Conference Youth Gatherings
Pacific Northwest Conference Senior High Convo
May 26-28, 2012
University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington
The Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Methodist Church will be holding its annual Senior High Convocation this May at the University of Puget Sound. For more information and ways to register as it becomes available, visit the Young People’s Ministry Page of the Pacific Northwest Conference.
Set Fire: East Ohio Youth Annual Conference
June 15-17, 2012
Lakeside Camp, Lakeside, Ohio
The East Ohio Annual Conference invites youth to enjoy several days of great programing as they make friends, worship, and engage great speakers. The music for the event will be led by Praise-Applea, Andrew Berg Band, and Bucket Boys. The speakers will be Jeanne Mayo and Rev. Mark McTrustry. For more information about the event, including registration and the process to submit resolutions, can be found at the East Ohio Annual Conference site.
West Virginia Annual Conference Summer Youth Celebration
June 18-22, 2012
West Virginia Wesleyan College, Buckhannon, West Virginia
SYC is a program of the Conference Council on Youth Ministry of the West Virginia Annual Conference held on the campus of West Virginia Wesleyan College.
The 2012 SYC theme is part of a four year program which will highlight “UBU: God Created You To Be…” The focus this year is on being UNIQUE – “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14a NRSV). Join us as we explore who we are as children of God and how we are to live as special creatures in God’s creation.
Campers will have several “expressions of me” opportunities to meet with persons from the Bishop’s cabinet, West Virginia Wesleyan College, the Buckhannon community, and members of the SYC staff each afternoon following traditional workshops. More information on the event, activities, and leaders can be found at The Summer Youth Celebration website.
Ichthus Music Festival 2012
June 20-23, 2012
Wilmore, Kentucky
The Kentucky Conference Ministry with Young People has an exciting new partnership with Ichthus Ministries in 2012! Ichthus is an event and media ministry based in Wilmore KY, that has its roots in many ways in the United Methodist Church. Most notably, the Ichthus Music Festival draws 18,000-20,000 people each year to its “farm” in Wilmore with four days of music, media, and high-impact ministry! It includes six stages (that run simultaneously), more than 150 artists, 20 speakers, a Global missions village, skate park, youth tents, parent tents, a coffeehouse, food and merch vendors, camping, dorm housing, and a lot more. The Kentucky Conference of the United Methodist Church is adding the Ichthus Festival June 20-23, as one of our events for 2012. We’ll be gathering as a group several times during the larger event. For more information, visit the The Kentucky Annual Conference Ministry with Young People page.
Holston Annual Conference Junior High and Senior High Assembly
June 25-29
Tennessee Wesleyan College, Athens, Tennessee
The Holston Annual Conference Assembly is a week of discipleship featuring awesome worship, awesome people and one awesome God. It’s joining together with others your age to learn, grow, and laugh. It’s waking up and worshipping through word and song. It’s coming to an event and leaving with a “family”. It’s an opportunity to open up, to get real, to focus. It’s a chance to shift your thoughts, your actions, and your life from things of this world to the heart of Jesus. For more information, or to register, visit the
June 28-30, 2012 The trail hike is more than a hiking trip, it is an experience of spiritual journey. The hike provides a mountaintop experience for youth to face and meet a challenge, to see God at a new height, and to be come aware of God’s abiding presence. This year’s theme is “I’m not there yet, but I’m closer than I was yesterday.” Each participant is responsible for their own backpack and gear as well as shared community gear. Reflections, worship, and sharing are a significant part of the journey. For more information, or to register, see this flier from the North Carolina Conference. June 22-24, 2012 The Explore Leadership Camp is for youth in the Missouri Annual Conference who are interested in taking a more active role in the church. It is available for youth who completed grades 9-12 and adult mentors who are interested in leadership. Visit the Missouri Annual Conference site for more information or to register. June 4-6, 2012 Join Youth from around the Texas Annual Conference for Collide 2012, the Youth Annual Conference. The event will include speakers and music. The deadline to register your youth group is January 23. To register, or for more information, visit Youthcollide.com. June 21-25, 2012 The 2012 Youth Harambee, sponsored by Black Methodists for Church Renewal, is coming up. Youth from all around the SEJ are invited to attend this great event. Youth will hear great speakers, take part in music led by youth, and take part in informative breakout sessions. More information about the event will soon become available, but get it on your calendar. June 22-24, 2012 This leadership event for youth, sponsored by Central Methodist University and the Missouri Conference Council on Youth Ministries, will help youth explore ways to be leaders in their congregation and the greater church. Youth who are serving as leaders in their church or interested in the ministry are invited to learn about what makes great leaders as well as topics such as worship planning, leading small groups, and organizing mission trips. For more information, visit the Missouri Conference website. June 22-24, 2012 Identify those youth in your church who are either already leading in your youth ministry OR who have leadership potential. Bring individual youth or your entire youth council – and come ready for a great weekend of learning, lots of fun, inspiring worship, connecting with others from across the conference, and making plans for ministry! Not only is this a great way to develop youth leadership within your own church or district, but there are also opportunities for youth leadership in the North Georgia Conference. More information about the event can be found at the North Georgia Annual Conference website. August 10-11, 2012 The Holy Ghost Party will include group building time, worship, food, fun, swimming, boating, campfire, small group experiences, and optional planning time for the next year. Designed to get your group kicked-off for the new school year so bring a friend! For more information about the event, visit the Missouri conference website. November 9-11 Pilgrimage is a weekend event for UMYF and local church youth groups in which youth and young adult advisors are challenged to a new or deeper faith in Jesus Christ. The content of the event will focus on challenging youth to step out of the boat onto the water, have higher expectations; and inspire them to volunteer, lead and invite others to come join in. The theme for Pilgrimage is “If not now, when. If not us, who?” For more information, or to register, see this flier from the North Carolina Conference. November 30 – December 2, 2012 The South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church presents their annual Youth Gathering, “Celebration.” Join youth from around the conference for three days of worship, fellowship, and fun. Visit the South Georgia Conference website for more information as it becomes available. January 11-13, 2012 The Baltimore Washington Annual Conference is proud to present its annual youth retreat: Rock 2013. Get this great event on your calendar and joining youth from around the conference to worship, take part in breakout sessions, and hear great speakers. More information will be available at the the Rock 2013 website as the event nears. January 26-27, 2013 Join youth from all aroung the Missouri Annual Conference for WOW 2013. Get the date on your calendars now, and keep checking in with wow2013.org for more information, including speakers, activities, and registration, as the date of the event nears. North Carolina Conference Appalachian Trail Hike
Starting in Raleigh, North CarolinaExplore Leadership Camp
Central Methodist University, Fayette, MissouriYouth Collide 2012
Galveston, TexasHarambee 2012 SEJ Youth Retreat
Registration Deadline May 31, 2012
Epworth by the Sea, St. Simons Island, GeorgiaExplore Leadership Camp
Central Methodist University, Fayette, Missouri
Deadline to Apply is June 1st, 2012YL2L: Youth Learning to Lead
Oxford College, Oxford, GeorgiaHoly Ghost Party
Lake of the Ozarks State Park Organized Group Camps, Camp Clover PointPilgrimage: An Event for North Carolina Conference Youth Groups
Crown Coliseum, Fayetteville, North CarolinaYouth Celebration 2012
Epworth By The Sea, St. Simons Island, GeorgiaRock 2013: Baltimore Washington Annual Conference Youth Retreat
Ocean City, MarylandWOW 2013: Missouri Annual Conference Youth Gathering
Springfield, Missouri