This year we are looking to expand our trip to 4 days! We are looking at visiting Cultural Locations in New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, DC. As usual, capping the trip off with a fun filled day at 6 Flags Amusement Park.

Below are expectations required of participants and chaperones as a means of ensuring commitment from the group and a comfortable and positive experience on our journey. There are many unexpected occurrences that can happen while traveling. We ask for your patience, assistance and positive energy to ensure that we are able to handle any situations that may arise.

TRIP DATES: Thursday, August 14-Sunday, August 17, 2025

Requirements for Youth/Chaperone Participation

  1. 2025 FEES
    • Students = $250 includes Meals
    • Chaperones = $375 doesn’t include Meals
  2. Earn a Discount on your Trip Fees by participating in Volunteer Opportunities’. In order to develop a relationship and build community with participants and chaperones we require active participation in all fundraisers. Discounts are based on the Number of Volunteer Events you attend and the amount of money you help raise for the trip.
    • MAX DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE:
    • Top Volunteer = 100%
      Person who volunteers at the most events and raises the most money.
    • Trip Coordinators up to 100%
    • Chaperones up to 50%
    • Students up to 50%
  3. 2025 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
    • 2025 Juneteenth Celebration
      Downtown Albany or Schenectady, NY
    • Monthly Car Wash:
      Location – Muhammad’s Mosque
      360 Clinton Ave. – Albany, NY
      • DATES TBD JUNE & JULY
    • Informational & Fundraising Tables
      @ Various Public Events throughout the Year in Capital Region.
  4. SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:
    • Know a local Business who would Sponsor your trip? Give them this and explain how their sponsorship will help to expose your child to positive aspects of their history and culture.
    • Ask someone to sponsor your trip by buying an Ujima Journey 2025 Gear Online. Items to be delivered to attendees at the trip and delivered to sponsors immediately after the trip.

1. Parents, chaperones and guardians must attend at least 1 meeting in regards to the planning of the cultural tour.

2. All participants are asked to carry themselves in a respectful manner when visiting various locations. We want to properly represent the organization and the communities we come from.

3. In the spirit of collectivity all chaperones who attend the trip are responsible for all students. If a child is acting out and being disrespectful please respectfully correct them (it takes a village!). All students are respectful to all chaperones and one another. This journey is an opportunity for us to develop relationships and learn from one another.

  • In order for our children to follow our lead we request that the adults also respect one another.

4. Youth will be required to keep a journal to report each day’s experiences. Youth will be provided time at the end of the day when we convene as a group to write in their journals.

5. Youth are required to submit an essay (maximum length one page) discussing what they learned during their journey. The essays should be submitted 2 weeks after we return.

6. An itinerary for the trip will be provided to all chaperones prior to and on the day of the trip. It is important that all attendees are mindful that we have scheduled times to visit various locations. Each night we will inform everyone of the time to be ready to board the bus. Please be sure to plan appropriately. We want to respect the time and planning that many of these locations have engaged in to accommodate us.

SUGGESTED SUPPLIES

Here is a list of suggested supplies that participants may want to bring with them to ensure that they are comfortable while traveling.

  1. Travel blanket and pillow
  • Beach towel
  • Sunscreen
  • Hat/or sunglasses
  • Bathing suit/or swim trunks
  • Small first aid kit – (there will be one on hand for the group but having a backup may be beneficial)
  • Extra under garments
  • Sneakers
  • Tissues
  • Allergy medications (if necessary)
  • Light jacket