Welcome from the Youth A-Team!
The Youth Advisory Team (we call it the Youth A-Team) is a team of youth, young adults, and adults that seek to grow disciples of Jesus Christ through planning awesome events, conferences, and mission opportunities for the youth of the Presbytery of Arkansas!
Each A-Team member serves for one school year (June-May) and can re-apply perpetually as their schedule allows. We’d love to have you join us!
Want to be part of the A-Team? Contact Sarah Leer.
Check out the awesome year YAT put together!
How can my church encourage youth to attend Youth Events/Trips?
- Please share this information with all the youth connected to your church! Friends are welcome as well!
- The Youth A-Team encourages churches to help make these trips affordable by offering scholarships to participants connected to their congregations. If your church is offering scholarships, please alert Sarah (arpres.ateam@gmail.com) so we are aware.
- We always need good chaperones and drivers for summer trips. You don’t have to have a student participant on the trips to send an amazing adult. Please pass this info on to adults in your church who you think might be willing to volunteer. And then please support those adults with scholarships if you are able.
- Finally, churches are also encouraged to support our youth in prayer before, during, and after the trip! Keep an eye on our social media for trip updates: Facebook & Instagram
You can also pay for events by mailing a check addressed to the “Presbytery of Arkansas (9221 N. Rodney Parham Rd., Little Rock, AR 72227) with your name/church name and event on the memo line.
Spring Events
February 21 & 22 – Youth @ Presbytery
February 21-22
Where: Lyon College (Batesville, AR). From 6:30 pm on the 21st until approx. 2 pm on the 22nd.
For: High School Youth (9th -12th Grade) & Adult leaders who will serve as chaperones.
Deadline: February 15
Register here
Your voice matters! High School youth are invited to attend the Spring meeting of the Presbytery, this year at Lyon College in Batesville. Youth will have voice on the floor and advisory votes on specific pieces of business. We will attend worship Friday evening, and we will get to know each other better. We will also hear from speakers who will let us know what business to expect during our Saturday meeting. Friday dinner and Saturday lunch will be provided.
Presbytery Wide Confirmation Retreat
February 28-March 2, 2025 (7pm on the 28th to 10 am on the 2nd)
Where: Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center
For: Youth grades 7-12
Deadline: February 15
Click to Register!
Are you a small church who has a few youth who haven’t been through Confirmation? Did COVID or a staff transition interrupt your Confirmation rotation? Do you have youth who would like to connect with others in the Presbytery as they go through your church’s Confirmation process? Well, you are in luck!
In order to better support our congregations, the Presbytery of Arkansas is offering a Confirmation opportunity for youth grades 7-12 for churches throughout our Presbytery. This Confirmation model is a Retreat weekend + some digital classes after the Retreat to round out Confirmation instruction. Youth will then be confirmed in their own congregations. We will work with the individual churches in order to make sure the youth have support as they move through the process.
Due to the generosity of our ministry partners at Ferncliff, this event is free!
Mission: Possible 2025
April 4-6
Where: Northwest Arkansas
For: Youth (6th-9th Grade) & Young adults (18-23) and Adult leaders who will serve as chaperones.
Deadline: Friday, March 21
Click to Register!
This is a weekend event for junior high/middle schoolers. The youth will be serving with our Presbyterian partners in Bentonville. Mission: Possible is a Junior High/ Middle School retreat in the Spring centered on service. This year we will be serving throughout Northwest Arkansas and staying in Bentonville.
Cost: $75 per youth (financial assistance available by request)
Questions?
Contact Sarah Leer, Transitional Youth and Young Adult Developer
Summer Events
Triennium 2025 in Louisville
Montreat Middle School Conference
Montreat Youth Conference
Triennium 2025
July 28-31
Where: Louisville, Kentucky
For: Rising 9th – Graduated Seniors & Young Adults (19-23)
Deadline: February 17
Spots are limited for this trip and participants will be chosen through the application link above. Applications for this event will be reviewed after Feb. 17th and youth and young adults will be told if they are able to be part of the delegation by the end of February.
The Presbytery of Arkansas will be joining delegations of youth and adults for this event. In July 2025, the Presbyterian Church (USA) will welcome thousands of its high school age youth and their adult youth workers to Louisville, Kentucky for four days of worship, recreation, bible study, outreach, and faith formation all around the theme of “As If We Were Dreaming”.
Most programming and meals will be held at the Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC) with all participants housed at nearby Triennium hotels
Montreat Middle School Conference 2025
July 16-20, 2025
Where: Montreat Middle School Conference (in Maryville, TN)
For: Junior High / Middle School Youth [those who have completed 5th-8th grade by the summer of 2025] & Adult leaders who will serve as chaperones.
Deadline: March 1, 2025 (spots are limited)
This year we will be embarking upon a new adventure with our junior high /middle school youth. We will travel to Maryville, TN where we will connect with other youth, participate in small groups, recreation, engaging music, keynotes, and worship. This is a middle school conference held at Maryville College and gives our junior high and middle schoolers an opportunity to deepen their faith while connecting to the larger church.
Montreat Youth Conference 2025
June 7-14, 2025
Where: Montreat Youth Conference in Black Mountain, NC
For: High School Youth [those who have completed 8th-12th grade by the summer of 2025] & adult leaders who will serve as chaperones.
Deadline: March 1 (spots are limited)
(**the conference takes place June 8-14, however, we are building in a day on the front end for a travel stay overnight on our way there)
The Presbytery of Arkansas is headed to the mountains of North Carolina to Montreat Camp and Conference Center for Montreat Youth Conference, Week 2! We will travel together by bus and stay overnight along the way. We will be digging deeper into our faith through music, worship, keynotes, and small groups. We’ll participate in recreation events all week and spend time connecting as a Presbytery. Our senior high youth will meet youth from around the country and learn more about what it means to be a beloved child of God. Spots are limited, so please register by the deadline!
Spots are limited, so please register by March 1, 2025.
