Saturday, April 27, 2019 The Guilford Green Guilford, CT
FAQs
What is the Big Sleep Out Event? The Big Sleep Out is an awareness project that aims to spread consideration for the cause of homelessness by “sleeping out” on the Green in order to experience a night without a home. The evening will also consist of activities, some educational, and some hands on, and a traditional Columbus House meal. Sign up alone or in teams. Sleep Out for the entire night, or almost sleep out (attend presentations/ workshops and meal, but don’t sleep over on the Green). All ages welcome! Youth groups with members not yet in high school must be accompanied by at least one adult. Each person will get a schedule/ map packet with a blank space for earning sleep out stamps:
Participating in activities will result in earning stamps
Participants must use their stamps to “pay” for their meal
When is the event? The event takes place in the April or May, depending on the year. Activities happen over the course of the evening. Participants who stay to sleep out leave the green the morning after. Due to COVID19, no in person event is planned for this year.
Where does the event take place? Sleep out is on the Guilford Green, a meal will be served in the St. George Church Hall, and presentations/workshops will take place in the faith communities around the Green. Sign in in front of St. George Church.
What is the schedule for the event? While specific start times of the different activities are not set yet, timing will begin at 4:30 and activities will begin at 5:30. Firepit/ sleeping on the green begins around 10pm and we will be up early for a quick wrap up at 7:30am. 4:30pm-5:30pm Sign in/ register in front of St. George 5:30pm-10:00pm Workshops/presentations/ meal in faith community facilities 10:00pm Fire pit/ sleep out on Green 7:30am Wrap up and event end
What if I can't/ don't want to sleep out the whole evening? You can still participate in the event! An almost sleepover option allows you to attend the presentations and workshops that take place throughout the evening, but leave before the actual sleeping begins at 10pm.
What kind of activities will take place? The specifics of this year's activities are still in planning. There will be some repeats from last year, but many new workshops as well! Some examples from last year include speakers who shares their experiences with homelessness, the Big Sleep Out Quilt where participants helped create a quilt relating to their takeaway from the event, and an interactive online game where decisions had to be made as if you were living on the brink of homelessness. These are just a few of the many activities from the 2018 event, but we have many more to be added. Activities will range from crafts to interactive workshops to speaker presentations- something for any age!
Is there a registration fee? There is not registration fee. However, we do request that teams make a pledge as proceeds of the event benefit Columbus House.
What if there is bad weather? If weather concerns arise, the St. George Church Hall will be our shelter to sleep in for the night.
Will there be security throughout the evening and nighttime hours? Volunteers will overseen the event evening and activities and during the night, a team from the St. George Men's Group will patrol the green. The local police station is also aware of the event and will check in on us during the night.
Check back soon for updates on the new presentations and workshops that will take place this year!