Midwest Convention 2024

General Convention Info

Join Young Judaea Teens near Chicago from March 7-10, 2024 for our annual Midwest 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 2023-2024 Midwest Mazkirut, our regional teen governing leadership board. Participants will have the opportunity to elect their peers to the 2024-2025 Midwest Mazkirut and make their voices heard!

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

When: March 7-10, 2024

Where: Chicago Area (location provided upon registration)

Cost: $400*
Flights not included where applicable

*Scholarship available, see “SCHOLARSHIP” section

Travel Information

ARRIVAL GUIDELINES FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 7TH, 2024

There are THREE options for arrival to Midwest Convention:

1.   FLY

All flights for convention should arrive at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)  no later than 5:30PM CST on Thursday, March 7, 2024.

2.   DRIVE

Participants should be dropped off at the convention location between 6:30PM and 7:30PM CST.  Unless there are extenuating circumstances, we ask that participants do not drive themselves to and from convention. For accommodations, please email us directly to discuss. All car keys will be held by senior staff for the duration of the event.

3.   BUS

We will provide a bus from O’Hare International Airport (ORD), departing at 6:00PM CST.  All participants are expected to arrive at O’Hare International Airport by car, plane or public transportation by 6PM or directly to Convention location between 6:30PM and 7:30 PM CST. 

DEPARTURE GUIDELINES FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 10th, 2024.

There are three options for departure from Midwest Convention:

1. FLY

Flights should be arranged to depart from O’Hare International Airport (EWR) between 12:30PM – 2:30PM EST on Sunday, March 10, 2024.

2. DRIVE

Participants should be picked up at the convention location between 9AM and 10AM CST. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, we ask that participants do not drive themselves to and from convention. For accommodations, please email us directly to discuss. All car keys will be held by senior staff for the duration of the event.

3. BUS

The bus from convention location will arrive to O’Hare International Airport at 10:30AM CST. Participants should be picked up from O’Hare by car between 10:30AM and 11:30AM CST. Participants who will be taking public transportation on their own should submit that in writing on their registration form so that staff can sign them out appropriately. 

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 yjteens@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 yjteens@youngjudaea.org to request special permission. All car keys will be held by senior staff for the duration of the event.

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 by February 6 to receive subsidy towards convention. We will review submissions at that time and respond ASAP. The deadline to register upon hearing back from us is February 19.

Cancellation Policy 

If you cancel your participation on or before February 19, 2024 you will be eligible for a refund of the total program fee. If you cancel on or before February 22, 2024 you will be eligible for a 50% refund of the total program fee. On or after February 23, 2024 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 Midwest Convention for any reason (voluntary or involuntary) once the program has commenced. Young Judaea reserves the right to cancel Midwest 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 yjteens@youngjudaea.org.