Steubenville Youth Conference

Steubenville of the Rockies will take place June 21-23, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. The Diocese of Grand Island will once again offer a trip to experience this incredible conference. Plans for our Diocesan pilgrimage are currently being made.

Who can participate in this trip? High school freshmen through graduating seniors from any parish within the diocese. (currently in grades 9-12)

How do I register my teenager for the GI Diocese trip? To attend the trip with our diocese, you must register using the link at the top of the page(registration is currently closed). This link takes you to the diocesan registration form. Complete the form and make a deposit. (Registration opens February 1, 2024.)

Which Steubenville Conference are we going to? There are 25 Steubenville youth conferences held each summer across the country. The Grand Island Diocese is sponsoring a trip to Steubenville of the Rockies on June 21-23, 2024. Location:  Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, Aurora, CO

Where will we stay? Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, Aurora, CO

How will we get there? We will be traveling by motorcoach and plan to pick up and drop off in several locations.

I have never been to a  Steubenville Conference, what does the weekend involve? What does the schedule look like? Steubenville Conferences have the same schedule/theme each year, no matter what location it is being held.  Basically, the weekend offers youth an opportunity to connect with other believers their age and creates an environment that helps young people be open to what God has to say to them. This is done through keynote talks, mini-sessions, the sacraments, and particularly through giving them a sense of Eucharistic amazement. 

How much do I have to pay?  The cost of Steubenville of the Rockies is TBD.  All registrations require a $100 non-refundable deposit. All payments are made to the Diocese of Grand Island and are due by May 1, 2024. When a family plans to attend 3 or more diocesan youth events in the same summer, please contact our office to find out about our family discount (yya@gidiocese.org)  

What if I need financial assistance? We believe the cost should not keep youth from participating. Please contact your parish about whether fundraising opportunities are available to help with the costs beyond the initial non-refundable deposit. In addition to this, there are scholarships available through the diocese for those in need, please contact the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for more information.

What is the refund policy for 2024? We understand that extenuating circumstances do arise and that your child may not be able to attend the youth event for which they have registered. If your child must cancel their registration, refunds will be offered within the following guidelines. Each event has a $100 non-refundable deposit; this amount cannot be refunded for any reason. All remaining fees will be refunded when cancellation is requested prior to the event registration deadline. After the registration deadline, refunds will only be given in cases of family or medical emergencies. No refund will be applied if cancellation is within 15 days of the beginning of the event.
 
Who will be leading this trip? The diocesan trip is being coordinated and led by Eric Heckman, the Diocesan Director for the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, who is familiar with the conference and has experience in leading these trips. 

Will there be adult leaders?  Yes, we will have the appropriate number of adult leaders. We have a ratio of 1:6 as our standard policy. We request that parishes that have more than three youth attending supply a leader from their parish. In an effort to recruit committed leaders, the Diocese Youth Office is willing to share in the leader's cost along with the applicant and parish. Please meet with your pastor and ask if he will support you in this ministry by paying a part of the fees. 

Who do I contact if I need more information? If you need more info or have suggestions on additional FAQs, please feel free to contact Eric Heckman or Michalene Iversen in the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry at yya@gidiocese.org or 308-382-6565

Communications 
Please note that all communications relating to diocesan youth events are through email, so please provide us with a current email address you use regularly. You will receive a confirmation email upon registration for this event.  Additional communications will be sent approximately 3 weeks prior to the start of this event. Please check your email and junk mail regularly for these communications.