Youth Program
Location: Pearson
Teachers: Sheida Dadressan & Leylane Cavalcante
This Year’s Program
This year, the Youth Program will center on the development of sustainable acts of service, the cultivation of a strong moral identity, and the nurturing of inter-generational community bonds.
Participants will reflect on their individual paths of service while drawing inspiration from the lives and stories of early Bahá’í believers—bridging the past, present, and future in meaningful ways.
Throughout the Summer School, youth will engage in service opportunities within the broader community, gaining hands-on experience, practicing accompaniment, and thoughtfully reflecting on their actions. The program also offers late-night sessions, musical workshops with Luke Slott, and plenty of time to build lasting friendships rooted in shared purpose and joy.
As youth deepen their commitment to service and community building, many begin to ask deeper questions about their future—how their talents, interests, and education can be channeled into a life of purpose. To support this important stage of exploration, we are excited to offer the workshop below on Friday afternoon.
Water Play
Children ages 11–18 will have water play available to them from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM, which will include a water slide and other inflatable activities designed for getting wet. Please note: there is no pool.
Special Workshop 1
Finding Your Calling: Exploring Careers on Your Path of Service
A workshop for youth (ages 15–25) and parents—whether attending together or individually
Friday afternoon only in Pearson 4:30 PM
This workshop is designed for anyone navigating the path of career discovery—whether you’re a parent seeking to support your youth with care and clarity, or a young person searching for direction and purpose in your career journey.
Through interactive activities, guided reflection, and thoughtful study of the Baha’i Writings, participants will explore how to recognize strengths, align interests with values, and view careers as opportunities for service to humanity. Parents will gain practical tools to nurture their child’s unique gifts without pressure, while youth will leave with renewed confidence and inspiration to explore meaningful and purpose-driven career possibilities.
This workshop will be facilitated in a personal capacity by Adelia Douglas, a career coach at the University of South Florida, who brings nine years of experience guiding students toward meaningful, purpose-driven career paths.
Special Workshop 2
ISGP Seminar for University Students: An Overview
An informational session for university age youth and parents—whether attending together or individually
Saturday afternoon only in Pearson 4:30 PM
All are welcome to attend a session to learn more about the seminar program for Baha’i university students offered by the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity (ISGP). The annual seminar, offered for Florida youth at the Magdalene Carney Baha’i Institute in West Palm Beach, is part of a four-year program has been designed to accompany students through four years of university studies. This offering is one of many global seminars that, together, serve youth from over 100 countries.
The purpose of these intensive seminars is to raise the consciousness of youth about the importance of engaging in action and discourse directed towards social change; to develop their capacity to reflect, to analyze, and to learn from action; to explore elements of a conceptual framework for contributing to the advancement of civilization; to provide them with tools to understand and analyze the culture in which they are immersed as well as the content of the university courses they are studying; to help them assume ownership of their education; and to assist them in their efforts to acquire the kind of knowledge that will enable them to live fruitful, productive and meaningful lives.
Youth, parents of high school and college students, and community members that wish to better understand the aims of the ISGP seminar and how to support youth in their communities to attend, are all warmly encouraged to join this session.
“The institution of the Summer School constitutes a vital and inseparable part of any teaching campaign, and as such ought to be given the full importance it deserves in the teaching plans and activities of the believers.”
— Centers of Baha’i Learning
