic English?

Yes, of course! We have different levels of classes.

What should I bring with me?

Towels, personal medicines, swimsuits, cosmetics, an alarm clock, and whatever you think that could be necessary.

What study material should I bring with me to do the ELC?

You should bring a bilingual dictionary, an English Bible, a pencil, a pen and a notebook.

Do I need health insurance to do the ELC?

Yes, you need a 3 months insurance, otherwise you may not be able to do some activities with the rest of the students.
 Be sure to buy the policy before you come. Normally you can buy this policy with your travel agency.

How long is the ELC?

The spring school is 12 weeks.
The fall school is 13 weeks.

What’s the ELC contact e-mail address?

studentservices@ywamva.org

Discipleship Bible School FAQ

Coming Soon

Richmond Ropes FAQ

What is Richmond Ropes?

Richmond Ropes is field based team building games offering affordable, educational, inspiring and fun experiences to groups of all ages and sizes.
At Richmond Ropes, the challenges are physical, mental and emotional. We encourage teamwork, leadership, problem solving, confidence, trust, creativity, perseverance, interdependence and communication. All conveniently located in the East End of Richmond Virginia or brought to your location. Come have fun and test your limits!

How do I schedule a time for my group?

Call (804) 234-3006

What if I need to reschedule or cancel?

Please contact us as soon as you know you need to change your plans. In some cases, we can hold your deposit and any fees that have been prepaid and apply them to your rescheduled date. If you cancel within two weeks of your reservation, you may be required to pay a cancellation fee-see your contract for more information.

What should my group members wear to Richmond Ropes?

Because many of our challenges are located in the woods and all of them require physical activity, we encourage all participants to wear closed-toed shoes, regardless of the time of year. We also suggest that they wear clothing appropriate to the weather and season (short sleeves in the summer, layers in the fall and winter) in which they can move about freely. If you can’t climb a ladder in those jeans or lift your arms above your head in that shirt, we suggest that you choose more appropriate clothing.

What else do we need to bring with us?

If you haven’t turned them in to us already, we require that you bring a filled out Richmond Ropes Release form for each participant. Participants under 18 must have their form signed by a parent or legal guardian. In the summer months, we suggest bug spray and sunscreen, as many of our activities take place in wooded areas and others out in the sun. In all seasons, we ask that participants bring filled water bottles—hydration is key to a fun, safe day of physical activity!

What happens if the weather is bad?

We monitor the weather conditions regularly and will contact you if we feel that the weather on your scheduled date presents an unsafe situation. Outside of safety issues, however, the decision is up to you. All of our equipment at Richmond Ropes works the same wet, dry, hot or cold, but we know that people sometimes aren’t as versatile. You know your group and what they will or won’t be able to handle. We don’t want your group to miss out because of a little wind or rain-but we also want your experience with us to be a good one. If you are concerned about the weather for your scheduled date, please give us a call and we can discuss options for modifying our plans or rescheduling your outing.

Who can benefit from a challenge course experience?

People of all ages and backgrounds can benefit from time on a challenge course because the way that we learn-experientially-means that there are as many lessons as there are participants, and those lessons are more accessible and lasting because they are experienced firsthand, not learned theoretically or by rote.

Some of my group members have health issues/physical limitations. Can they still participate and benefit from time on the ropes course?

Absolutely. Our desire is that everyone who wishes to experience and learn at Richmond Ropes be able to do so, without regard to or being made to feel uncomfortable about their health issues or physical limitations. So just let us know, when you are scheduling your time, about any limitations your group members may have and we will discuss options with you and plan accordingly.

How do you plan our time at Richmond Ropes?

Each group’s time at Richmond Ropes is individually planned to meet the goals and objectives of its leaders. Our best tool to do this, besides our conversations with you, is your Group Reservation Request. This is why we require receipt of that form before we can confirm your group’s reservation.
What sizes and ages of groups do you work with?

We work with groups of all ages and sizes. We recommend that a group have at least 10 participants. Participants under 18 years of age must have a parent or legal guardian sign their medical release form.

When is Richmond Ropes open?

We can do portable initiatives (see next answer) all year round, but the course itself is open by appointment Monday through Saturday from the first Saturday in April to the week before Christmas, weather permitting. We currently offer two time slots per day, starting at 9:00 am and 2:00 pm.
My group’s biggest challenge will be to get to the course due to logistical issues (time, funding, transportation, etc).

Can you come to us?

Yes. We can bring portable initiatives-games and challenges that take place on the ground-to your location. Portable initiatives are a great way for groups that cannot make it out to the course for scheduling, cost or other logistical reasons to benefit from many of the same experiential lessons they might learn on the ropes course, all from the comfort and convenience of their own location.

What are your rates?

We also offer corporate teambuilding programs on our site or at your location. Our corporate teambuilding rate is $7.00/person/hour and we offer corporate packages from 2-5 hours in length for a maximum of 40 people at a time.

Do you offer discounts?

We offer discounted rates for not-for-profit organizations (specifically those that work with underprivileged or at-risk youth) and educational institutions. As a ministry organization, we don’t want to turn anyone away because of financial issues-so please, give us a call and we’ll see what we can do.