Pilgrimage 2026
It’s here! As we depart, here is a “ROUGH” schedule to keep up with your kiddos! As always, you can contact me (Matt Harbison) via email, txt, or cell. If you need my cell number, feel free to call the church office and inquire to Sandra or Nicole. You can also find my contact info in my weekly emails.
Please keep our group in your prayers as we step out on faith!
Thanks so much,
Matt Harbison
Chaperones on the trip:
Tim Millirons
Kathleen Crevasse
Ashley Williams
Matt Harbison
Church of the Good Shepherd Pilgrimage 2026
Flexibility is KEY! Things WILL Change…
Sat May 30
- Arrive in Bozeman
- Stay at Comfort Inn
- Lunch in Airport
- Dinner brought in or picnic dependent on weather
Sun May 31
- Breakfast in rooms
- Lunch on the road
- Travel to Whitefish/Columbia Falls
- Arrive at All Saints, late afternoon, orient to the property.
- Dinner @ 6 pm organized by All Saints
- Games @ 7 pm
- Adults go grocery shopping for the week at the Church
Mon June 1 – Breakfast & Lunch at Church
- 8 AM – 4 PM (with lunch break), volunteer with Land to Hand in Community Garden
- Restore picnic tables
- plant annual vegetables
- mulch an orchard
- learn about regenerative agriculture and social benefit
- 5:30 PM Dinner
- 7:00 PM Potential meet up with local Youth Group
Tues June 2 -Breakfast and Lunch at Church
- 8 AM – 4 PM (with lunch break), volunteer with Land to Hand in Community Garden
- Hiking/Picnic
Wednesday June 3 – Breakfast and Lunch at Church
- 8 AM – 12 PM Workshop on Blackfeet tanning with Napi Tootoosis and Treyace Yellow Owl
- Short hike in afternoon
- 6 PM Dinner
Thursday June 4 Breakfast at Church, Lunch and Dinner at ABnB
- 8 AM – 12 PM, volunteer with Land to Hand in Food Pantry
- 1 PM Move to Air BNB
- Afternoon Hike/Adults go grocery shopping for Weekend/Make sandwiches for Friday
- Firepit activities
Friday June 5 – Breakfast, Lunch (packed picnic), Dinner in ABnB
- Fly Fishing excursion in the Morning/Early Afternoon
- Potential Star Gazing Opportunity
Saturday June 6
- Breakfast in the Cabin
- Clean up
- Lunch on the Road
- Return to Bozeman
- Dinner brought in
Sunday June 7
- Breakfast in rooms
- Lunch in Airport
- Dinner in Airport
Thanks!
Matt
Confirmed Details of Pilgrimage 2026
Destination: Bozeman, Whitefish, Columbia Falls Montana
Departing: Saturday, May 30th @ 5:40am. Arrive at the Chattanooga Airport NO later than 4:00am.
Returning: Sunday, June 7th @ 8:42pm. We will relay any changes on our return.
Deposit #1 – $200 due on April 12th
Deposit #2 – $200 due on May 10th
Final Deposit #3 due on May 30th (projected to be $250)
Click Here to Download The Permissions, Waivers, & Licenses Packet
Please download the above packet, fill out, sign, and make copies of any licenses needed. Staple or place them into an envelope with your students name on them. These documents are required for flying, traveling, and participating in many of our activities. These documents will be destroyed after the trip. This packet includes all required permissions, waivers, releases, and license purchasing information required for the Youth Pilgrimage 2026 trip to Montana.
Inside the downloadable packet you will find:
• Permission Slip & Release
• Medical Release & Permission Form
• Montana Conservation & Fishing Licenses Purchase Instructions
• Release of Liability for Wild Montana
• Liability and Media Release for Land to Hand
In addition to these forms, I need the following for each student:
• Front and back copies of valid identification from one of the following:
– driver’s license
– learner’s permit
– US Passport
-birth certificate
• Front and back copies or photo of your insurance card for emergency use
You are welcome to make copies of these in the church office during VBS week,
May 26-29, 2026
Please be frugal with items you bring. Each student will be allowed a small carry-on and a personal item. We will be able to wash clothes mid week. Think: reuse and dual purpose items.
What Luggage to bring
Students are asked to bring a “Small Carry-on” bag along with a “personal item” (backpack). The carry-on should be an airline sanctioned “Carry-On” hand luggage, OR:
- Individual length, width and height measurements may not exceed 22” x 14” x 9” (56 cm x 35 cm x 23 cm) respectively
For details on this, see here:
Click here to be redirected to the Delta Website explaining carry-on luggage.
What to bring
- Spending/snack/fun money/credit card, etc
- Shower bag (something to carry toiletries to showers)
- A Bath Towel (we will wash them at some point in the week)
- Reusable Water bottle (this is important and it will travel with us everywhere)
- Daypack/backpack (personal item) other than your airline travel sanctioned carry-on.
- Rain Jacket
- Warm/Fleece Jacket
- Each Student will receive a hoodie upon departure at the airport.
- Sun/Rain Hat
- Hiking shoes/working shoes
- Comfy shoes
- Swimming Suit
- Clothes for 8 days. As a general rule, zip off hiking pants are useful. Think layers as temps will vary. Currently, temps are forecasted to be roughly in the 60s-80s during the day with the possibility of 50s at night.
- Travel Pillow
- Shower Shoes/Flip flops
- Toiletries
- Medicine must be labeled with instruction in a ziplock back and held by the students. Once on site, we can help with reminders, etc.
- Flashlight or Headlamp
What NOT to bring
- Large bags, as travel space is limited. Unfortunately we cannot carry 22 large suitcases so please pack in the small carry-on size suitcase.
- Sleeping Bag or Sheets (provided and donated where we will stay)
- Fireworks (don’t ask me why this is on the list)
- Any NON prescribed Medication
- Knives, weapons, or any item that could be perceived as dangerous
- Candy, snacks, etc…
Confirmation Classes
Class # 1 – Sunday September 28th – Noon -2:00pm – Class + Lunch provided
Class # 2 – Sunday October 26th – Noon – 4:00pm – Class + Lunch provided + Service Project
Class # 3 – Sunday November 9th – 9am – TBA – Field Trip + Class + Lunch Provided
Class # 4 – Sunday December 7th – Noon-2:00pm – Class + Lunch Provided
Class # 5- Sunday January 11th- Noon -2:00pm -Class + Lunch Provided
Class #6 – Sunday February 22nd – Noon -2:00pm – Class + Lunch Provided
Class #7- Sunday March 29th – Noon – 2:00pm – Class + Lunch
Class #8 Saturday April 18th- 4:00pm Instructed Eucharist with Father Walton
MAKE UP CLASS- Sunday, April 12th- Noon- 2pm Class + Lunch
Confirmation with the Bishop on April 26th @ 10:30am. Students need to arrive to church by 8:30am for pictures, donuts, and instruction.
We will have TWO make up classes in March & April, dates TBA as they may need to be catered to schedules.
Please know this schedule wasn’t arrived at easily. As mentioned in the meeting, we would ask the students to attend ALL of the classes, but if schedules cannot be aligned, please do not miss more than two classes. Different schedules are tough to coordinate, and because of this, I will be COMPLETELY reasonable and flexible. I hope with a few months notice, things can be worked out. Our goal here is not to limit things, but to allow for students to PRIORITIZE things. Investment of time is a major part of the confirmation experience.
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