6PM               8AM     
Dec. 31, 2026  |  Jan. 1, 2027

Unite Youth

NYE Lock-in

Your Questions, Answered

  • This year, we’re making the gathering an overnight lock-in so students can safely celebrate together without needing to travel home in early-morning hours of New Year’s Day. Students will be separated by gender for the overnight portion of the event, both groups will have optional activities in their designated buildings, but they will also have the option to get some SLEEP!

  • No! Students are welcome to stay for the entire lock-in, but staying overnight is not required.

    There will be a designated pickup window between 12:30 AM and 1:00 AM for students who need or want to leave before the overnight portion of the event.

  • Students should come prepared for a full night of fun, fellowship, and activities! Here's what we recommend bringing:

    • A sleeping bag or blanket and pillow

    • Comfortable clothing and appropriate sleepwear

    • Toiletries and personal hygiene items

    • DEODORANT! Seriously, don't forget it! With a full night of games, activities, and fellowship, everyone will appreciate it.

    • Any personal items needed to stay comfortable throughout the night

    Unite Youth will provide a meal during the evening. Students are also welcome to bring their own snacks to enjoy during the lock-in portion of the event.

    Please label personal belongings whenever possible and leave valuable or unnecessary items at home. Unite Youth is not responsible for lost, damaged, or misplaced personal belongings.

  • For the safety and enjoyment of everyone attending, students are expected to follow Unite Youth event guidelines. Items that could pose a safety risk, disrupt activities, or be inappropriate for a Christ-centered event should be left at home.

    The following items are not permitted at the event:

    • Weapons, including pocketknives

    • Alcohol, tobacco, vaping products, and other controlled substances

    • Fireworks, lighters, or other potentially hazardous items

    • Items that could be used to harm others or disrupt the event

    • Personal gaming systems or consoles, since Unite Youth will provide gaming devices and entertainment

    Cell phones are welcome, and students may bring appropriate board games and card games to enjoy during the lock-in.

    If you are unsure whether an item is appropriate to bring, please leave it at home or contact the Unite Youth team before the event.

  • After the worship service, students will head to their designated buildings for a night filled with games, activities, food, fellowship, and plenty of opportunities to connect with other students.

  • Student safety is one of our highest priorities throughout the event. Students will be supervised by designated Unite Youth volunteers and leaders throughout the gathering and overnight lock-in.

  • For the overnight portion of the event, boys and girls will stay in separate designated buildings. Sleeping areas will be separated from activity areas in each designated building.

  • Our desire is for every student to have a safe, fun, and Christ-centered experience, and we expect all students to respect the leaders, other students, facilities, and guidelines established for the event.

    We understand that situations may arise, and not every situation requires the same response. Unite Youth leaders will use their discretion to address misconduct based on the nature and severity of the situation. Responses may include a conversation with the student, a warning, contacting a parent or guardian, removing a student from a particular activity, or taking other appropriate steps to address the situation.

    However, Unite Youth reserves the right to contact a student's parent, guardian, or designated emergency contact and require immediate pickup if the situation warrants it. This may be necessary in cases involving serious misconduct, safety concerns, repeated disregard for event guidelines, or behavior that significantly impacts the experience or safety of others.

    We sincerely hope that this will not be necessary. Our expectation is that students will come ready to have fun, build relationships, worship, and enjoy the night while respecting the boundaries that have been established.

    Parents and guardians are our partners in making this event a positive experience for everyone. We appreciate your support in talking with your student beforehand about the expectations of the event and encouraging them to make wise choices throughout the night.