Events and Trainings for Youth and Young Adults

Interested in serving on staff for General Assembly? 

Apply for GA Youth staff, which galvanizes high school youth at GA and needs youth and adult leaders; Thrive@GA, which provides community and support to young folks of color and needs one youth and one young adult of color for their team; and/or YA@GA, which serves young adults 18-35 and connects, supports and transforms our people and needs young adult leaders.

Unitarian Universalists believe that we are better together. When we come together, we can create change, nurture our spirits and learn new things. Our faith offers many opportunities to gather among peers and in multigenerational community alike. From local to international, you can find an event that's right for you. For financial assistance to attend, apply for a leadership grant for youth or young adults. Ask your congregation and UUA region for additional local grants and sponsorships.

National Events

General Assembly

Thousands of UUs gather every year at General Assembly. Youth and young adults are vital members of the GA community.

GA Youth brings together all youth attendees of GA for workshops, worship, social events and more.

YA@GA brings together young adult attendees of GA for programs, events and an inclusive and energizing community for young adults of all backgrounds to network, worship, and share a collective voice as participants in the larger GA community.

Thrive@GA Coordinators for Youth and for Young Adults support youth and young adults of color (People of African Descent, Caribbean, Native/American Indian, Asian and Pacific Islander, Latina/o and Hispanic, Middle Eastern/Arab, and Multiracial) at GA and serve as fully-funded volunteer staff.

Summer Seminary

Youth exploring the possibility of becoming a religious professional should check out Summer Seminary. Focusing on ordained ministry, religious education, music ministry and chaplaincy the program offers youth the opportunity to explore their call, experience facets of life as a religious professional, and connect with other youth considering ministry and religious education as career paths.

Thrive: Leadership Schools for Youth and Young Adults of Color

Designed specifically for youth and young adults of color, Thrive: Leadership Schools for Youth and Young Adults of Color feature experienced facilitators intentional in providing participants with experiences that will foster relationship building, leadership skills, racial/ethnic identity development, inter-cultural collaboration and deepening of faith identity.

Meaning Makers

Meaning Makers is a year long spiritual development program for UU emerging adults (age 18-24). Through in-person retreats, virtual small group ministry and mentorship, emerging adults will explore the central questions “Who am I and how can I live my UU faith in the world?”

UU-United Nations Office

The Intergenerational Spring Seminar is an intergenerational gathering held in New York City, which incorporates peer and expert-led panel discussions, community building activities, keynote speeches and worship services, participants undergo a transformative process of learning, reflection, and growth as we explore some of the most challenging issues facing humanity today.

UU College of Social Justice

Activate! is an opportunity for youth to gather in Boston, New Orleans and the Southwest Border for a week or two of skill building, reflection, and service learning. Participants will learn about privilege, identity, and economic justice, and will leave with a supportive community and a deeper understanding of themselves and social justice.

Grounded & Resilient Organizers’ (GROW) Climate Justice Workshop is an intensive five-day training on spiritually grounded climate justice activism for young adults. It is designed to give young activists some of the skills, practices, spiritual grounding and relationships that will help them do the work of climate justice for the long haul.

International Events

Thinking globally? From the Parliament of World Religions to a Pilgrimage Tour of South America, there are many international events to check out.

UU College of Social Justice

Global Justice Summer Internships are available for young adults (ages 18–34) who wish to deepen their engagement with social justice and discover new ways to put their faith into action.

Local and Regional Events for Youth

Cons and Rallies

Youth conferences (called “cons” in some places and “rallies” in other places) are local, district or regional events usually held in a congregation, organized and run in youth and adult partnership. In addition to cons and rallies, trainings, workshops, gatherings and more happen on the district and regional levels. Please check your district or regional websites for information.

Camps

Youth and multigenerational UU Camps, summer institutes and retreat centers can be found all across the nation. Find a camp near you! Explore the Unitarian Universalist Alliance of Camp and Conference Centers (PDF).

Leadership Schools

Generally longer than a weekend, these leadership schools offer immersive opportunities for participants to gain leadership skills, deepen their faith and build connections with other youth. Pacific Western Region's Metamorphosis Camp and Central East Region's River Rising are exclusively for youth, while Southern Region Leadership Experiences and MidWest Leadership School are multigenerational.

Local and Regional Events for Young Adults

Hub Map

An open-source calendar of events for and by young adult Unitarian Universalists (UUs), anyone can view the details of this public calendar. Want to add your event? Email yacm@uua.org with the event you want to add or to have this calendar shared with you.

District/Regional Events

Check with your UUA regional staff and the calendar on your district's website to find out what is going on in your local area. For other local, district, regional, and national gatherings open to young adults, check the UUA Calendar of Events.

Camps

Young adult and multigenerational UU Camps, summer institutes and retreat centers can be found all across the nation. Find a camp near you! Explore the Unitarian Universalist Alliance of Camp and Conference Centers (PDF).

National Campus Ministry Association Conference

Over the course of three days, campus ministers from several denominations, traditions, and religious groups gathered to learn, to plan, and to support each other in their work at the NCMA Conference. Read about the experience on Blue Boat Blog.

The Hub Map: Unitarian Universalist young adult and campus ministries

Use this map to find UU groups devoted to young adults or students. Don't see a group in your area? Add a pink pin to show you're there!

Group hug during song worship in Youth Caucus 2015

Group hug during a song worship for GA Youth and Youth Caucus at General Assembly

Andrea Briscoe leading GA's Youth caucus with "the" palm tree

Sr. Dean Andrea Briscoe leading along side the Youth Caucus Palm Tree

Graduating Class of Summer Seminary 2015

18 youth gathered in Denver, CO for Summer Seminary 2015.

Graduating Class of Multicultural Leadership School 2015

17 youth and young adults gathered in Boston, MA for Thrive Leadership School 2015.

UU-UNO Intergenerational Spring Seminar

Youth and young adults gather from accross the nation for the UU United Nations Office Intergenerational Spring Seminar.

National Youth Justice Training

19 youth gather for the UU College of Social Justice's National Youth Justice Training

Service Learning Trip in Haiti

Service Learning Trip to Haiti through the UU College of Social Justice

Crowd shot of youth at General Assembly 2015

Check your district or regional website for cons and rallies in your area.

Many generations gather around the campfire to roast marshmallows

Rest, relax and rejuvinate at a UU summer camp.

Multicultural Leadership school training session

Youth and young adults gather for anti-racism, anti-oppression, multicultural work.