Twenty-eight youth advisors from across the country gathered at the YMCA of the Rockies in October at the first-ever NYC Advisor Preview event.
Many have attended National Youth Conference in recent years at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. However, next July 18 – 23, 2026, youth and advisors will gather at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. To help prepare and empower advisors to lead groups of youth to attend NYC, Youth/Young Adult Ministries director Becky Ullom Naugle thought it would be helpful for advisors to get a glimpse into what awaits.
Attendees experienced the type of lodging our group will use and sampled meals in the dining hall where we will eat. A campus tour helped advisors get their bearings and make a mental map of the facility. Tour highlights included the auditorium where worship will be held twice a day, the indoor swimming pool, and the variety of recreation opportunities available.
The three-day gathering included a continuing education component, led by Rev. Dr. Charles “Chuck” Hunt of the Fuller Youth Institute at Fuller Seminary. Chuck led a discussion of the issues impacting the lives of young people and their faith formation, often referencing the book Faith Beyond Youth Group: 5 Ways to Form Character and Cultivate Lifelong Discipleship.
Eager to share ideas with each other, participants swapped fundraising ideas and soaked up details about conference logistics. An afternoon of free time – during which people hiked, checked out ice cream offerings in the nearby town, and even napped – rounded out the agenda.
Districts represented by at least one advisor included: Atlantic Northeast, Atlantic Southeast, Illinois/Wisconsin, Northern Indiana, Mid-Atlantic, Missouri/Arkansas, Northern Plains, Southern Ohio, Pacific Southwest, Middle Pennsylvania, Southern Pennsylvania, Shenandoah, Virlina, and Western Plains. (If you would like to connect with the representative from your district, call the Youth/Young Adult Ministries office for contact information!)
Check out the National Youth Conference website and social media for all the latest updates. Contact the NYC office with questions (cobyouth@brethren.org, or 847-388-3902).
Early bird registration opens on Monday, January 5, and is $625. Registration fees will go up on March 1, and again on May 1 – register early and save $!
Watch a video with the “logistics and specifics” information presented at the event.
Photo by Becky Ullom Naugle
Photo by Rachel Johnson