Las Vegas, known as “The Entertainment Capitol of the World” is located in the arid Mojave Desert of Nevada. Amidst the famous bright, shining lights of the Las Vegas Strip, many residents face problems of addiction, broken homes, and homelessness. Your group will have the opportunity to serve the people of Las Vegas by partnering with social service organizations that work with the homeless, children, and the elderly.

Demographics

Situated in the Mojave Desert and bordered by the Spring Mountains to the West, the city of Las Vegas boasts proximity to several important national parks such as the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and the Grand Canyon. Since the legalization of gambling in Las Vegas in the 1930s, the city has seen an ever-increasing population - Las Vegas is currently the fastest growing city in the United States! The city has a population of over 600,000, and the larger Las Vegas metropolitan area has over 2 million residents. Las Vegas’ booming tourism brings more than 39 million visitors a year and the hospitality and tourism industries are the number one employer in Las Vegas. Despite relatively low unemployment rates due to the constant need for the construction of new casinos, hotels, and homes, Las Vegas is one of the most stressful cities in the United States due to higher than average rates of divorce, alcoholism, and mental health disorders. The homeless population of Las Vegas has nearly doubled in the last decade; however, there is a severe shortage of homeless shelters in the city. Las Vegas sits in Clark County and has an estimated homeless population of eight to ten thousand people. 10.4% of residents in Clark County live below the poverty line and the unemployment rate in 2007 was 5.2%. It is estimated that 100,000 families in Las Vegas live at or below the poverty line. Your group will have the opportunity to serve the people of Las Vegas by partnering with existing ministries that work with kids, the elderly, and the homeless.

About the Ministry

Participants serve in a variety of ways during a YouthWorks mission trip. Students may spend all week at one ministry or switch between ministries during the week. Our goal is to partner with local organizations and programs that seek to address the very basic needs of residents. Students may serve at places like: Children’s Programs, Elderly Centers, Soup Kitchens/Homeless Shelters and Thrift Stores. We cannot confirm until all groups arrive exactly what ministries your students will be a part of during the week. We ask that you come with a willing and flexible spirit!

Activities

Evening activities during a YouthWorks week are designed to give participants insight into the lives of local residents and the culture of the area. Below is a list of possible evening/cultural activities: Visit M&Ms World, listen to a community speaker, spend an evening at the lake, attend a community cookout. These are examples of what your group might partake in during your mission week. These examples are subject to change due to weather or availability. In case of change, suitable substitutes will be provided. We try to arrange for free evening activities, but from time to time, an additional cost may be required for an activity. Please plan to bring an additional $10 per person to cover any extra costs. We will confirm the details closer to your trip.

Ministry Week

Partnering with Local Ministries.

Mileage

Las Vegas’ McCarran Airport will be the closest airport to fly into. Los Angeles International Airport is approximately a four hour drive (280 miles) from the Las Vegas area.

Transportation & Travel

Each group is responsible for transportation to and from the site, and during the mission week. Las Vegas can only accommodate standard 15 passenger vans or smaller.

Additional Information

If you would like more information on what there is to do in Las Vegas or Nevada before or after your trip, visit the Nevada Commission on Tourism’s Web site at www.travelnevada.com to download several free visitor’s guides. You can also call 1-800-NEVADA-8 for more details.