2022 Winter Workshops Are Here!

Photo courtesy of YAYAM West

Grab your favorite scarf, notepad, and the Divine Principle — we’re just days away from the kickoff of several Youth and Young Adult Ministry (YAYAM) winter workshops convening next week and into the new year! 

YAYAM organizers say they’re anticipating a huge turnout of participants this year because most of the camps will be held in person. “Some of these workshops are in person and region specific, others are for anyone who would like to attend” says the YAYAM USA team. “We hope to see many of our youth at one of these workshops.”

In the Northeast, the “Next Generation” workshop, which Ozawa spearheaded as YAYAM Northeast coordinator, will help participants discover what it means to be a young Unificationist. Running from Dec. 26 to 29, the workshop will be held at the Unification Theological Seminary (UTS) in Barrytown, New York and is open to all middle and high school students.

In the DC-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) area, the “Our Fight, My Promise” workshop will go from Dec. 27 to Jan. 1. The workshop, open to all high schoolers throughout the Southeast region, will be held at Camp Pecometh – Faith and Grace houses – in Centreville, Maryland. Coordinators say there won’t be organized transportation to and from the campsite, so families will be responsible for getting their children there.

Southeast coordinators are also asking registrants to prepare themselves spiritually by responding to a few selected prompts by Dec. 24: A one-page writeup about what True Parents want to accomplish through our movement and how they see themselves fitting into this mission; sharing an aspect of Unification belief with a non-member friend, such as family values, abstinence, or God-centered marriage; and commiting to a 7-day spiritual condition before the workshop that consists of either a four-minute prayer focused on the workshop and what to learn from it, 40 bows per day, or a morning to afternoon fast each day. After completing the three prerequisites, they can be emailed to dcbcyouth@gmail.com.

The “Illuminate” workshop in Georgia, which is seeking more staff, will run from Dec. 27 to 31 for high school students. Held at Camp Aruna in Ellenwood, just north of Atlanta, participants will discover and explore the different realms of love through lectures, discussion, and various activities. “We have some fun outings planned for our youth including a bonfire and outdoor sports and activities,” says a workshop organizer. “We had such an amazing turn out and experience last year, so we're excited to see everyone again and have an even better time.” Organizers are requesting participants and staff to submit a negative Covid test taken within five days of the workshop. Staff can apply here.

In the Midwest, the “Winter Kogape” workshop will run from Dec. 28 to Jan. 1 at Camp KOHOE in Watervliet, Michigan. The workshop is open to all middle and high school students, as well as young adults and parents. Registration closes Dec. 20.

In the Bay Area, a high school workshop will be held from Dec. 27 to 30. While details of winter workshops in Colorado and Utah and Camp True North in Washington are still being determined, a new “Christmas Bowl” will debut in New Jersey this year. The event, hosted by the Blessed Culture and Sports Festival (BCSF), will be held Dec. 30 and 31 at the Sports Domain Academy in Clifton. 

“It’s too cold to play outside ... but we have a plan,” says BCFS Director, Denthew Learey, in a promotional video for the new Christmas Bowl. “We’re renting out an indoor facility with a nice turf field. We’re going to be playing five-on-five frisbee, and four-on-four or five-on-five volleyball. It’s going to be a good time.” Learey says new and avid sports players are encouraged to participate, with fellowship at the Clifton Family Church afterward on Dec. 31.

In California, a special workshop for young adults and couples called “Glimpse of a Blessed Life” will usher in 2023. The retreat, held at the Bay Area Family Church from Jan. 20 to 22, will help participants understand their own value, bridge the gap between the ideal and reality of relationships, and help them create and own the blessed culture our movement envisions. “[Participants will] hear testimonies from couples and each other about living a principled life as an individual or as a blessed couple and family,” says a retreat organizer. “It’s a space to feel heard and listened to, have meaningful discussion, and much more.”

You can find the latest updates on all YAYAM winter workshops here, including registration links, fees, and deadlines.