Youth Venture is a short-term service, learning and discipleship program for individuals ages 14-22. For two to three weeks in the summer, teams will join together to actively explore and engage in God’s work in the world. By partnering with and working alongside local faith communities, we learn from them and discover how we, too, can be lifelong partners of God’s healing and hope.
Locations for Youth Venture change every year; visit the Youth Venture home page to get a complete listing. We like to have full teams, so a location's availability depends on the number of applicants we receive.
Depending on your Youth Venture location, you will stay with host families or in guest houses.
Locations in the United States have a general cost of $600-$700, and international locations have a general cost of $2,000-$3,000. This includes food, lodging, and local transportation. The participant is responsible for travel costs to the Youth Venture location if within the United States, or travel to the departing city if going to an international location.
Locations are usually posted on the website around Nov. 1. After that posting, you will have a better sense of where you might like to serve - and that’s a good time to apply. The application deadline for international locations is Apr. 1, and for North American locations, June 1.
While not knowing the language will add some challenges, it will also give you an opportunity to explore a new language!
Of course!
Our Youth Venture groups are kept small (6-10 people) so as to not overwhelm or burden the hosting community. If your group is within this range, we’re open to conversation about this possibility.
Youth Venture only happens in the summer.
Generally, we encourage you to travel with your team; however, there are occasions when an applicant may want to stay longer than the rest of the team. It’s an option, but it will need to be discussed with the Youth Venture director on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants complete an online application, provide three references, and participate in a short interview.
Sure!
It’s normal to get homesick! The first few days are a whirlwind of excitement and new experiences, and it can feel overwhelming. That’s why we think the team experience is so important. Your leaders and teammates understand what you’re feeling, and are a community of support for you.
On your application you’ll have the opportunity to list three location choices. During your application interview, you’ll be able to clarify your location interests, and based on that information, you’ll be assigned to a team.
We carefully select leaders with skills to facilitate team dynamics, encourage spiritual and personal growth, communicate effectively with local leaders, challenge participants, and manage the team schedule and budget. We look for individuals with cross-cultural experience and strong leadership skills, who are at least 22 years old for domestic teams and at least 24 for international trips. As a leader, all of your expenses will be covered as you will be volunteering your time and skills to this challenging and rewarding experience. You can apply for Youth Venture leadership through our online application and/or inquire at any point to learn more about expectations and availability.