Event
CANCELLED: Gathering Expedition
- From Sep 11, 12:00 to Sep 13, 11:59
- Carol Joy Holling Conference & Retreat Center
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
What is a Gathering Expedition?
Gathering Expeditions connect youth across the church through local events that build faith, community, and excitement for the 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering in Minneapolis.
At Carol Joy Holling Conference & Retreat Center, the Gathering Expedition is a weekend retreat where youth and their adult leaders step away from the noise to explore faith, purpose, and leadership together. It’s a space to pause, listen, and prepare for what God is doing next—right where they are and on the road to the “mountain top” experience of the Gathering.
Event Details
Dates: September 11–13, 2026
Location: Carol Joy Holling Conference & Retreat Center
27416 Ranch Rd.
Ashland, NE, USA
Cost: $175 per youth
[Link to Financial Aid]
Why a Gathering Expedition?
A step on the journey toward the mountain top: The Expedition and the Gathering are two parts of one faith-filled journey. At the Expedition, youth and adults pause to listen, lead, and grow together—discovering how God is at work in their daily lives. The 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering then becomes the mountain top moment where those lessons and relationships come to life alongside thousands of others across the ELCA.
Together, they create a rhythm of reflection and celebration that grounds young people in a faith that continues long after the events end.
Leadership in Motion
Each Gathering Expedition invites young people to discover their voice and practice leading alongside others. Through worship, service, camp activities, and shared learning, youth grow the skills and confidence to live their faith boldly in daily life.
What Makes This Expedition Unique?
Gathering Expeditions blend a taste of the ELCA Youth Gathering with the best of what our camps have to offer:
- Dynamic speakers who tell the truth about faith in all its complexity
- Uplifting music that invites everyone into worship
- Camp experiences—from activities to campfire—to build deeper community
- Regional connections that help youth see the wider church around them
- And s’more! (Yes, we mean actual s’mores—and more.)
Special Guests & Features
Rev. Emily Harkins – Keynote Speaker
Founding pastor and mission developer of The Dwelling in North Carolina, Rev. Emily Harkins serves a congregation that centers neighbors experiencing homelessness and reveals the gospel in all its messy, beautiful complexity. If you were at the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans, you saw her on the big stage. At the Expedition, she’ll help youth wrestle honestly with faith, call, and community.
Faith Fehlen – Worship Leader & Music
Musician and worship leader Faith Fehlen, part of the house band in New Orleans, will lead music throughout the weekend—creating space for joy, lament, and deep praise.
The God Pod – Vocational Storytelling
Students from Augustana University will guide key conversations on vocational identity inside The God Pod, a mobile recording studio where youth are invited to share about their own faith journey. It’s a chance to name how God is already at work in their stories.
What to Expect: Weekend Flow
Friday, September 11 – Arrival & Welcome
Evening check-in after dinner
Small group connection time
Adult leader orientation
Large group gathering
Campfire worship under the stars
Saturday, September 12 – Explore & Grow
Morning worship
Small and large group gatherings
Time with our keynote and special guests
Camp activities and free time
Shared meals and community-building
Evening worship and reflection
Sunday, September 13 – Sending & Blessing
Final round of small groups
Closing brunch worship
Sending back home—renewed and ready for what’s next
Who Should Come?
- Middle and high school youth preparing for the 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering
- Adult leaders who want to strengthen relationships with their youth and with the wider church
- Congregations who want a meaningful, accessible step toward the Gathering that deepens faith and builds momentum
Whether you’ve brought groups to multiple Gatherings or you’re considering your first one, this Expedition offers a powerful on-ramp.
Bring your group. Share the journey. Prepare for the mountain top.