Unite is the Evangelical Covenant Church's triennial youth conference — a formative gathering that invites thousands of high school students into deeper faith, shared life, and God's work in the world. With over 70 years of history (dating back to 1956 as CHIC), Unite has catalyzed significant spiritual moments in the lives of tens of thousands of teenagers. It's more than an event — it's a movement that calls students not only to belong, but to be sent.

Students entering 9th grade through outgoing seniors attending Evangelical Covenant churches. Students must attend with a registered group from their local church.

Unite 2027 takes place July 18–23, 2027 at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Every day at Unite follows a full and intentional rhythm:

• Morning: Breakfast, Basecamps, and small group time
• Afternoon: Lunch, excursions, recreation, tournaments, seminars, service, and free time
• Evening: Dinner, MainStage worship and teaching, youth group debrief

Download the Day in the Life guide for a full breakdown.

Yes. Lincoln holds a Four-Star Certified Welcoming designation from Welcoming America — only the second community in the country to achieve this distinction. It reflects Lincoln's sustained commitment to fostering a culture of belonging for all residents and guests. We are proud to gather there.

A nonrefundable deposit of $100 per person is due when you register your group. The remaining balance is due by May 14, 2027. If you register after April 16, 2027, the full amount is due at the time of registration.

Every Covenant church registers as a group. Youth leaders complete the registration form on this website on behalf of their group. Registration opens August 17, 2026. Fill out the Youth Group Interest Form now to be notified when registration opens.

Registration covers five nights of lodging, thirteen meals, morning and evening sessions, Basecamps, intentional discipleship opportunities, seminars, afternoon activities, and a safe environment. Travel to and from Lincoln is not included.

The $100 deposit per person is nonrefundable. However, if a student or leader can no longer attend, you may transfer their registration to another participant.

If your group has a particular financial challenge, we encourage you to first talk to your local church, then to your regional conference through your Conference Coach.

Students and leaders are housed in air-conditioned university residence halls. Attendees are housed in designated areas by gender, with adult leaders in rooms on the same floor as their students. All participants are required to stay on campus. Residence hall directors are present throughout the day and students check in with them each night.

Campus security is present around the clock, working in close partnership with the Lincoln Police Department. A volunteer medical team is on site to address health needs, and professionally trained counselors from our Human Services team are available throughout the week to provide support.

Each group must have at least one leader (21 years or older) for every ten students, based on gender. This means you must have both male and female leaders if your group includes both male and female students. There are also opportunities to serve as a general volunteer throughout the week.

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a FARECheck Gold certified school, recognized for outstanding food allergy accommodations. If your student has allergies, intolerances, celiac disease, or other dietary needs, please share those details during registration so we can plan accordingly.

Our goal is to be fully inclusive. All venues are ADA compliant. A low-sensory room will be available in the arena during MainStage evening worship for those who need a quieter space. Additional support is available upon request. Please share your student's needs during registration so we can plan ahead.

Cell phone use is left to the discretion of your group leader. We encourage leaders to set clear expectations with students and parents before arriving on campus.

We are grateful to gather as guests on a university campus. To honor the people and places at Unite, all attendees are expected to observe the following:

• Treat all leaders, staff, and volunteers with respect and dignity
• No guys on girls' dorm floors and vice versa
• Alcohol, tobacco, vaping, drugs, and weapons are strictly prohibited
• Everyone must be in their dorms by the designated In Dorm Time
• Students leaving campus must be accompanied by an adult
• Respect the campus — no TP, water balloons, shaving cream, sidewalk chalk, or practical jokes
• Do not move furniture; you will be charged for any assessed damage
• No fireworks at any time during Unite or while on campus property

The Unite leadership reserves the right to send home any participant who violates these practices.

Yes — groups are responsible for getting to and from Unite. Contact your Conference Coach to learn how your regional conference may be coordinating travel. If flying, you have two airport options:

• Lincoln Airport (LNK) — closest to campus
• Omaha Eppley Airfield (OMA) — approximately 45 minutes from campus; coordinated transportation to Lincoln will be available

We have partnered with United Airlines to secure a group discount code for flights. Details coming soon.

Yes, translation will be available during evening MainStage sessions. Please share any specific language requests during registration so we can plan ahead.

Yes, sign language interpretation will be available during evening MainStage sessions. Please share any requests during registration so we can plan ahead.

No. While families are extremely important to us, childcare will not be available during Unite and we are unable to accommodate children. We greatly appreciate your understanding.

Graphics, posters, social media templates, and more are available in the For Youth Leaders section. Sign up for updates to be notified when the full promo kit is available.

Contact your Conference Coach or email events@covchurch.org with your questions.