ATTENTION: JUNIOR SEMINAR APPLICATION DEADLINE- APRIL 18, 2010.



Juniors, click here to apply
Seniors, click here to apply
LITs, click here to apply



The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF-YOARF)’s Junior Seminar Committee has begun to prepare for its 2010 Junior Seminar. Junior Seminar is the largest AYF junior event with more than 350 junior participants from throughout the United States and Canada. During the four-day, three-night event participants partake in an array of educational, athletic, and social activities. Though the focus of the weekend is education, the juniors are given several hours during the day to socialize and utilize the camp’s athletic facilities. Areas and supplies for basketball, volleyball, soccer, and football are available. In addition, every night a social program is provided.

The educational program consists of a set of eight lectures specially geared to the participants’ age groups. Topics span the areas of Armenian culture to current events. The presentations are geared to relay information to the participants about topics such as Artsakh or Javakh, to encourage discussion and independent thinking about topics such as what's next for the AYF or the Armenian Diaspora after Genocide recognition. Lecturers travel from various parts of the United States and Canada in order to present to the Junior Seminar participants.

As in the years past, Junior Seminar will be held over Memorial Day weekend beginning Friday, May 28th and spanning through Monday, May 31st at Camp Lutherlyn in Prospect, Pennsylvania. Participants will arrive Friday evening and depart Monday morning. Most local AYF chapters arrange transportation to the event for a nominal fee. During the event Camp Lutherlyn provides participants with clean and comfortable facilities. These facilities include cabins with bunk beds, bathroom/shower facilities, dining halls, and infirmary. A trained medical staff is present throughout the weekend.

The AYF works very hard to ensure that all Junior Seminar participants have a fun, educational, and SAFE weekend. The Junior Seminar is supervised by a staff of more than 50 AYF senior members and alumni advisors. The camp is consisted of more than 35 cabins. Each cabin of 5 – 8 junior participants is assigned 2 – 3 senior counselors for the weekend. These counselors accompany the junior participants to activities and supervise them throughout the weekend.

What is Junior Seminar?
The National Junior Seminar is an opportunity for Juniors from across the country to meet and take part in a thorough educational program. We have come a long way since 1971, our attendance growing over five times its original size of 80 participants. 

Why is Junior Seminar so important?
Junior Seminar is important for many reasons. Foremost though, it provides Junior and Senior participants with educational, athletic and social activities that are geared towards creating a fraternal Armenian atmosphere for all members.

The AYF provides Armenian youth with a wide variety of activities as a way to foster pride in their heritage and prepare them for future work in the Armenian Community. One of the best examples that encompasses all these aspects of our organization is the annual Junior Seminar.

What will the Juniors be doing exactly?
During the course of the weekend, the Juniors will be attending educationals with free time in between. In addition to the educational and free periods during the day, a "night activity" is planned for the evening. Juniors are under constant adult supervision during the weekend. Two counselors are present during lectures, free time, meals and at night in the cabins.

Where and when is Junior Seminar?
Junior Seminar is held at Camp Lutherlyn in Prospect, Pennsylvania during Memorial Day weekend. The AYF has been utilizing the same camp for over a decade. In addition to its fine facilities, the camp is centrally located.

Where do the participants sleep?
The juniors are divided into three age groups: younger, middle and older. Each cabin consists of twelve Juniors from one age group. With them are two assigned counselors for the cabin.

What should I bring?
Everyone needs to bring clothes for both warm and cold weather (it gets chilly at night)! Toiletries for showering, a sleeping bag and rain gear--just in case.

How do I get to Junior Seminar?
Transportation to the Seminar will be organized on local levels. Juniors should be notified by their Junior Advisors and Central Junior Council Fieldworkers as soon as this information is available. Hopefully, chapters have been fundraising to defray costs of transportation.

For further information, please remember to look in future issues of The Armenian Weekly. You may also e-mail the organizing committee at seminar@ayf.org. We look forward to seeing all of our youth Memorial Day Weekend!

Please do not hesitate to contact the AYF Office with any questions you may have regarding Junior Seminar at 617-923-1933.

The 2010 Junior Seminar Committee is very excited to execute this year's weekend, and is looking forward to seeing everyone this year again! A group of six committed individuals are excited to organize the premiere Junior event of the year. All have attended Junior Seminar as campers, counselors, and lecturers, and are honored to continue the traditions of Junior Seminar.

	Name: Raffi Varjabedian Age: 23 Chapter: Greater Boston "Nedjeh" Years in AYF: 10 School/Profession: Auditor
	Name: Melineh Mardoian Chapter: Chicago "Ararat" Age: 22 Years in AYF: 10 Student/Profession: Pharmaceutical Marketing
	Name: Ani Megerdichian Age: 19 Chapter: Providence "Varantian" Years in AYF: 7 School/Profession: Quinnipiac University
	Name: Anita Mekhitarian Age: 21 Chapter: Chicago "Ararat" Years in AYF: 11 School/Profession: Providence College
	Name: Kevork Tenkerian Age: 21 Chapter: Greater Boston "Nedjeh" Years in AYF: 7 School/Profession: Suffolk University
	Name: Juliette Voskanian Age: 21 Years in AYF:11 Chapter: Philadelphia "Sebouh" School/Profession: Villanova University