Participate in this year’s camp | June 10-14


The Des Moines Area Religious Council and The Comparison Project at Drake University are proud to co-host the Interfaith Youth Leadership Camp from June 10 to 14th at Drake University in Des Moines, IA.

  • High School students and recent graduates will explore the diverse religious communities of the Des Moines Metro.
  • Students visit communities for worship services, meals, and conversations over five days while staying overnight on campus at Drake University.
  • Each camper will explore their own faith journey while learning about their neighbors’ faith experiences, practices, and beliefs. By the end of the camp, they will create their own narrative storytelling video project.

The deadline to submit your application to participate in the 2026 camp is Sunday, May 3. Participation in the Interfaith Youth Leadership Camp is offered at no cost thanks to our generous partners and supporters.

Apply Now
Interfaith camp

I became more aware of the similarities between every system of beliefs and that all are built on love… there are so many ways to worship, and all are unique and valuable.

— Audrey Martin, 2023 camp participant
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The possibility of universal religious pluralism wasn’t something I had explored beyond initial consideration until I participated in the site visits through the camp.

— CHRIS MORSE, 2024 camp participant

Watch 2025 Camp Storytelling Projects

Young women receives a bracelet with her hand raised to receive blessing by Buddhist Monk.

Watch digital storytelling projects (2-4 minute videos) produced by this year’s youth campers. Hear the experiences, practices, & beliefs that have helped shape their personal faith journey.

2025 Video Projects
Sarah Trone Garriott with students in a classroom for interfaith youth camp.

Since the first Interfaith Youth Leadership Camp in 2017, over 140 alumni have shared their faith journey through a ‘personal narrative’ video project. These short documentaries convey one meaningful faith experience, practice, or belief to put what the campers learn during the week into practice.

Stories From Past Campers

Past Camper Videos

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

Apply to Participate

2026 campers will be selected following the closing of this year’s application on Sunday, May 3. Please complete this application if you wish to attend this year’s camp from June 10 to 14.

Interfaith Youth Leadership Camp 2026 Application

The Des Moines Area Religious Council and The Comparison Project at Drake University are proud to co-host the 10th annual Interfaith Youth Leadership Camp on June 10-14.

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Personal Information

Name*
Address*
Date of Birth*
Have you applied to and been accepted at Drake University?
If so, are you planning to attend Drake during the 2025-2026 academic year?

Parent/Guardian Information

Your Faith

Please note: you do not need to be affiliated with a particular religion or faith community to be involved with Interfaith Youth Leadership Camp, this is just to provide us with a bit more information on your faith background. Answers of “none” are perfectly acceptable.
Faith Tradition/Religion

Essay Question

You must complete this section for your application to be considered. In the essay response box below, please describe a moment where a specific religious tradition, insight, or idea helped you come to a better understanding about your faith and the faith of others. Your submission must be a minimum of 300 words to be considered. You insights can focus on any of the following categories… 1) Moments of inspiration or enrichment from people or ideas of other traditions …(2) Moments of connection or relationship with people or ideas of other traditions … (3) Moments of prejudice or conflict with people or ideas of other traditions … (4) Moments of action or cooperation with people or ideas of other traditions … (5) Moments of recognizing difference with other religious people or ideas, yet feeling admiration.
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