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Youth and Outdoor Ministry

The Southwest Conference is committed to the development of programs for children and youth to get away, live together, and explore God‘s presence in their lives. Our Youth and Outdoor Ministry provides many opportunities for youth to be involved including camps during the summer, retreats during the school year and leadership opportunities. FAQs

2012 Senior High Sneak Trip

February 17 - 19, 2012
San Diego, CA / Tijuana, Mexico

“Sneak Trip” is the name for our Senior High mission trip/retreat that takes place over Presidents' Day weekend 2012. The theme this year is Beyond the Border because we will be learning and immersing ourselves in border issues with people who live on both sides of our U.S./Mexico border. It will be a transformational weekend in which we will see and experience new ways of thinking and being in the world; our activities will include talks with activists, community organizers, church leaders, and people working to bring about social change.

If we desire to grow as individuals and as a human family, there is a theologically-based need to cross borders. Borders will never disappear, but they do not have to divide or separate. Through our immersion experience, we will be invited to view the border, reflect theologically about border communities, and to recognize and respect the differences that make us who we are as individuals and societies.

Selelct this link for information, forms and online registration for the 2012 Senior High Sneak Trip

2012 Junior High Youth Event

	The Junior High Youth Event is an excellent opportunity for Junior High youth to meet new friends, see camp friends and strengthen current friendships. This event will provide Junior High youth the freedom to explore their faith relationship in a new way through the reflection of social justice issues, music, dance and so much more! Music is an important part of our social life and it is just as important in our spiritual life. So, this year our theme will be Plug into God. We will explore some of our favorite music on the radio, reflect on praise music and listen to a live keynote band. What else will we be doing during the weekend? We will be cooking, baking, going to workshops, singing, dancing, laughing, playing games, eating lots of yummy foods and so much more!
Selelct this link for information, forms and online registration for the 2012 Junior High Youth Event

Community Events
Faith And The Fence - March 4 An Interreligious Youth Conference On Immigration Information Registration link

Young Adult Service Communities
Interns in these two programs, Summer Communities of Service (10 weeks, for ages 19-30) and Young Adult Service Communities (11 months, for ages 21-30), experience many gifts from the communities where they serve. Community Living Interns live in community with each other and develop relationships with their host congregation, local community, and YASC Groups in other locations. Leadership Development - UCC Style Experience the integration of congregational life and mission/service/justice advocacy. Develop servant leadership skills. Hands-On Justice Advocacy/Service Opportunities Experience the gifts and learn of the needs of vulnerable or excluded people. Faith Conversations Reflect on your experience and explore a vocabulary of faith that expresses a radical hospitality. Participate in "vocational discernment" and help vision a church engaged in God's work in the world. To learn more about and apply for these programs, visit Volunteer Ministries: YASC

Support Youth Ministry

Attending Southwest Conference youth events keeps the next generation of UCC members inspired and interested in growing in their faith.

Youth and Young Adult ministry of the Southwest Conference has used a reserve fund to help pay for the expenses of this ministry which includes, but are not limited to, a staff member, event expenses and scholarships for kids who would not be able to attend otherwise.

As of now, this reserve fund is completely depleted. Iin order for this ministry to continue the way it has been in the past, it is in desperate need of some donations.

Read letter by Travis Meyer, chairperson of the Youth and Outdoor Ministries Committee

Watch Youth and Outdoor Ministry video