ALIVE is our annual synod middle-school retreat. Our annual fall retreat is scheduled for September 25-27, 2026, at Camp Nawakwa. Congregations from across our synod gather with their adult advisors and youth for this traditionally early fall weekend that includes large group gatherings with singing led by our ALIVE Alumni Band, theme-centered videos and stories, and games, interspersed with small group gatherings, where youth gather with peers and a small group leader, to converse about the theme and it’s impact in their lives of faith. It’s a great event for your Confirmation students and classes.

The weekend also includes crafts, games, campfires, free-time, and community-building that allow youth and their adult counterparts time to deepen existing friendships, and create new ones. Congregational advisors can also count on the option of receiving some intentional continuing education. Plus, inspiring outdoor worship often highlights our last morning together at Nawakwa’s famous Upper Temple!

+ This event is for 6th through 8th graders in the fall of 2026!
+ Event cost: $149.00/person ($50 deposit due at time of registration)

2026 Theme Announced: ‘Rhythm’

This year’s theme is ‘Rhythm’ where we will explore the rhythm of God in our world and explore how we can tap into that rhythm and incorporate those rhythms into our daily lives.

NEW Medical Forms
We are moving to an online ‘fillable’ medical form for all synod youth events. You can send the link to parents and ask them to fill out the fillable PDF form online here. Once they have filled out the form, they can save a pdf and email the completed form to you, or print the completed form and give it to you to bring to the event. We request that you do NOT encourage parents to send us their students form directly. We would prefer to receive the completed forms from congregation leaders (pastors or youth workers) at event check-in. You will also likely want to carry print copies or digital copies with you as the primary adult advisor at the event. We understand that since this is a new process, it may take a year of getting used to the change. Please be patient with us as we commit to being patient with you throughout this transition. Ultimately, we hope by digitizing this process, it will make it easier on families to complete these forms.

Fall at Camp Nawakwa is a beautiful time to be ALIVE

Advisors enjoy the camaraderie as much as youth

Speakers, live music, and fun with fellowship and outdoor worship all contribute to a culture of community

Connect and deepen friendships

What to do now?

Download and print these documents and distribute to families and in your congregation, as needed:

ALIVE 2026 Flyer
ALIVE 2026 Registration Information Page (event details and registration specifics)
ALIVE 2026 Sample Parent’s Letter (to provide parents with an event overview)
ALIVE 2026 Participants Information Sheet (to collect data for digital registration)

Registration for 2026 NOW OPEN!

We have a fully digital registration process. You can register digitally and pay either your deposit or your registration in full. If you prefer to send a check for deposit or full payment, please choose the ‘Invoice’ option on the payment screen. You will receive a pdf of your invoice by email, print it, submit it to your treasurer and send the payment to our office. You will want to have basic contact information for all participants and their shirt sizes handy, when you register yourself and your youth. We have included two forms above to assist you in communicating this event to families. The Sample Parent’s Letter, explains the event, and the Participants Information Collection Sheet, designed to help you collect youth info for when you sit down to register everyone digitally. PLEASE, whenever possible, register as a group as opposed to having parents register their child individually though the digital portal. When you have completed the digital registration, no matter how you pay, please download and fill out the cabin assignment sheet and email a pdf copy to croberts@lss-elca.org, or mail a hard copy to Lower Susquehanna Synod, ALIVE Event, 1959 Market Street, Camp Hill, PA 17011.

Have your credit card or PayPal information handy when you register if you are opting to pay digitally. If you would prefer not to pay digitally, simply choose the ‘invoice’ option during registration, print the invoice and mail with your deposit check. We do ask that once you have registered your group, please fill out the Cabin Housing Form (below) scan and email to croberts@lss-elca.org, or ‘snail mail’ to the Synod Office for Children, Youth and Family. Please note that our mailing address is: 1959 Market Street, Camp Hill, PA 17011