JV Orientation starts in...
Orientation 2022
What is Orientation?
Orientation 2026 Theme: Courage at the Core
When you look at the core of yourself, what keeps you going? A family recipe you come back to during hard moments? A friend’s text at the exact time you need it? The words of a trusted elder, teacher, or mentor who believes in you? When stepping into this movement with Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest (JVC Northwest), Courage at the Core begins first within ourselves. How do you, as a unique person, engage with the many joys, griefs, and unknowns of being a human, and take bold steps anyway? How do you define courage at your core? How do you sustain it?
In “You Are Who I Love” by Aracelis Girmay, the poet offers many windows into what courage and showing up for one another looks like: “You are who I love / weeping or touching the faces of the weeping / You noticing the butterflies / Sharing your water, sharing your potatoes and greens / You who the borders crossed / You whose fires / You decent with rage, so in love with the earth / You writing poems alongside children / You are who I love, summoning the courage, making the cobbler, / getting the blood drawn, sharing the difficult news, you always planting the marigolds, learning to walk / wherever you are”. Can you fill in the following for yourself? You are who I love: you who finds courage in ____________________ and _____________________, and every small beauty in between.
Looking back to the original root word for courage, “Cor” is Latin for “heart,” which led to later translations, including “heart as the seat of emotions” (Etymonline). With this context in mind, courage for this year – and the rest of our lives – becomes a grounded space to act and learn from our hearts. It becomes a place for us to make deliberate decisions with our heart at the center and develop consistent habits to confront fear. Courage does not mean the absence of fear, but the presence of intention and vulnerability in action. How will you commit to being vulnerable this year with yourself and others?
To be a Jesuit Volunteer (JV) is to be courageous. For 70 years, volunteers have devoted a year (or more!) to something bigger than themselves. Society often prioritizes comfort, productivity, and self-advancement, and yet you listened to your heart, leaned into your vulnerability, and chose a year of service with JVC Northwest. You have already chosen courage this year, and as you continue to, we want to point you to JVC Northwest’s core values: Community, Simple Living, Social and Ecological Justice, and Spirituality/Reflection. Which are you drawn to? Can this become your grounding “value” as you step into “Courage at the Core” this year?
As we embark into a new service term together, let us take a moment to reflect as a collective: What does it mean to be a part of this Corps? In our 70th year, we’ve seen seventy different versions of what a JV year looks like, and what courage looks like. What does that mean for you as you join this movement? In this year full of unknowns to come, you have an opportunity that is uniquely yours (and your JV community’s), to step into courage at the core of JVCNW.
In times of uncertainty, unknowns, and injustice, there is a human tendency to become overwhelmed, complacent, or strive toward perfection. Overwhelm and perfectionism is a tactic of the oppressor, meant to keep us from the messy in-between parts where change – and courage – lives. In moments like this, courage is a choice; a bold invitation that asks us to keep showing up, keep going, and keep reaching for another. Even in moments of unknown, we can draw on the words of former Jesuit and JVC Northwest staff member, Jack Kennedy, who said, “What is the next loving thing to do, or the next loving thing to be present for?” As we journey through this service year – and the years to come after – let us hold this question close: What is the next loving thing I can do?
May the core of this movement guide us. May courageous action that is uniquely ours become clear, as we step into service together.
Preparing for Orientation
Onboarding Forms
Below is a list of everything that is due before you arrive at Orientation. Please note: all forms must be submitted prior to your arrival on August 4; we cannot accept forms at Orientation. All forms can be accessed online unless otherwise noted.
- Name & Contact Details
- Government Issued ID
- Criminal History Check Authorization
- Policy Acknowledgement:
- Code of Conduct
- Covenant
- Drug & Alcohol Policy
- Whistleblower Policy & Addendum
- Please keep a copy of the full version of the Code of Conduct for your records. Please note that there will be time for questions regarding the Code of Conduct and Whistle Blower Policy at Orientation.
- About Me
- Orientation Information
- Demographic Information
- Emergency Contacts
- Permissions
- Media & Information Release
- Invitation to Community
- Medical Form
- Orientation Travel Form
- Health Insurance Acceptance/Waiver Form
- Alma Mater Information
Information Sent in Early to Mid-July to complete:
- I-9 and W-4 forms (emailed to you directly)
- Direct questions to hr@jvcnorthwest.org
In July, you will receive an email invitation from the “MyAmeriCorps” Portal. It is essential that you provide an accurate and timely response prior to Orientation.
In a recent Pre-O session, we explored journaling as a way to stay in conversation with ourselves, to notice the sacred in the everyday, and remember the many versions of who we’ve been along the way. As you prepare for orientation, we invite you to try journaling as a spiritual practice—an opportunity to slow down, reflect, and find presence with who you are in this moment and what you hope to grow into.
You can find the prompts here as a pdf, or on Instagram.
JVC Northwest strives to create a welcoming, safe, and value-centered environment where all feel included to serve and share their full selves. By dedicating ourselves to informing everything we do with Trauma Informed Care principles and practices, we solidify this commitment to the care of JVs and our wider community. Though JVC Northwest takes a Trauma Informed Care approach in all aspects of our program (you can learn more about our Trauma Informed Care here), as you prepare for Orientation, we specifically want to be transparent about JVC Northwest’s Jesuit Catholic tradition and exposure to Christian elements you will experience at Orientation. We recognize that JVs may be entering our program with experiences of religious trauma or have little context of the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Because of this, JVC Northwest finds it important to share about religious elements you can anticipate at Orientation.
Camp Arrah Wanna, where Orientation is held, is a Christian camp, and religious imagery is present. You will see wooden crosses around the camp, and buildings/ locations with church-like names, like the Worship Center, Outdoor Chapel, and Prayer Garden. You can learn more about the camp by checking out their website here, including viewing their camp map here. At Orientation, JVC Northwest requires JVs to attend a session that discusses JVC Northwest’s relationship to the Jesuits and Catholic church for all to learn more and ask questions. At Orientation and Retreats throughout the year, JVs will be invited to participate in guided reflections, e.g. – examens and mediations, and will have the option to attend Mass. At the end of Orientation, we hold a “Sending Forth Ceremony” where we all gather to share well wishes and bestow blessings upon JVs as everyone starts their year of service and intentional community. While this ceremony isn’t explicitly religious in nature, some might find it mirrors the structure of a church service.
Throughout your JV year, diverse expressions of faith and spirituality will be present in community through conversations, spirituality nights, and more. We expect all JVs to explore their own spirituality and engage in reflection, individually and collaboratively through spirituality nights and at retreats, as it is a core value to the JVC Northwest program.
JVC Northwest seeks to support and empower JVs in their exploration and relationship to spirituality and reflection in a variety of ways. One form is peer support, offered through our identity meet-ups. Identity meet-ups provide JVs with similar racial, ethnic, LGBTQ+, financial, ability, or religious backgrounds with the opportunity to talk about issues that are important to them and how they intersect with their experiences as a JV in our program. Our identity meet-ups include: BIPoC Liberation, LGBTQIA2S+ Meet-Up (aka GayVC), Non-Christian Meet Up, Working Class Meet-Up, Disability Meet-Up, and Neurodiversity Meet-Up. At Orientation, each meet-up will be led by a JVC Northwest staff member who also shares that identity. If you identify with one or more of these, we encourage you to join them at Orientation!
JVC Northwest staff are another support system you have available to you throughout your JV year. You can direct questions in advance of Orientation and throughout the year to your (Senior) Program Coordinator (S/PC). If you would like to talk to someone at Orientation about your experiences with these elements, JVC Northwest staff members are happy to speak with you and support you. We look forward to meeting you at Orientation!
Travel and Arrival Info
Orientation takes place at Camp Arrah Wanna in Welches, OR, a camp tucked into the woods at the base of Mt. Hood with simple cabins and lodge facilities, located 1 hour southeast of Portland.
If you are driving, consider downloading offline maps to your phone as service is spotty the further up the mountain you go.
At the end of Orientation, all JVs are either flying, driving, or taking the train to their locales. You are permitted to bring two pieces of luggage to Orientation. Please limit yourself to these two bags because space in our transportation shuttles will be very tight. Be sure your full name and contact information are clearly labeled on all bags!
Bag 1: 50 lb. or less: we will store this bag for you during Orientation week. JVC Northwest will pay the cost of checking this one bag when you travel to your locale at the end of Orientation.
Bag 2: The bag you’ll have with you during Orientation, which should include a sleeping bag, pillow, clothes, etc. for that week. This should be standard airplane carry-on luggage size, regardless of your mode of transportation to your locale. If this second bag is too large to be carried on for free, please note that you will be in charge of covering the cost for this on your way to your service locale. Thank you for your understanding of the limited space and finances for luggage! See packing list and what not to pack for details.
Please schedule your arrival in Portland for Tuesday, August 4. More information about arrival is listed below. If you are arriving before August 4, please plan to book your own lodging.
JVC Northwest arranges transportation from Portland International Airport and Union Station Train & Bus Depot on August 4th. JV AmeriCorps members arriving by car should drive directly to camp. Please consult the transportation arrival times below based on your transportation mode.
After you arrive at Orientation and register on August 4th, you can relax until we have dinner. Optional activities will be going on throughout the day. This is a good time to call your loved ones to let them know you have arrived safely. After dinner on the first night, we ask you to turn off your cell phone and any other electronic devices for the rest of the week. We invite you to immerse yourself in the core values, community, and contemplative time. If you have extenuating circumstances around communication, please talk to your S/PC.
We ask that you do not bring the following items to Orientation. These guidelines are rooted in JVC Northwest’s commitment to community safety, mutual care, and the creation of a welcoming environment.
Alcohol (including wine, beer, spirits, etc.)
- Alcohol can disrupt engagement, create barriers to community building, and may be triggering for some community members. JVC Northwest invites all JVs to begin their year of service with a dry month of discernment, allowing each community to intentionally decide and evaluate alcohol’s place in their community.
Non-prescribed or Recreational Drugs
- We ask that you do not bring any recreational or non-prescribed drugs to Orientation.
- Note: Prescription medications are welcome when prescribed to you and used as directed.
Weapons (including pocketknives, firearms, etc.)
- Weapons are a liability and can create high risk for harm. Even items that may seem practical or protective can create discomfort or fear within a shared living environment.
- Note: If you are considering bringing an item you are unsure about (such as pepper spray for self-defense, hunting knife for cultural purposes, etc.) please reach out to your S/PC to discuss further.
Electronics and Personal Devices
- Though you are welcome to bring personal electronics such as a cell phone or laptop, we kindly ask that you keep them turned off and packed away during Orientation week.
- Leaving technology turned off and packed away helps us create a focused, present, and distraction-free environment where everyone can fully engage and connect.
Orientation weather is usually pleasantly warm, but the Northwest gets chilly at night and rain is always a possibility. The main meeting space we will be gathering most days is air conditioned. Camp Arrah Wanna provides lots of space for recreation, including a swimming pool. There’s also downtime for reflection, music, and just hanging out. Please pack:
- Passport or other ID documents. If you uploaded a copy of your passport some weeks ago so we could process your background checks, then please bring the passport with you to Orientation. If you did not upload a passport, then David (our Business Manager) will be in touch with you about what documents to bring. We must see the physical documents in order to complete your I-9, and we must complete the I-9 before you can officially begin as a JV. So, if you forget to bring the document(s) to Orientation, you will have to have someone send it to us by overnight mail.
- Comfortable, casual clothing for the week
- A nicer outfit for the Sending Forth Service (in your carry on)
- Jacket or sweater
- Rain gear (just in case!)
- Swim suit (if you want to swim in the swimming pool)
- Sleeping bag (or twin sheets and a blanket) and pillow
- Towel, soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, sunscreen, bug spray, and any other toiletries or hygiene products you need
- Flashlight/headlamp
- Musicians: bring musical instruments
- Fidget toys or hands-on activities, like knitting or crocheting, that may help you focus (optional)
- At least a month’s supply of medication, if needed; more if headed to a more rural locale
- A small amount of cash for purchasing JVC Northwest swag, if you would like
- A spare pair of glasses and/or contacts, and a copy of your eyeglasses/contacts prescription
- Clothing for service. Prepare to follow the dress code in your position description
- College gear or small banner for college photo day (optional)
If you are concerned you won’t be able to fit everything in two bags, you are welcome to mail additional items to your specific JV community. The address for your community will be included in an email from your S/PC in July.
Arrival Times
In order to meet you upon arrival, we ask that you complete the Orientation Travel Form (part of your Onboarding forms).
If your travel plans change after submitting this form or you have travel questions, email Adrianna Perrien Naccarato at anaccarato@jvcnorthwest.org with your travel updates.
If your plans change or there’s an emergency during your travel day, call 503-335-8202, the JVC Northwest office in Portland. A staff member will be monitoring this phone for messages on Tuesday and throughout the week of Orientation.
Please note that only certain locales and placements require a car for the service year. We ask that all other JVs do not bring a car for the year, unless you have discussed it with your S/PC.
Arrive before 12:30 p.m. A representative of our staff will meet you at Union Station, which is one block north of the bus station. We will confirm your pickup time and share more details with you by email as it gets closer.
Please arrive at Camp Arrah Wanna between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Please do not arrive at Orientation before Tuesday, August 4. Contact us if you want to connect about carpooling with JVs traveling from your area.
Arrive at the Portland International Airport (PDX) by 1 p.m. on August 4. JVC Northwest staff will have a table from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. near Baggage Claim; please meet us there.
COVID-19 Safety Planning
Please consider being COVID-cautious in these next weeks leading up to your departure for Orientation. Some suggestions are: limiting unmasked indoor contact with people outside your immediate household and avoiding large indoor gatherings in general.
Please take a COVID-19 self-test the day before your departure for Oregon.
If you test positive, please do not travel, and contact JVC Northwest Staff at our main number 503-335-8202 and we will start to arrange a new plan for you to make it your locale. In the event of a positive test before you depart, we will arrange ways for you to catch up on what you miss at Orientation.
Please wear a mask during your transportation from your point of entry to Portland to Camp. Once you arrive, we will have everyone test again during registration at Camp Arrah Wanna.
We will only ask that you test again during the week of Orientation in the event that you start to feel ill. For those who feel sick and for those who test positive, we will have space in which you can isolate during Orientation to minimize the risk of it spreading within our group. We will have a nurse on-site to assist with both COVID and non-COVID health concerns. If your isolation needs to last past the final day at Camp we will arrange for a safe way for you to recover and make it to your locale.
