Colorado Youth Event (CYE)

Empowered Disciple

July 7th-11th, 2026 at Denver University, Denver

What does it mean to live life as a Christian teenager in today's world? How do you live your life through acts of faith in a way that resonates with the challenges of the present day and respects the dignity of every human being? How do we model a life that reintroduces a Jesus who is compassionate, nonjudgemental, and humble? Join your fellow high schoolers from around the country at Denver University July 7-11 for the Colorado Youth Event, as we discover what it means to be an empowered disciple. In the same spirit of EYE, we will gather for workshops, worship, faith, and fellowship. The event is for rising high school youth through graduated seniors who have firm grounding in their faith and are looking for a community gathering  to learn more about God, themselves, and the Episcopal tradition.

What is the Colorado Youth Event?

The Colorado Youth Event (CYE) is a Multi-Provence youth event put on by the Episcopal Church in Colorado. When the decision was made to postpone the Episcopal Youth Event (EYE) previously scheduled for this summer, Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe sent a message hoping that there would be regional gatherings to fill the gap this time around. CYE is the answer to that call. The 3-day youth retreat will be in the same spirit as EYE with youth flying in from all over, staying in dorms on a college campus, and attending workshops and  large group plenary sessions. The event is being planned by a board of Colorado youth and their trusted adults. The cost to attend CYE will be $550. We are so excited to have you join us in Colorado!!

Who Can Attend the Colorado Youth Event?

CYE is open to all rising freshmen through graduated seniors and their adult chaperones.

  • Not every teenager is ready for group travel and an event the distance or size of CYE. For some teens, CYE will change their lives and their church engagement forever. For some teens this trip and size event may be overwhelming or over stimulating. We invite you into discernment to help identify the best possible delegation you can convene to travel together
  • We highly recommend establishing a local application and discernment process to screen for candidates to become part of your delegation. We strongly encourage recruiting your most emotionally stable and spiritually mature teenagers who have demonstrated curiosity and commitment to living a life of faithfulness. 
  • The CYE event will focus on helping develop leadership skills, spiritual practices, and understand what a life of discipleship can look like. Teens who are struggling with high anxiety and depression may find themselves under greater stress with travel and large scale interactions in unfamiliar places. 
  • Please be sure to review all medical forms and have appropriate and compassionate conversations with parents/guardians about serious health conditions revealed in the application process. 
  • It is essential that at least the lead chaperone (25 or older) be aware of medical concerns (physical, mental, social, and emotional), appropriate administration of medications, and expectations for treating an emergency or apparent crisis. Each CYE provides both a pastoral care and a medical response team, however their primary function is to administer first aid as needed, and to triage and refer to a higher level of care as determined by emergency assessment practices.
  • Chaperones have perhaps the greatest impact on the CYE experience for the youth in attendance. They are expected to set excellent examples in behavior and attitude as they provide safety for participants through diligent discipline regarding appropriate and healthy boundaries.
  • Chaperones should encourage their youth in full participation, help them process events, discern opportunities, and help bring their CYE experience home in hopeful ways. Chaperones are also responsible for tending to the physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing of the youth in the delegation utilizing the resources of CYE volunteer staff as needed.
  • Chaperones are responsible for conducting nightly room checks and for tending to behavior issues as needed.
  • Not every adult makes a great chaperone. We encourage delegations to discern carefully and always have a back-up chaperone ready to step in when an emergency arises.


  • CYE participants must 14 on or by Aug. 15, 2026. Participants should be enrolled in 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade during the 2026-2027 school year.
  • CYE youth participants may not be older than 19 years of age and if 19 must have graduated from high school in May of 2026.
  • A delegation with any 19 year-olds must have chaperones no younger than 22. 
  • All CYE participants must be vaccinated in accordance with the Executive Council's recently adopted Model Vaccination Policy, which incorporates CDC Guidelines reinforced by the court on January 29th, 2025. Exemptions from vaccinations are only permitted for those who provide a physician's notice for exemptions due to health concerns. 
  • The Episcopal Church does not recognize nor does it provide religious exemptions from vaccinations. 
  • All participants, youth and adults, are required to sign the Community Covenant for Behavior. Parents/guardians must also sign youth covenants so they understand the requirements and potential consequences if their child breaches the covenant.

The following requirements fulfill insurance liability guidelines, model policies for Safeguarding Minor Children, and have been established as best practices at large events such as EYE23. 

  • There must be a minimum of two chaperones per delegation.
  • The preferred chaperone to youth ratio is one adult per six youth.
  • One adult chaperone over the age of 25 must serve as the primary contact for the delegation, and at least one chaperone traveling with the group must be a minimum of 25 years old.
  • All other chaperones must be 21 or older.
  • Delegations with more than 12 youth must have a ratio of 1 adult for every 6 youth. Sample ratios:
    • 1-12 youth – 2 adults 
    • 13-18 youth – 3 adults 
    • 19-24 youth – 4 adults
    • 25-30 youth – 5 adults
    • 31-36 youth – 6 adults
    • 37-42 youth – 7 adults
  • Delegations may not exceed the adult to youth ratios outlined above.
  • Each delegation must have both male and female chaperones unless the youth all identify as the same gender, in which case chaperones must match that gender.
  • All chaperones must have passed a Criminal Sexual Background Check conducted by the local parish or diocese within 3 years of July 7, 2026. Chaperones must also have completed Safe Church Training in compliance within the last 3 years and within local diocesan policy. Office of the Bishop Diocesan must provide evidence of compliance for diocesan delegations, and Rectors/Wardens/Vicars or Executive Directors must do so for other delegations.
  • Working with large youth populations can put adults with health issues at risk. The Episcopal Church encourages all adult chaperones and participants to consult with their physician regarding vaccinations.
  • Up-to-date childhood vaccinations are required for youth participants.
  • Chaperones must travel with the delegation to and from CYE and comply to the same standards of behavior regarding our community covenant.

I'm In! Now What

Register Here

Tuesday July 7, Arrival Day 

  • 2:00-8:00 pm Arrival & Check In 
    • All delegations must be checked in by 8:00 pm to avoid late arrival fee
    • Delegations to get dinner on their own 
      • Will receive information about surrounding restaurants 
  • 8:00-9:00 pm Welcome Reception and Ice Cream social – Campus Green 
  • 8:00- 9:00 pm Adults Leaders Meeting for visiting adults
    • Youth to be supervised by CO leaders 
  • 9:15 -10:00 pm Delegation time in Dorms 
  • 10:00-10:30 pm down time in Dorms
  • 11:00 pm lights out

Wednesday, July 8 | #Empower 

  • 8:00-9:00 am  Breakfast
  • 9:00-10:30 am: Opening Session – Empower 
    • Welcome
    • Acknowledgement of all delegations 
      • Where they are from 
      • Something unique to their diocese 
    • Band & Worship 
    • Plenary
      • Empowerment; what is it and what does it look like in our lives  
    • Announcements
  • 10:45-11:45 am : One Hour Workshops (Empowered in High School Focus)
  • 12:00-1:00 pm: Lunch 
  • 1:15-2:45 pm: 90 minute Workshops (Empowered in the World Focus)
  • 3:00-3:30 pm: Reflection & Snack, Campus Green 
  • 3:45-4:45 pm: Large Group Activity 
  • 5:00-6:00 pm Dinner 
  • 6:15-7:45 pm: Evening Session 
    • Band & Worship 
    • Daily Reflection 
    • Plenary: Empowerment in High School daily life and beyond 
      • Decision making 
      • You have the power
    • Announcements 
  • 8:00-9:00 pm: Social Hour, Campus Green 
  • 9:15-10:00 pm: Delegation Time 
  • 10:30-10:30 pm: Down Time in the Dorms
  • 11:00 Lights Out 

Thursday, July 9 | #Discipleship  

  • 8:00-9:00 am  Breakfast
  • 9:00-10:30 am: Opening Session – Discipleship 
    • Welcome Back & Group Check In 
      • Have delegations sit together 
      • Call our delegations by name to check in 
    • Band & Worship 
    • Plenary
      • Discipleship – What is it and how do we discover our own discipleship  
    • Announcements
  • 10:45-11:45 am : One Hour Workshops (Discipleship  in High School Context)
  • 12:00-1:00 pm: Lunch 
  • 1:15-2:45 pm: 90 minute Workshops (Discipleship in the World Context)
  • 3:00-3:30 pm: Reflection & Snack, Campus Green 
  • 3:45-4:45 pm: Large Group Activity 
  • 5:00-6:00 pm Dinner 
  • 6:15-7:45 pm: Evening Session 
    • Band & Worship 
    • Daily Reflection 
    • Plenary: Discipleship in High School daily life and beyond 
      • Actions of love, friendship, and community building 
      • How to live as a disciple and not be seen as weird
    • Announcements 
  • 8:00-9:00 pm: Dance Party, Campus Green 
  • 9:15-10:00 pm: Delegation Time 
  • 10:30-10:30 pm: Down Time in the Dorms
  • 11:00 Lights Out 

 

Friday, July 10 | #Empowered Discipleship 

  • 8:00-9:00 am  Breakfast
  • 9:00-10:30 am: Opening Session – Empowered Discipleship 
    • Welcome Back & Group Check In 
      • Have delegations sit together 
      • Call our delegations by name to check in 
    • Band & Worship 
    • Plenary
      • Empowered Discipleship – What does it look like to put these together and how do we take action to do so 
    • Announcements
  • 10:45-11:45 am : One Hour Workshops (Empowered Discipleship  in High School Context)
  • 12:00-1:00 pm: Lunch 
  • 1:15-2:45 pm: 90 minute Workshops (Empowered Discipleship in the World Context)
  • 3:00-3:30 pm: Reflection & Snack, Campus Green 
  • 3:45-4:45 pm: Large Group Activity 
  • 5:00-6:00 pm Dinner 
  • 6:15-7:45 pm: Evening Session 
    • Band & Worship 
    • Daily Reflection 
    • Plenary: Empowered Discipleship – Take Action
      • Sermon of empowerment to encourage youth to take these few days back home with them to live into their Empowered Discipleship 
        • What have you learned here these past few days?
        • What have you identified as your discipleship?
        • How have you been empowered to be that disciple in the world? 
      • Commissioning service to send the group out into the world 
    • Announcements 
  • 8:00-9:00 pm: Social Hour, Campus Green 
  • 9:15-10:00 pm: Delegation Time 
    • Have them write a paragraph to themselves about their experience 
    • Have youth complete online event survey
    • They can share this on the survey if they would like 
  • 10:30-10:30 pm: Down Time in the Dorms
  • 11:00 Lights Out 

 

Saturday July 11, Departure Day 

  • 6:00 am -10:00 am Depart Campus 
    • No meals, delegations to get food on their own 



Coming Soon

Coming Soon

Questions? Reach out to Missioner Elizabeth Cervasio elizabeth@episcopalcolorado.org