Youth

Camp Registration Is Open

300 Campers from 30 Congregations

Help us reach our goal this summer.  We want to grow our program to reach 300 campers representing 30 Oklahoma Disciples congregations this summer.  Have you registered a camper for Church Camp this summer?  All the Region sponsored camps are during June.  The Region has recruited directors who are recruiting counselors to serve at Chi Rho Camp, CYF Conference, Discovery Camp, and Junior Camp.  All of our directors and counselors are volunteers from our Oklahoma congregations.  And, the past few years we have been selected to welcome a Disciples Peace Fellowship Intern to Chi Rho Camp and CYF Conference.

The Commission for Children, Youth, and Young Adults (CYYA) oversees our camp program and retreat ministry.  The CYYA is seeking financial support for the camp program.  We pass on the cost of our adult volunteers to each camper, making our camp fees higher. If your congregation doesn’t send campers or you don’t have campers to send or adults to volunteer, you can be part of the summer church camp program by sponsoring (paying) for an adult volunteering their time.  We will accept gifts until May 1st, then take the balance, do some math, and apply an additional discount to all campers registered by April 24th.  Would you like to be involved?  Contact Rev. Michael Davison (mdavison at okdisciples dot org) or Rev. Bill Hemm, co-chair of CYYA (hemmco22 at gmail dot com).

3 More Opportunities

  • Regional Assembly @ Sea – July 11-15
    There are still cabins available as Oklahoma Disciples sail together and Meet Jesus on the Water
  • Water Weekend @ Lake Texoma – July 19-21
    This weekend for grades 8-12, is a partnership with First Christian Church, Sulphur.
  • Family Camp @ Camp Christian – August 31-Sept 2
    A weekend retreat for families of all sizes and ages.  Come away and be introduced to our camp program, or remember when you were a camper.
2024-03-27T16:33:15-05:00Feb 27, 2024|Youth|0 Comments

The Christmas Story by RYC

"Let's go and see this thing which the Lord has made known to us."

Pause for three minutes with Luke 2:1-20, read by members of the Regional Youth Council.  RYC invites you to use their reading in your Christmas Eve worship.  Download it here.

Regional Youth Council Readers

  • Maryanne
  • Derek
  • Leah Grace

Maryanne created a video reading of Luke 2:1-20.  Download it here.

Regional Youth Council Youth

  • Derek (New Covenant Christian Church, Oklahoma City)
  • Jonah (First Christian Church, El Reno)
  • Leah Grace (Forest Park Christian Church, Tulsa)
  • Luke (First Christian Church, Duncan)
  • Maryanne (First Christian Church, Cherokee)

Regional Youth Council Adults

  • Eula (First Christian Church, Norman)
  • Shannon (First Christian Church, Norman)
  • Tara (First Christian Church, El Reno)
  • Travis (First Christian Church, Chickasha)
2024-03-27T16:33:40-05:00Dec 20, 2023|Youth|Comments Off on The Christmas Story by RYC

Get Away Campout

October 19-21

We will take time for “sabbath” and learn a bit about what this kind of time means for each one of us.

Bring your Chi Rho and CYF youth groups for some time away camping.  No really!  Grab a tent, sleeping bag, and let’s get away from screens and school.  Join members of the Regional Youth Council for a 2 night / 3 day campout at Red Rock Adventure Park near Hinton, OK.  Sure, there will be some keynote and worship.  There will also be time to hike, fish, play games, nap, rest, and campfire chat about life as a follower of Jesus.  Come and share your disciples story.

Fee: $30 per person
Includes: Camp Site, Meals, and Program

Our outdoor time begins Oct 19 at 11am with check-in and set up your tent site.

We will break camp and head for home Oct 21 around 11am.

Click here to Register Your Group.  Yes, bring adults (1 per 6 youth)

2023-08-31T13:33:08-05:00Aug 31, 2023|Youth|Comments Off on

Cancelled Events

Is post-pandemic time busier than pre-pandemic time?  People continue to add activities and events to their personal schedules and family schedules as the rush to “make up” for two years continues.  Two events planned during the Labor Day weekend did not have enough registrations for the Region to go forward with planning and to host.  Family Camp and Intersections are cancelled for this year.

There are many opportunities for you to be involved in the ministry of your local congregation and the Region.  Help your congregation and the Region with your presence, your voice, and vision for the planning of upcoming and future opportunities to connect, equip, and empower Oklahoma Disciples as we love and serve like Jesus.

2023-08-21T09:06:00-05:00Aug 21, 2023|Comm on Laity, Events, Youth|Comments Off on Cancelled Events

Last Day to Register for Family Camp: August 18

Spend the Labor Day weekend with Disciples from around the Region at Family Camp.  This weekend is designed to introduce Church Camp, and provide time away before the fall school routine takes hold of family life.

Family Camp is an intergenerational experience of play, prayer, study, worship, and service.  Come away and learn about the fruit of the Spirit.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
$100 per adult ages 11 and Up
$75 per child 10 and under

Registration Extended to August 18

2023-08-14T06:24:27-05:00Aug 14, 2023|Youth|Comments Off on Last Day to Register for Family Camp: August 18

IAS 2024: Church-State Relations

What’s Included in the Fee?

  • RT Airfare & Amtrak Fare

  • Subway, Bus, & Uber/Lyft, Cab Fares

  • Lodging In Washington D.C and New York City

  • Entrance Fees

  • Formal Seminar Days

  • Show at the Kennedy Center

  • Two Broadway Shows

Meals [B/L/D daily] On Travel Days participants pay for one meal.
Participants are also responsible for individual snacks or drinks between meals.

International Affairs Seminar
March 15-23, 2024

It’s an election year. There is no better time to discuss the relationship of participating in a secular society and following the way of Jesus.  How does this show up in our Government’s separation of Church and State (or not)?

IAS is offered to youth in grades 11 and 12.  This study trip focuses on a theme and provides participants with a cohort learning experience visiting Washington D.C. and New York City.  Participants can expect to walk 60-70 total miles during the trip as they traverse the cities visiting museums, Government offices, tourist attractions while learning about the study theme.  Each evening includes a debrief with adults about the experiences of the day.

The trip is limited to 15 youth and a minimum of 10 are needed.  Download the flyer for all the information.  Contact Rev. Michael Davison if you have questions.

Registration Opens August 16

Registration Closes September 29

Click Here to download the Flyer

Cost: $2000 per person

Photos from IAS

2018

2017

What Should I Expect?

Expect to be challenged, to experience information overload, be exhausted, and be energized.

Expect meaningful conversations, laughter, and interesting food.

IAS is a study trip.  Seminar days are primarily classroom experiences with guest speakers that provide information or experiences to teach participants about the topic and prepare them to be a resource for their local congregations.

IAS is a lot of walking! Personal responsibility for your well being, physical and mental, is important to fully experience the trip because it is designed as a group experience.  Like church camp, this trip can create friendships that stay connected into adulthood.

2023-07-27T09:59:07-05:00Jul 27, 2023|Uncategorized, Youth|Comments Off on IAS 2024: Church-State Relations

SUCCESS!  Church Camp Matching Fund & CYF Charter Bus

Matching Fund

A Matching Fund challenge was created through generous donations from the Northeast Area, and from the close of Midwest Blvd Christian Church to support camp this year. Persons and congregations from around the Region contributed to the matching fund that enabled the Region to discount an additional $71 off the fees for church camp this summer.

Matching Fund Donors
Rev. Joshua Bell
Rev. Geoff Brewster
Rev. Michael & Rev. Dr. Lisa Davison
Regina Dokus
Rev. Julia Jordan Gillett
Eric Gray
Ronald Hadwiger
Kathy Standridge
Linda Sutherlin
Mary Ann Ward
Canadian Co Disciples Congregations
First Christian Church Cherokee
First Christian Church Ponca City
First Christian Church Prague
Oklahoma Disciples Women

CYF Conference Charter Bus Donors

Though generous gifts, the Region is able to provide a charter bus for CYF Conference campers without passing that cost to families and congregations.

Bus Donors
Central Area
Oklahoma Disciples Women
Oklahoma Disciples Foundation Grant
Northwest Area

2023-06-06T09:53:43-05:00Jun 6, 2023|Youth|Comments Off on

May 15: Last Day to Register for Church Camp

Today is the last day (May 15) to Register for Church Camp.  The Region organizes and sponsors our Outdoor Ministry program (Church Camp) at three different sites.  We offer a camp experience for everyone between grads 2-12, and this Labor Day we will offer our first ever, Family Camp, at Camp Christian.

REGISTRATION CLOSES at 11pm tonight or when a camp is at maximum capacity.  Learn more about our Outdoor Ministry program and see the current camp registration numbers at the Families & Youth webpage.

Questions?  Contact Rev. Michael Davison (mdavison at okdisciples dot org).

READY TO REGISTER?  CLICK HERE

2023-05-15T07:37:26-05:00May 15, 2023|Youth|Comments Off on May 15: Last Day to Register for Church Camp

Church Camp Update: April 24th (Camp Rates Increase Today)

Church Camp Logo 2023

Church Camp Fees Set to Regular Rates Today

There was a surge of registrations for all our Church camp experiences last week! Chi Rho Camp is nearing capacity and our other camps are also filling up.  Camp Registration is OPEN until May 15th.  But, our registration fees (rates) are increasing today as we enter the next phase of camp preparation.  Our camp directors are beginning to finalize their schedules, work with the curriculum with their volunteer counselors, and think about what needs to be purchased for their camp.

It is also time for Rev. Michael Davison to get the Camp t-shirt design prepared and shirts ordered from our vendor here in Oklahoma.  We do our best to support local businesses when needing to make purchases for our camps.

Learn More and stay connected to the Region’s program ministries for children, youth, and families by visiting the Families and Youth webpage.

If you have questions about any or our program ministries for children, youth, or families, please contact Rev. Michael Davison (mdavison at okdisciples dot org).

2023-04-24T08:58:50-05:00Apr 24, 2023|Youth|Comments Off on Church Camp Update: April 24th (Camp Rates Increase Today)

Matching Gift Supports Camp This Summer

Camp is a holy place where children and youth experience an intentional Christian community based on love, acceptance, inclusion, worship, play, and meeting the Divine.  Help us make this opportunity more financially accessible for all Disciples children and youth in Oklahoma.

The Northeast Area Council has offered a matching gift of $5000.  This generous gift will be combined with a gift of $3000 from the closure of Midwest Boulevard Christian Church for a maximum of $8000 to be used as matching funds to help raise $16,000 (our estimated cost) for adults to be counselors and directors for the 2023 camping season.  We are asking individual Disciples, congregations, and Area Ministries to contribute, so that all of the $8000 can be used as matching funds and help further discount the cost of camp for families and congregations.

CLICK HERE to make your gift today and help lower the final cost of camp for congregations and campers.  Or, send a check made out to the Christian Church in Oklahoma and memo, Camp Matching Fund 2023.

The Commission for Children, Youth, and Young Adults is seeking ways to make our summer church camps more affordable for our families and congregations.  The adults that give of their time and their energy to organize, staff, and lead Discovery Camp, Junior Camp, Chi Rho Camp, and CYF Conference are not monetarily charged when they come to camp to donate their time.  However, the camp sites still charge the Region for the adults.  That cost has been passed on to the campers throughout the years.  This way of paying for the adult volunteers is no longer sustainable for our families or congregations.

In early May, congregations receive an invoice for their campers that have registered for a camp. Funds from the match will be divided by the number of campers registered on May 1st, and applied to the invoices sent to congregations.

Questions?  Contact Rev. Bill Hemm, Chair of the Comm for Children, Youth, & Young Adults or Rev. Michael Davison.

$8,000 Matching Goal – To Date 68%
Church Camp Logo 2023
2023-04-19T16:09:35-05:00Mar 1, 2023|Youth|Comments Off on Matching Gift Supports Camp This Summer
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