What are the important dates we need to know?

• Monday, September 20: Early Bird Registration opens ($299)
• Monday, September 20: Scholarship applications open (apply here)
• Sunday, September 26: Early Bird Registration ends  (price will increase to $350)
• Friday, October 1: Scholarship applications due by 11:59pm
• Friday, October 22: Registration closes at 11:59pm. No refunds will be given after this date. No late registrations will be accepted.  (See full cancellation/refund policy below)
• Sunday, October 24: CampDoc medical/dietary information due online
• Friday, October 29- Sunday, October 31: Regional Convention

What is the scholarship process?

1. By Friday, October 1 at 11:59pm: Complete the scholarship application (apply here)
   • Late applications will not be accepted for any reason.
   • Your most recent tax information must be uploaded if you’re requesting more than 25% of the convention cost (more than $90 for Regional Convention).
   • Note that we do not typically award more than 50% of the convention cost.
2. On Monday, October 11: Each family will be contacted via email with scholarship allocation information and next steps.
3. By Wednesday, October 13: Accept/deny your scholarship award- directions will be provided via email on how to accept/deny. If you do not accept/deny your scholarship award by this time, your scholarship will be released.
4. Between September 20 and October 22 at 11:59pm: Register for convention.
   • IMPORTANT: By applying for scholarship you are NOT guaranteed a spot at convention. You must register as detailed above using the same email address you use for the scholarship application. When you register for convention the website will automatically deduct your scholarship award from the total cost.  If convention fills and you are placed on the waitlist your scholarship will be put on hold until if/when space becomes available.
   • Your scholarship will be deducted based on the cost of convention at the time you register. This is different than in the past, so PLEASE be sure to register before Early Bird ends on September 26th to maximize your scholarship opportunity.
   • All convention fees must be paid by the final registration deadline unless the family has had a conversation with the Regional Director.

Can I register after the registration deadline? No. Registration closes at 11:59pm on Friday, October 22. If a teen wishes to register after this date he/she should not expect to be able to attend convention. We do our best to accommodate but it can’t always work. Once registration closes, we send our numbers to camps and hotels for food and rooming, and it can be difficult to make changes.  

What is the cancellation/refund policy?  The deadline to cancel with a full program refund is the final registration deadline for this program. Until that date, full refunds will be granted for cancellations in writing (e-mail is acceptable), for any reason. After the registration deadline, partial refunds may be available based on convention expenses already paid (hotel, transportation, etc.). Within ten days of convention we’ve already confirmed final counts with our vendors, and no refunds will be given. “No shows” will not receive a refund.

Are there an unlimited number of convention spots? No. Our space at Camp Solomon Schechter is limited based on program and rooming space. We have a limited number of spots and will move to a waitlist once we have reached our maximum. We encourage all participants to register as early as possible.

CONVENTION BACKGROUND                                                                                                            

Who is convention for? Kehillah is for every Jewish teen involved with BBYO and any teen interested in becoming more involved in BBYO. Chapter leaders, chapter members, new members, 8th graders, freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors are all invited. No leadership role or prior program participation is required to participate. Teens must be registered members of BBYO to attend convention.

Why should I attend convention? BBYO conventions are one of the things that teens look most forward to during the school year. Conventions are planned and led by teens, and they are an opportunity for our region to come together as a community. Conventions provide teens with meaningful Jewish experiences and friendships that they will remember for years to come.

Where will I be? Will I be leaving the Camp? Teens will be staying at Camp Solomon Schechter in Tumwater, WA and will remain on-site for the duration of Kehillah. Teens should not leave the camp under any circumstances unless parents have been in communication with the Regional staff. 

What does programming look like? We like to keep some things a surprise! Here are some program highlights:

• Friday
  • Shabbat Experiences
  • AZA/BBG Separates
• Saturday
  • Shabbat Experiences
  • Big/Little Event
  • Havdallah and Song Session
  • Standup Event

COVID GUIDANCE FOR KEHILLAH CONVENTION

What are your COVID procedures? All participants, staff, and guests at convention must provide proof of full vaccination in order to attend. You will complete this information along with your medical forms when you register for this event. 

According to Camp Solomon Schechter usage guidelines all participants and advisors/staff to show proof of a negative PCR Covid Test to participate in Fall Convention 10/29-31.  

• The test must be completed no more than 72 hours before leaving for camp on Friday.
• Please email Justyn Jacobs ([email protected]) a copy of your results prior to leaving for convention.
• Teens will not be allowed on the bus without proof of negative test.

We will communicate with registered attendees about the specifics prior to the event. We are keeping a close eye on ever-changing circumstances and may communicate updates to any of these policies or procedures prior to convention start.

PREPARING FOR CONVENTION  

What medical form does BBYO need? Within a week of registering for convention you’ll receive an email from CampDoc.com and will be able to fill out the form electronically. Please note that if you have attended another BBYO convention or will be attending International Convention you will use the same login and only need to update your information. You do not need a physical for this convention.

What if I take medication? Teens will be responsible for keeping and taking their own medications. These medications should be noted on your Campdoc medical form. We will not have a professional nurse on staff. We will have over the counter medicines if need be (Tylenol, Tums, Advil, etc.) and we do keep track of when teens are taking these meds from us.

What is the recommended dress? Stay tuned for a complete packing list. You’ll want to check in with your teen’s chapter for their planned spirit items. Teens will be at camp, so pack accordingly. Teens are not permitted to wear clothing that is revealing, such as short skirts, cut off tank-tops, see-through tops, and may be asked to change clothes if necessary. Clothing that is profane or references to drugs or alcohol is also not permitted. We do not permit any spirit wear that is potentially offensive to any race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, etc. More specific information on acceptable clothing choices will be sent in the Kehillah spirit guide.   

What should I pack? The recommended packing list includes:

• BBYO chapter spirit clothing (chapter-specific information will be sent by each chapter)
• Toiletries
• Jeans/slacks
• Casual shirts/blouses
• T-shirts
• Sweatshirts/sweaters
• Shabbat appropriate attire- Friday evening Shabbat attire should be nicer than typical casual clothes. Slacks and khakis with a polo shirt or button-down shirt are appropriate for Alephs, and slacks, khakis, skirts, blouses or dresses are appropriate for BBGs. Revealing short skirts or low cut tops are not permitted.
• Sneakers/casual shoes/dress shoes
• Pajamas
• Kippah, Tallit and Tefillin (if desired)
• AZA and BBG pins
• A camera
• Spending money (optional- see below)
• Masks
• *BBYO is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Please leave all unnecessary valuables at home.

Will I need spending money? Teens are advised to bring a small amount of spending money to Kehillah. During free time, teens may be given the option to purchase snacks with cash in addition to the snacks provided to them by BBYO. Also, teens may choose to purchase items at the Shuk (marketplace), showcasing BBYO ‘swag’ and apparel from chapters across the region. Items at the Kehillah Shuk typically cost between $1 and $35. BBYO is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Please leave all unnecessary valuables at home.

Need Extra Care? Conventions and overnights have their challenges for teens, especially our younger members. If your teen needs extra care during the Convention, either socially, physically or otherwise (anxiety, shyness, etc.), please reach out to EGR Regional Director, Justyn Jacobs, at [email protected]. For the safety and well-being of all our members, only our professional staff is able to arrange and/or provide extra care.

ON-SITE LOGISTICS                                                                                                                            

How do I get to convention?

• Travel information will be sent out prior to convention.
• Please direct any travel questions to Justyn at  [email protected].
• Teens may NOT drive themselves to/from convention. There are no exceptions to this policy. If a teen drives to convention, they will not be allowed to participate in the program. Their parent/guardian will be called to come pick up them and the vehicle immediately.
• What if I have to come late or leave early? No problem! If you have other commitments throughout the event that you’re unable to miss- don't worry! We will work with you so can attend. Late arrivals and early departures are typically no problem as long as we know in advance. Teens may not drive themselves to/from convention. Prorated convention costs are not available. Please email Justyn by October 22 at 11:59pm if you have late arrival or early departure needs.

How does rooming work? Teens are roomed randomly in rooms. We do our best to room teens with 1 other teen from their chapter although odd numbers and late registrations may cause this to not be possible. We also do our best to room teens with teens that are within 1-2 school years of one another. BBGs and Alephs will be roomed in separate areas of camp. While we do not allow for room requests or room changes, any serious rooming issues should be brought to the staff’s attention immediately upon registration.

What are the meals like? What if I have a dietary restriction? CSS is a Kosher camp, and all meat meals will have vegetarian options for teens who specify this need on their medical forms. We ask for allergy information and food needs on the online medical form and we appreciate you sharing information as soon as possible so that we can accommodate specific food needs and limitations. All BBYO conventions are peanut and tree nut-free.

Can we store spare spirit items somewhere? - Teens will not be allowed to go to their rooms outside of designated morning, chofesh, and evening times. Chapters planning multiple outfits within time slots should bring down their change of clothes in backpacks. For safety and security purposes teens will be responsible for keeping their backpacks throughout convention. There will not be a storage space available for boxes, bags, etc. Teens are responsible for their own belongings. We do not recommend bringing valuables.

What is BBYO's supervision policy? BBYO has a minimum supervision ratio of 15 teens to every adult. All of BBYO’s professional staff have had background checks and are trained to work with your teens and keep them safe. The staff and advisors help to supervise teens before, during, and after programming. Teen safety is our #1 priority.

What is BBYO’s discipline policy? As a reminder, when you registered for membership you signed BBYO’s Code of Conduct, which outlines our policies for substance abuse, property damage, and behavior guidelines with the full understanding of our behavioral expectations as a member of BBYO. Rules and guidelines will be made clear to all participants upon their arrival at convention opening. Should one of our teens choose to act outside of our Code of Conduct, the incident will be addressed by the appropriate staff members. We have a zero-tolerance approach to any violation of the Code of Conduct and any discipline matter that comes to the attention of staff. If you are (or your teen is) dismissed from Kehillah for disciplinary reasons or Code of Conduct violations, BBYO staff will arrange for travel home immediately, at your family’s expense and without a refund.