GenNext

We realized years ago that our annual conference had grown into a three-generation event, and we responded to the needs of our growing families by providing an outrageously fun experience while weaving in stories and activities aimed at stirring a child’s heart for faith and generosity. Our hope is two-fold: for friendships that are forged within GenNext to carry and deepen year after year of participation, and for the virtues and Scriptures that are modeled at GenNext to reinforce the lessons already taught at home.

In past years, students have gone kayaking and snorkeling, taken cooking classes, visited a rodeo and aquarium, and worked in teams to problem-solve their way out of “escape rooms.” They have also prepared and hosted a birthday party for children living in a homeless shelter. We take care to provide age-appropriate activities. Counselors share their personal testimonies and teach from a Bible study. Our older students will attend a few of The Gathering’s main sessions. We also invite some of our speakers to address the youth on various topics as well.

Groups

To provide the best activities and learning environments for our children at all stages of their lives, we offer four age groups, based on where our children are in school when they arrive in September.
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Schedule

The GenNext schedule perfectly complements the main Gathering schedule, allowing adults to attend their selected sessions and classes while also giving families some free time together.
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Staff

This year, our pool of counselors is an All-Star cast of alumni who have previously led our GenNext kids at the conference, trained under The Forge leadership program, or were employed as full-time staff by Pine Cove, a Christian camping ministry. This will be a special year in GenNext history when we’ll have so many beloved counselors making a return to The Gathering’s Annual Conference.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What age do my kids have to be to attend the GenNext program?

  • What's the typical schedule each day for the Gennext program?

  • Do my kids have to stay in the program all day long or can they come and go?

  • Will my kids be going through similar content as the adult conference?                                        

Melanie Langemeier is the GenNext Director for The Gathering. She runs our program for youth ages 3 to 18 during our annual conference, bringing to our GenNext families her extensive repertoire in serving children and managing their counselors.

Conference registration coming Spring 2025

the Gathering