Youth Group
Patriot Days Encampment

Friday, June 12 to Sunday, June 14

Overview

Our Youth Group, along with many other youth organizations, will be participating in the annual Patriot Days Encampment at the Daniel Boone Homestead.

For this activity we will be camping out as a group in tents in our own designated area on the homestead grounds. There will be organized activities for youth for the weekend. The list of planned activities is not yet finalized, but as a sample, previous years’ activities have included: Exeter Police K-9 demonstration, volley ball, obstacle course, water balloon toss, foam sword battles, tours of the homestead, blacksmith demonstration, saw mill demonstration, period exhibits, emergency vehicle displays, search and rescue dogs, animal rescue presentations with animals being rehabilitated, crafts, evening movie, dance, outdoor worship, campfire with songs and skits, and more. At our campsite, the youth will be working together to make our own Saturday breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and Sunday breakfast.

Fee

The early bird registration fee of $20.00 is due by Sunday, February 22, 2026.

Note: We are extending the early bird registration discount to Sunday, May 31. (Note that our last Youth Group meeting before the event is May 17, when we will be planning the menu).

The registration fee includes registration at the event, and the following meals: Saturday breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and Sunday breakfast. The youth group will be planning the menu for the weekend at a meeting prior to the event.

You can pay by cash; or check made out to “First UCC”; or securely online by clicking on this First UCC - Vanco Secure Online Giving link at go to “Patriot Days.”

As we are paying this fee to the Patriot Days event, the fee is non-refundable, unless another person goes in your place, with the exceptions of: (1) if the event is canceled; (2) if the church cancels our participation; (3) if you experience an injury or illness that prevents you from going; (4) if you have a family emergency (such as a funeral, close relative in the hospital, etc); (5) if a refund is given by the event organization; or (6) if there are extenuating circumstances that the committee believes are appropriate.

Times

We will meet at the church parking lot on Friday, June 12 at 4:30pm to move gear into the cars going to the campout, and we plan to leave the parking lot by 5:00pm. We plan to return to the church parking lot on Sunday, June 14 at about 11:30am.

Chaperones

We are looking for adult chaperones (with appropriate clearances and approval) to go along on the campout, as well.

What to Bring (and what not to bring)

The latest revision of the packing list can be found at this Patriot Days Information & Packing List link.

Participation Forms

All youth participating need to have their parents submit the church’s permission form with emergency contact information (if you have not already done so). Please contact the church office or any of our youth group leaders to get a copy of the church form, or click on the following links:
Youth Participation - Email-Friendly Form or
Youth Participation - Printer-Friendly Form

More Info

For more information about the Youth Group, please contact our adult advisors: Pastor Ben Motz, Mandy Zerr, or Tom Seaman.

 

Tentative Draft of the 2026 Schedule of Events