A note from Tom Hoegel, team member of Western States Youth Gathering— 

The 2026 Western States Youth Gathering (WSYG) is excited to announce a partnership with the ELCA Youth Gathering and California Lutheran University (CLU). We will be celebrating the strengths of this partnership by coming together June 28th - July 1st, 2026 at California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA. Both the WSYG and the Gathering have had a rich history of bringing young people together and the partnership with CLU will only enhance the experience. 

As a youth worker myself, I have taken my youth to both Western States and the Gathering since they began and have found them to be life changing, faith formative events that have shaped thousands. With WSYG being a year prior to the ELCA Youth Gathering, it provides a wonderful opportunity to prepare your young people for a the overall Gathering experience. It’s one step on the movement of their faith formation. 

We are expecting hundreds of young people and their adult leaders from across the country to attend. As a Gathering Expedition, the event will include various components like the Gathering such as main stage sessions, interactive experiences rooted in faith formation, service, connection, night life and more. Youth graduating 8th grade through those graduating 12th grade, including their adult leaders are encouraged to register. Registration includes all housing, meals and programming. Registration opens on December 15. We hope to see you in California!