Seekers
We are at capacity for this event and cannot accept any more registrations.
March 18-19, 2023
4341 Mountville Road
Jefferson, MD 21755
A weekend quest where we'll explore the puzzling "both/and" nature of God and Creation!
All children in grades 3, 4, and 5 are invited to attend our retreat for elementary school students. All day Saturday, we will rotate through different stations to experience God through Bible study, games, arts and crafts, science, and service. On Sunday morning, we will join the middle school students participating in Transformers just up the mountain at main camp for a combined interactive closing worship service.
At Seekers, we are inviting families to attend a retreat with their children if they wish. There will be a track available for parents, guardians, and family members with many opportunities for rest and relaxation as well. If you are bringing younger siblings of participants, they are welcome at the parent, guardian, and family track as well!
Registration costs includes program, lodging, and meals (Saturday lunch and dinner, and Sunday breakfast, as well as snacks throughout the event). Registration closes on March 1, 2023.
3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Participant - $100.00
Congregational Adult Leader - $100.00
Parent/Guardian - $100.00
Participant's Sibling - $50.00
LYO Member - $80.00
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child need to attend with a congregational group?
No! This is how Seekers is different from most of our other youth events. Children may attend with adult family members, with an adult from their congregation, or without an adult. Supervision for all children will be provided by adult mentors and youth from our Lutheran Youth Organization – a leadership development program for high school students.
What are the sleeping arrangements?
Families who attend together will be housed in hotel-style rooms at the Ridge Inn, which include beds and a private bathroom. The number of rooms available is limited, so please register early if you are bringing your family! With the family’s permission, children attending with a congregational leader may stay in a hotel-style room as well, provided that it not just one adult and one youth, per our child protection policy. Children who attend without an adult will sleep in a large common room on sleeping bags that they will bring with them. Event staff will sleep in this room as well. If your child is attending with your family or an adult congregational leader and would like to sleep in the common room, they are welcome to do so!
When and where can I drop off and pick up my child?
Closer to the event date, we will have a finalized event schedule that will tell you the exact time when you can drop off your child on Saturday morning. Drop-off and registration will take place at the Ridge Inn (4341 Mountville Road). However, pick-up will be in a different location! On Sunday morning, we will transport Seekers participants up to the main camp area at Mar-Lu-Ridge (3200 Mar Lu Ridge Road) for a shared worship service. You may pick up your children at noon on Sunday in the Potomac Lodge. If you would like to join us for the combined closing worship service, please indicate that on your registration form and keep an eye out for the schedule for timing and location information.
What does my child need to bring with them for the retreat?
We will share a full packing list, but your child should plan to bring weather-appropriate clothing and outerwear, including sturdy close-toed shoes (like sneakers). Children who will not be sleeping in one of the hotel-style rooms must bring a sleeping bag and pillow, and may bring an air mattress and blankets if they wish. ALL PARTICIPANTS will need to bring their signed permission form and participant’s promise in order to participate, as well as enough masks to last for the whole weekend.
Kids Track -
Service Project Assemble personal care kits for Lutheran World Relief
Science/STEM Engineering Design Challenge
Game Time Blind fold maze
Large Group Music, Recap of day
Family Time
How to register
Distribute the 2022-2023 Youth Event Individual Registration Form to all participants, and make sure all adult and youth participants, as well as parents/guardians of all minors attending, have reviewed our COVID precautions and expectations on the website. Your church’s primary leader will use these forms to complete the registration online. You’ll need to turn in the originals of these forms for each participant when you check-in (if you need to retain them for your own records, please make copies). Remember to collect any scholarship applications also.
Deadline to register is March 1, 2023.
Using the Individual Registration Forms, register your group online: Seekers 2023 Registration (registration is closed)
If you received any scholarship applications, please enter them into the online form.
Once you have completed entering the information online, you may pay in full with a credit card directly in the form.
If you prefer to pay by check, or you are awaiting scholarship decisions, you may enter the promo code “S2023CHECK” in the appropriate box and click “Apply Discount.” If you are awaiting scholarship decisions, you will be contacted directly with your adjusted total and information about how to submit your payment.
If you are paying by check, make sure to note your total before clicking “Apply Discount.” Please send a check made out to “Delaware-Maryland Synod” with the name of the event in the memo line and send to:
Delaware-Maryland Synod, ATTN: Treasurer, 5699 Meridale Road, Baltimore, MD 21228.
If you have any difficulties with the registration form, contact Deacon Nicole Roop at nroop @ youngfaithmatters.com
Please DO NOT bring checks with you to the event as these can be easily lost during the busy-ness of it!
COVID PRECAUTIONS & EXPECTATIONS
All youth and adult participants and staff will be expected to:
monitor their health leading up to the event, staying home if symptoms arise or they have been exposed to COVID within 4 days of arrival;
report any new symptoms during the event to the event medics, arranging for transportation home if medics determine it is unsafe to stay at the event;
wash and sanitize their hands regularly;
wear a face mask at all times when indoors unless eating or sleeping;
practice casual consent by asking others for their boundaries around close contact (hugs, high fives, removing masks in outdoor settings, etc.), and determine their own boundaries as well; and
follow the guidance of event staff, including Small Group Leaders, medics, event security, camp staff, and food service providers.
Adults will be expected to:
register by the registration deadline (March 1, 2023) – no late registrations will be accepted;
remind youth participants to go through a symptom checklist every morning and escort them to a medic if symptoms have developed; and
be a good role model by following any masking rules and all other safety precautions throughout the entirety of the event.
If you have any questions about the precautions and expectations, please contact Deacon Nicki Roop.