Young Adults
Pathfinders
Northern California Pathfindering is helping young people “To Know Him,” “To Serve Him” and “To Share Him.”
Youth
Helping young people understand and play a significant role in the Church’s mission.
Make a splash! Get involved...
Increase youth involvement in local church ministries and leadership
• Facilitate plans for inclusion of young people not connected to an Adventist school
• Establish mechanisms for youth to express their viewpoints
• Expand the Conference youth ministry program to effectively meet the needs of a diverse group of youth and young adults
Staff
Eddie Heinrich
Director
(916) 886-5656
eddie.heinrich@nccsda.com
Calendar
Cote d'Ivoire Mission Trip (click for info)
March 28-31, 2020
Bike-a-thon
April 5, 2020
Pathfinder Fair
May 3, 2020
ONE TEAM--NAD Playbook
September 3-5, 2020
Pathfinder/Adventurer Leadership Training
September 11-13, 2020
Sabbath School Training
September 19, 2020
Pathfinder Camporee
October 1-4, 2020
Junior/Senior Retreat
October 23-25, 2020
Freshman/Sophomore Retreat Leader Training
February 3-5, 2021
Freshman/Sophomore Retreat
February 5-7, 2021
Mission Trip
March 18-28, 2021
Bike-a-thon
April 4, 2021
Pathfinder Fair
May 2, 2021
Pathfinder/Adventurer Leadership Training
September 10-12, 2021
Pathfinder Camporee
September 30-October 3, 2021
Junior/Senior Retreat
October 22-24, 2021
Freshman/Sophomore Retreat Leader Training
February 2-4, 2022
Freshman/Sophomore Retreat
February 4-6, 2022
Bike-a-thon
April 3, 2022
Pathfinder Fair
May 1, 2022
Youth Ministry in the Northern California Conference provides services and activities for churches and schools with high school and college age youth. It provides two Spiritual retreats each year at Leoni Meadows. These retreats are geared toward different ages groups, provide an environment that fosters the development of personal relationship with Jesus, and tools that help young people to share their personal encounters with Jesus and the Gospel of Salvation with their peers.
In addition to these retreats, the Youth Pastor team plans a yearly event designed to connect young people with their friends, church, and God. We also provide resources and mentoring to the Youth Pastors with annual retreats and planning councils.
Pathfinder Ministry in the Northern California Conference provides services and activities for churches with youth ages 10-15 plus teen Leader’s-in-Training to be staff. The conference sponsors events for leadership training in the fall and annual events for the almost 50 Pathfinder Clubs. This includes the fall Pathfinder Camporee and the spring Pathfinder Fair. We assist clubs in fund raising by hosting annual Bike-athon and Work-athons. Especially for the Teen Pathfinders are events like mission trips, rock-climbing in Yosemite, and caving at the Lava Beds National Monument. Each spring over 850 Pathfinders and staff are invested in the Pathfinder classes which help them “increase in wisdom, and stature and in favor with God and man.”
Pathfinder Bikeathon
First Sunday of April
2019 Pathfinder Bike-a-thon Certificates
At this event, the Northern California Conference Pathfinders gather in a central location to raise money to support both their Pathfinder clubs and Pathfinder ministry in Northern California. It's a chance to work, and challenge oneself to earn a high mileage medallion. Pathfinders from all over the conference participate and cheer their fellow club members on. The track opens at 8:00 a.m and closes at 4:00 p.m. The location varies, but the past several years it has been located at the Metro Airport nearby the Sacramento Airport.
Yosemite Rock Climbing
For the past 30+ years, the NCC Pathfinders have organized a teen only camping and climbing trip to Yosemite. In addition to climbing, there are lots of adventures and beautiful scenery to take in.
Pathfinder Fair
Pancake making, archery, 9 square, speech competitions, and display booths booths—to name a few have been the order of the day at the Pathfinder Fair. The Pathfinder Fair is an opportunity to learn new things, display some of the new skills acquired during the Pathfinder year, meet new people, and eat amazing food.
Pathfinder Leadership Retreat
Second Weekend of September
Pathfinder leaders gathering at Leoni Meadows for the annual Leadership Retreat. Whether one sleeps in the dorm, cabin, lodge room, or in one’s own RV, there’s plenty of space for everyone. This weekend will not only inspire one to grow as a leader but will also help to enhance one’s spiritual life. Master Guide, leadership, how to organize a successful Pathfinder club, insurance guidelines, how to work with teens are all classes that are taught during the weekend. In addition, there is time for fun, fellowship, games, and heading out into the woods to see the amazing nature God created just for us.
Youth Pastor Planning Day
Twice a year, youth pastors get together to dream, plan, and organize youth ministry opportunities for the conference.
Pathfinder Camporee Redwood
Located near Fortuna, Calif., Redwood Campground will host the 2018 Fall Pathfinder Camporee. On Friday, Pathfinders will have a chance to help clean-up and repair the campgrounds, as well as go out into the community to share the love of Christ through their actions. On Sabbath, Pathfinders will be a part of a Pathfinder parade, worship together, and grow as they complete Sabbath friendly honors in the afternoon.
After the initial rush of the school year ends, public high school and academy juniors and seniors from all over the conference are invited to attend a spiritual retreat geared for them at Leoni Meadows. Preaching, amazing food, fantastic games, and new friendships are all part of the weekend.
If one sits quietly enough and listens intently, one can almost hear the mice, bats, and other creatures that inhabit the caves at the Lava Bed National Monument near Klamath Falls, Oregon. There are hundreds of caves available to explore: some that are easy and some that will make you wish you were sitting back at the campfire listening to the fire crackle as it burns. This teen-only event is planned in such a way to help challenge one mentally, physically, and spiritually.
Youth Pastor Retreat
It’s called a retreat, but it’s more of a team building, visioning, and planning session. Over the course of a couple of days, youth pastors of the NCC plan, pray, vision, and work in order to create a calendar and group of events to feed and inspire the youth of the NCC.
Pathfinder Area Coordinator Planning Meeting
Ministries and events do not just happen. It takes a whole lot of planning and praying for the NCC Pathfinder program to run smoothly. Three times a year, the area coordinator team find time to slip away someplace quiet in order to plan a calendar of events that will help Pathfinders grow closer to Jesus.
Fr/So Leadership Training
Mentoring, growing, and learning are the goals of this event, held Wednesday evening through Friday afternoon just prior to Fr/So retreat. Public high school juniors and seniors who are committed to Jesus are invited to apply to be part of the Fr/So Small Group Leadership team. Over a short period of time these leaders receive instructions on how to facilitate small groups, lead Bible studies, and how to share their story about what Jesus is doing in their lives.
Big games, small group Bible studies, fellowship, speakers, and food are all part of this weekend. Public school and academy freshman and sophomores are all invited to be part of this fabulous weekend. Most of the weekend is student lead and coached by the NCC Youth Ministry Team.
Summer on the Run
Summer, 2019
This popular summer youth program is back! Summer on the Run will be touring throughout Northern California in June and July! Don’t miss these dates. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/summerontherunNCCyouth.
Chosen International Camporee
You can be part of one of the most exciting youth events around the world! The 2019 Chosen International Pathfinder Camporee will be held in Oshkosh, WI. Every five years, 50,000 Pathfinders from around 100 countries come to play, share, learn, and worship together. It's an opportunity of a lifetime, sure to strengthen your relationship with God.
Reaching Youth for christ