Student GO TRIPS
congratulations, You’re on the team!!
Now What?
Step 1
go trip details
Dates: Thursday, April 9th - Tuesday, April 14th, 2026
Minimum Age: 8th Grade with guardian/parent consent
Cost For Participants: $800.00
Non Refundable Deposit: $300.00 at time of registration
Remaining GO Trip balance is due March 8th
Trip Leaders: Becca Singley & Chris Hoch
Departing Flight : TBD
Returning Flight : TBD
Rancho Santa Marta, a 450-acre ranch located near Ensenada, Mexico, is an orphanage for at-risk and abandoned children, most of whom have been taken from their homes by the Mexican social service organization. They have a high focus towards children with special needs and their ministry offers a loving, Christ centered safe haven. You will be able to build relationships with the kids and staff and serve the ministry by working on various construction projects and playing with the children.
Step 2
Passports + Vaccines
Email us, bmincey@westgatechurch.org , a clear picture of your passport so we can verify your full legal name, DOB, and the date your passport expires. All of this is needed to purchase your airline ticket and travel insurance.
Email Us Your Passport
International travel can sometimes bring you into contact with new illnesses. So it’s important that you’re up to date on all the vaccines required by the country you’ll be serving in. Click HERE for the CDC’s list of recommended and/or required vaccines for the country you’ll be serving in.
Make Sure Your Vaccines Are Updated
Step 3
fundraising
Before you start fundraising, please make sure to read these documents:
Receiving Donations For Your GO Trip?
If you plan to ask people for donations to your overall GO Trip cost, please have them give online HERE.
The donation MUST include (GO2025STUDENTS) + Students Name, otherwise the donation will not be counted towards your trip.
You can pay your balance through your GO Trip Registration Link. Payments can be made in one lump sum or in smaller amounts.
Self Funding Your GO Trip?
your go trip balance must be paid in full 30 days before the scheduled departure date of your go trip.
If something happens and you’re unable to pay your GO Trip balance before the due date, please email the Student Ministry Admin at bmincey@westgatechurch.org and we’ll see how we can accommodate your needs.
Step 4
Fill Out and return Forms
Some of these are online forms and others will need to be , filled out, and returned. If you are a minor, your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) will fill these out on your behalf.
WestGate GO Trip Waiver - online
This waiver is to be completed by all GO Trip participants or by their legal guardian, in the case where the participant is a minor.
Read the FMM Instructions before you apply for the FMM
Requires a valid passport or passport card
The FMM is a document issued by Mexico's INM (Instituto Nacional de Migración) for vacation or visitor purposes
Cost: $717.00 Pesos (appx U.S. $43) per person; FREE if the trip is 7 days or less and you cross by land
If you get an FMM online, it is still required to stop at an INM office at the border for the official entry stamp. If applicable, you will also need to have a copy of your payment receipt
The stamped FMM is valid for land travel throughout Mexico
FMM (Mexican Tourist Card)
This waiver is to be completed for all GO Trip participants who are still minors on April 5th, 2025, by their legal guardian, if they are traveling without one or both of their guardians.
This form must be printed, filled out, notarized, and then returned to the Student Ministry Admin. We need to keep the original notarized form and you are free to keep a copy of the original. We will provide a notary to come to the tbd meeting. If the parent(s) is (are) not able to attend this meeting, you may pay for a notary on your own.
International Minor Consent Travel Form
Attend all GO trip meetings
Step 5
Sunday, February 1st, 2026 (4:30PM-6:00PM)
Saratoga Campus Gym (1735 Saratoga Ave, San Jose, CA 95129)
Dinner will be provided
Meeting Schedule
Sunday, March 22nd, 2026 (4:30PM-6:00PM)
Saratoga Campus Gym (1735 Saratoga Ave, San Jose, CA 95129)
Dinner will be provided
Sunday, March 30th, 2026 (4:30PM-6:00PM)
Saratoga Campus Gym (1735 Saratoga Ave, San Jose, CA 95129)
Dinner will be provided
Wednesday, April 8th, 2026 (6:30PM-7:00PM)
Saratoga Campus Gym (1735 Saratoga Ave, San Jose, CA 95129)
Pack Night! Bring anything that needs to be packed into our checked team bags: sleeping bag, pillow, etc.
Step 6
Resources
The documents below are specific to this GO Trip and will contain useful information, please make sure to revisit this section after each team meeting as we will add helpful documents.