What are the important dates we need to know?

• Sunday, December 9th: Scholarship applications open : https://secure.jotformpro.com/form/52307533475960
• Sunday, December 9th: Registration opens with Hannukah Flash Sale ($250)
• Wednesday, December 12th: Early Bird Registration opens (price will increase to $270)
• Tuesday, December 25th: Early Bird Registration ends  (price will increase to $295)
• Sunday, January 20th: 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, January 20th: CampDoc medical/dietary information due online
• Friday, January 25th- Monday, January 27th: Regional Convention

What is the scholarship process?

1. By Sunday, December 23rd at 11:59pm: Complete the scholarship application (http://secure.jotformpro.com/form/52307533475960)
   • Late applications will not be accepted for any reason.
   • Note that we do not typically award more than 50% of the convention cost.
2. By Saturday, December 29th: Each family will be contacted via email with scholarship allocation information and next steps.
3. By Friday, December 4th: 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 December 9th and January 20th 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 December 25th 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 Sunday January 20th. 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 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.

Scholarship Opportunities:

Regional:

Applications are due at https://secure.jotformpro.com/form/52307533475960 by the end of the day on Dec 23th. We will let you know about your scholarship award by December 29th, and all scholarships will be deducted from the convention cost of $270. If you choose to register before you are notified about your scholarship, we will reimburse you for the amount of your scholarship on the credit card you used to register. If you register after your scholarship notice, you will only have to pay the balance.  

Federation:

Burt and Elanis Margulis Scholarship for first time weekend attendees

      Federation scholarship link: https://www.jewishla.org/program/burt-elaine-margulis-teen-scholarship-fund/

Chapter:

Apply within your chapter to receive additional funding

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.

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)
• *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 Winter Convention. Teens may choose to purchase items at the Shuk (marketplace), showcasing BBYO ‘swag’ and apparel from chapters across the region. Items at the Shuk typically cost between $1 and $30. BBYO is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Please leave all unnecessary valuables at home.

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 Winter Convention 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.