National Convention 2023

General Convention Info

Join Young Judaea Teens at Camp Twin Lakes in Winder, GA from January 13 – 16, 2023 for our annual National Convention! Come for a weekend of seeing old friends and making new ones while exploring aspects of Jewish identity, Zionism, pluralism, and tikkun olam. All programs and activities will be planned and run by the members of the 2022-2023 National Mazkirut, our teen governing leadership board. Participants will have the opportunity to elect their peers to the 2023-2024 National Mazkirut and make their voices heard! The program will include a service project related to our 2022-2023 National Initiative, Women’s rights. 

Sponsored in part through the generous support of Hadassah Women’s Zionist Organization of America.

When: *January 13th-16th, 2023

Where: Camp Twin Lakes – Will-a-Way, Winder, GA
210 S Broad St # 5, Winder, GA 30680

Cost: **$400 (flights are not included)

*Are you in 11th or 12th grade? Join us for an additional day of programming at no cost on January 12th. See “EXTENSION PROGRAM” 

**Scholarship available, see “SCHOLARSHIP” section

Extension Program

Join Young Judaea for an additional day of programming exclusively for 11th & 12th graders on January 12th-13th, 2023! Participants will work with professional storyteller Jordan Wiley-Hill to craft their personal Israel story and learn facilitation skills to engage in constructive dialogue. 

Who?  11th & 12th Graders 

When? January 12th, 2023

Cost? Free for National Convention participants! All on ground expenses are paid by Young Judaea through the generosity of RootOne.

Extension Program Travel Information
ARRIVAL GUIDELINES FOR THURSDAY, JANUARY 12TH, 2023

There are THREE options for arrival to National Convention for the Extension Program (for General Travel Info see section below):

1. FLYING- All flights for convention should arrive at the Atlanta International Airport (ATL) on Thursday, January 12th between 11AM-1PM EDT. Bus to Twin Lakes will be provided.
2. DROP OFF AT TWIN LAKES- Participants should be dropped off at 210 S. Broad St., Unit 5, Winder, GA 30680 by 3:00PM.
3. BUS TO TWIN LAKES FOR LOCAL ATLANTA TEENS- Participants should be dropped off at Atlanta Airport by 1:30PM at the latest (exact location TBD).

Travel Information

ARRIVAL GUIDELINES FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 13TH, 2023

There are THREE options for arrival to National Convention:

1.   FLYING- All flights for convention should arrive at the Atlanta International Airport (ATL) on Friday, January 13th between 10AM-12PM EDT. Bus to Twin Lakes will be provided.

2.   DROP OFF AT TWIN LAKES- Participants should be dropped off at 210 S. Broad St., Unit 5, Winder, GA 30680 by 3:00PM.

3.   BUS TO TWIN LAKES FOR LOCAL ATLANTA TEENS- Participants should be dropped off at Atlanta Airport by 12:30PM at the latest (exact location TBD).

DEPARTURE GUIDELINES FOR MONDAY, JANUARY 16th, 2023

There are three options for departure from National Convention:

1. FLYING- Flights should depart from Atlanta Airport between 2:00PM – 5:00PM EDT. Bus from Twin Lakes will be provided.

2. PICK UP AT CAMP TWIN LAKES- Participants should be picked up at Camp Twin Lakes at approximately 10:00-11:00AM EDT.

3. PICK UP AT ATLANTA AIRPORT- Participants can be picked up at Atlanta airport at approximately 12:00PM

I can’t find flights that arrive within the times listed. Can I book something else?

Please do not book any flights outside the designated window unless given special permission from the Young Judaea office. For inquiries please contact yjconvention@youngjudaea.org or call 914-902-5606.  

Can I drive myself to convention?

To ensure the safety of our participants, while parents are welcomed to drive participants to/from convention, participants are strongly discouraged from driving to/from convention themselves. If this is necessary, please contact the office at yjconvention@youngjudaea.org to request special permission.

COVID-19 Policy 

We are taking all possible precautions to ensure the health and safety of our participants. All participants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as defined by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)*. This includes two doses of the vaccine and one booster dose. Participants must also submit proof of a negative rapid test administered within 24 hours of the program (at-home tests accepted).

* The only attendees exempt from this policy will be those with proof of a medical reason why they cannot receive the vaccine, pending approval from our Medical Committee

If a participant develops COVID-19 symptoms during convention we will administer a rapid test. If a participant tests positive during convention we will isolate them until the participant and parent/guardian have made immediate arrangements at their own expense.

Scholarship   

We are committed to ensuring that every teen interested in attending convention is able to go and will do our best to accommodate. Funds are made available from the leadership teens raising money locally and nationally and are limited.  

Please submit this SCHOLARSHIP REQUEST FORM to receive subsidy towards convention. 

The deadline to request scholarship is December 12th, 2022. We will review submissions at that time and respond ASAP. The deadline to register upon hearing back from us will be December 23rd, 2022.

Cancellation Policy 

If you cancel your participation before December 15th, 2022 you will be eligible for a refund of the total program fee. If you cancel before December 29th, 2022 you will be eligible for a 50% refund of the total program fee. After December 29th, 2022 no refunds will be available. Regardless of when you cancel, if cancellation occurs after you have purchased an airline ticket, you will be responsible for the full price of the airline ticket. No refunds will be given for participants who are dismissed and/or otherwise removed from or leave National Convention for any reason (voluntary or involuntary) once the program has commenced. Young Judaea reserves the right to cancel National Convention, or change any of the itineraries due to low enrollment, security or other reasons as determined by Young Judaea’s sole and absolute discretion. Program prices are subject to change in Young Judaea’s sole and absolute discretion.

Note: All flight expenses are the responsibility of the participant.

Contact Us

If you have any additional questions please contact the National Convention Team at yjconvention@youngjudaea.org or call 914-902-5606