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YOUTH ENCOUNTER 2025

Need to Know Information

Youth Encounter 2025 is finally here! Below, you’ll find everything you need to know so your student has the best experience ever.

EVENT SCHEDULE

Wednesday, July 23

Checkin  4-6pm
Doors Open  5:30pm
Session 1  6:00-7pm
Dinner  7-7:30pm
Workshop 1  7:45-8:30pm
Session 2  8:45-10pm

Thursday, July 24

Checkin  5-6pm
Doors Open  5:15pm
Parent Dinner  5:30-9pm
Session 3  6-7pm
Dinner  7-7:30pm
Workshop 2  7:45-8:30pm
Session 4  8:45-10pm  

Friday, July 25

Lobby Open  8:45am
Doors Open  9am
Session 5  9:30am -11am
Workshop 3  11:15am-12pm

Lunch/Free Time   12:15-2:15
Fun Session  2:30-3:15
Workshop 4   3:30 – 4:30 –
Session 6  5 – 6:45pm (Open to Parents)

Friday Post Event 7pm
Baptisms on the Green

PICK UP & DROP OFF

Wednesday, July 23

Drop off will be at the Discipleship Building (Calvary Christian Academy main building). All students will need to enter YE through the Discipleship Building on the first day. There will be two queues, one for event check-in and one for students who have yet to register. If you’re a student driving yourself, please park on the west side of the property and enter through the DB front doors.

Pick up for high school students will be on the west side of the sanctuary. Pick up for middle school students will be on the east side. If you have middle and high school students, pick up will be on the east side.

Thursday, July 24

Drop off will be on the east side of the campus by the playground sanctuary entrance.

Pick up for high school students will be on the west side of the sanctuary. Pick up for middle school students will be on the east side. If you have middle and high school students, pick up will be on the east side.

Friday, July 25

Drop off will be on the east side of the campus by the playground sanctuary entrance.

Pick up for high school students will be on the west side of the Sanctuary. Pick up for middle school students will be on the east side. If you have middle and high school students, pick up will be on the east side.

Meals

The YE dinners expected are below. Please note: Meals are subject to change depending on availability.

Wednesday Dinner: Chick-fil-A
Thursday Dinner: Chipotle Chicken Bowl
Friday Lunch: BBQ Brisket Sandwich and Chips
Friday Snack: Variety of Chips & Soda. Dessert options will be available for purchase.

*Friday Seniors Lunch: 12th Graders are invited to dine in The Grill. They’ll be served the regular meal but with a couple of upgrades (regular fries and soda options).
Post YE (Baptism): Food trucks will be available for students and families to purchase items. Trucks will be located on the east side of campus.

We’ll have separate meals available for students with specific dietary restrictions indicated in their registration. Students with one of these dietary restrictions will be given a sticker for their lanyard so they can get an alternate meal. Students are also welcome to bring their meals and snacks if they’d like.

Merchandise

If your student would like to buy any YE merchandise or snacks during the event, please send them with cash or a card for purchases.

Special Assistance

If your student’s registration form indicates they need special assistance during YE, someone from the YE Team will reach out for additional information and event accommodation details.

Color Wars

One of our favorite parts of YE is the Color Wars! Each student will be placed on a team based on their grade. Students are welcome to purchase clothing in their team’s color before the event. The colors for each grade are as follows:

6th grade: YELLOW
7th and 8th grade: ORANGE
9th and 10th grade: PURPLE
11th and 12th grade: BLUE

YE Baptisms

We have a fantastic opportunity for your student to publicly declare their faith through baptism! Right after the last session of YE on Friday, July 25, at 7pm, we’ll have a baptism on the green. If your student has decided to ask Jesus to be their Lord and Savior, whether at YE or before, this would be their next step of obedience to Him. Encourage them to bring a change of clothes and a towel for this event. And, even if they don’t, we hope to see you there on the green. We’d love for parents to be part of this special event. If you cannot attend, our subsequent beach baptism is August 9 at the Pompano Beach Pier.

PARENT TALK DINNER

Parent Talk Dinner | $10
Thursday, July 24 | 5:30pm–9:00pm
Fort Lauderdale Campus | Calvary Halls

Parents, don’t miss this opportunity to connect and learn alongside other parents in your community. Together we’ll explore effective ways to help our kids safely navigate the over-sexualized culture they face every day. You’ll work together through real-life case studies to discover the most helpful ways to respond to situations families find themselves in today.

*Please note: If your student is not able to attend Youth Encounter, you’re still welcome to join us for the Youth Encounter Parent Talk Dinner.

Register Here

NEXT STEPS

Once YE 2025 is over, you may be wondering, what’s my Next Step?

For Parents:

  • Parenting Classes

    Classes begin Wednesday, September 24, 2025. For more details and a list of classes we have available this fall, visit CalvaryFTL.org/Classes
  • Join a Group

    You can view open groups and sign up at CalvaryFTL.org/Groups.
  • Serve

    Sign up to serve in youth ministry! Whether you can serve once a month, every week, or something in between, there are a lot of opportunities to serve. You can head to Linktr.ee/CalvaryYouth to learn more and sign up.
  • Have Coffee with a Youth Staff Member

    Email Youth@calvaryftl.org, and we’ll get you connected with someone from the youth team for coffee.
  • Follow Calvary Youth on Social Media

    @CalvaryYouthFTL on Instagram and YouTube.

For Students:

  • Serve

    Sign up to serve at Calvary! Whether you’re available to serve once a month, every week, or something in between, we have a lot of opportunities. Go to Linktr.ee/CalvaryYouth to sign-up.
  • First Priority

    Visit FirstPriority.cc to find more info on the First Priority Club at your school. You will be equipped to share Jesus on your public school campus.
  • Join a Group

    Youth groups launch on August 16 and 17 during services at the Fort Lauderdale campus. Contact your campus or local church for more information on their group’s schedule.
  • Get Baptized

    If you missed the opportunity to get baptized after the last session of YE, meet us on Saturday, August 9th, from 8:30-10am, just south of the Pompano Beach Pier.
  • Read the YE YouVersion Plan
  • Outreach

    Visit CalvaryFTL.org/Outreach to see local outreach opportunities you can have with your friends, YE Small Group, or family!
  • Student Survey

    We’d love to hear about your experience at YE! Take this survey so we can make this event even better next year.

FAQ

What if my student needs to leave YE early?

Like youth services on the weekend, if your student needs to leave YE early, a PARENT must go to the Information Booth (located in the sanctuary hallway) to pick up their student. We will not release any student unaccompanied into the parking lot before dismissal. This is for their safety and in compliance with our child safety policies.

What do my students need to bring with them to YE?
They should bring their Bible, journal, notebook, and name tag/lanyard.
Is my student required to wear their YE shirt the entire event?
No, your student isn’t required to wear the free shirt they receive at check-in.
Is my student required to wear their name tag and wristband for the entire event?
Yes, for security purposes, they must always wear their nametag AND wristband.
What if we get to YE but forgot to bring our ticket or can’t find it on our phone?
No need to make a trip back home. We’ll be able to look up your registration information. However, your check-in experience will go faster if you have the information.
Who do I contact if I have any questions?Who do I contact if I have any questions?
Please send any questions via e-mail to Youth@CalvaryFTL.org, and someone from our Youth Team will contact you.
Can my student bring a backpack to YE?Can my student bring a backpack to YE?

Yes, but we reserve the right to search backpacks at any time.

Can my student take off their wristband and get a new one?
No. All students will receive ONE wristband at YE check-in, which CANNOT be removed at/or during the event. The wristband is to be worn for the ENTIRE event, and, for security purposes, we will not be replacing them.
Is there anything for parents to do on campus while my student is attending YE?
Join us for a $10 parent dinner on Thursday, July 24, at 5:30pm. You’ll gain practical strategies and actionable tips to help you navigate the unique challenges and opportunities of parenting in today’s society. For more information and to register, scroll up to the Parent Talk Dinner section.
How do you assign my student a small group for workshop sessions?

For workshop sessions, students are separated by grade. This year, there will be no small groups, and students will just sit for the workshop session and then participate in a practical application activity.

What if my middle school and high school students want to be in the same small group?

Breakout sessions (small groups) are the only time at YE when we require all students to be in a group of their own grade. We cannot accommodate special group requests.

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