After A Spectrum of Faith was published in 2017, we held our first Interfaith Youth Leadership Camp, inviting youth from the communities featured in Spectrum. Since then, the camp has expanded to include campers from all faiths (and lack thereof) and communities, using focusing on rising high-school juniors and seniors and entering first-year college students (especially at Drake).
Camps now run from Wednesday (early) afternoon to Sunday (late) afternoon, i.e., for five days and four nights. Campers visit many different places of worship in the metro area, create and share digital stories about impactful faith/meaning-experiences, and learn about and cultivate skills in religious literacy (world religions), intercultural development, and interfaith leadership. Accommodations and meals are provided. Usually, we are also able to provide a modest scholarship to campers. (Note, however, that there is a selective application process.)
The Des Moines Area Religious Council partners with us in planning and running the camps. Together, along with Interfaith Alliance of Iowa and CultureALL, we are the “Iowa Interfaith Exchange.” You can find information about the camp, images from past camps, and applications to the current camp, on that website here: IOWA INTERFAITH EXCHANGE. You can also find basic information about and digital stories by campers from our prior camps at the Camp Archive page.
The 2025 camp is scheduled for July 9–13. Applications for it are due by May 31. To apply, please go HERE. Email comparison.project@drake.edu for questions and more information.