Young Adult Retreat 2025: Holy Holy Holy.
Worship. Community. Transformation.
Escape to the mountains for a 3-day retreat designed for young adults ages 18–28.
Come With Friends. Leave With Something More.
This fall, we’re bringing together young adults from across Southern California for a weekend like no other. Angeles Crest invites you to unplug from the noise and reconnect with what matters most. Our Christian Young Adult Retreat is a fully programmed weekend packed with powerful worship, authentic community, and space to breathe.
Whether you’re coming solo or with a few friends, you’ll experience:
- Powerful sessions with dynamic speakers
- Breakout seminars that challenge and equip
- Exciting activities like Ziplining, laser tag, hatchet throwing, and archery
- Worship led by The Waves Worship team from Pepperdine University
The retreat begins Thursday evening, giving you time to wrap up work or school and make the drive up. Friday is packed with teaching, breakout sessions, meaningful conversations, and high-energy fun. You’ll grow in your faith—and have a blast doing it—whether you’re zipping through the trees, tossing a hatchet, or sipping coffee by the fire.
After a final session Saturday morning, you’ll have free time to explore Montrose or La Cañada with new friends, grab lunch, or enjoy one last trail before heading home renewed and refreshed.
Fuel Up for the Fun
Good food powers great weekends, and we’ve got you covered. At Angeles Crest, every meal is served hot and all-you-can-eat in our Dining Hall, giving you the energy you need for worship, breakout sessions, and outdoor adventure.
For the in-between moments, swing by the Camp Store or grab a cozy drink from the CampGrounds Coffee Shop, where snacks and hot cocoa are always available to keep the chill (and the hunger) at bay.
We’re a nut-free facility and can accommodate vegetarian, lactose-free, and gluten-free diets with advance notice. Just let us know when you register!
Dining Spaces
Where Fun Takes Off
From the moment you arrive, fun is built into every part of the retreat. Whether you’re looking for high-energy thrills or relaxed hangout time, Angeles Crest offers a full lineup of activities that bring people together and spark unforgettable moments.
No schedule to manage. No prep required. Just show up and jump into a weekend packed with fun, connection, and unforgettable moments.
Whatever your vibe—thrill seeker, chill hanger, or somewhere in between—you’ll find your place here.
Activities Include
Easy to Join, Hard to Forget: Your Weekend, Made Simple
We’ve designed this Christian Young Adult Retreat to make it easy to attend—even with a busy schedule. Join us Thursday evening after wrapping up work or class. Friday is packed with worship, teaching, and activities. After a Saturday morning session, you’ll have free time to explore or relax before heading home renewed.
TEACHING & WORSHIP
SPEAKER 1 | DAWSON CAMPBEL
Dawson Campbell is a Youth and College Pastor by day and a varsity football coach by night. When he’s not helping students grow in their faith, he’s helping high school student-athletes build a bridge between faith and their sport.
He also works with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, where his job is to remind young athletes that faith and competition aren’t mutually exclusive—though somehow, “winning” and “sharing your snack” never seem to go hand in hand.
A retired college athlete himself, Dawson knows all too well that life and sports are both about perseverance, good game plans, and finding ways to make bad jokes in the huddle. (He also knows that, as a pastor, he’s probably not allowed to tackle anyone in church, no matter how much they deserve it.)
Outside of work, Dawson enjoys building elaborate Lego structures (because, obviously, you can fix your whole life by sorting 1,000 tiny pieces) and spiraling into YouTube rabbit holes that lead to things like “The World’s Largest Rubber Band Ball.”
SPEAKER 2 | JOE VALENZUELA
Joe is the Executive Pastor at Active Church in Yucaipa, California, where he helps people and the church thrive by developing leaders, building teams, and calling out the best in others. Alongside his wife, Diana, he loves to travel, create, and invest in people, believing that every person carries untapped potential waiting to be seen.
Outside of ministry, Joe co-founded Ukai, a skatewear brand rooted in creativity and community. He’s also a runner and photographer, often drawing parallels between endurance, art, and faith. Whether in the church, on the road, or behind a lens, Joe is passionate about building something meaningful with people he loves.
WORSHIP | THE WAVES WORSHIP TEAM, PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY
WAVES WORSHIP is a homegrown worship movement at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. A collaboration between students, staff, and alumni, WAVES WORSHIP is a reflection of the move of God within this generation that aims to capture the songs God is singing over the Pepperdine campus community and the heartcries the community is singing back to Him. Marked by purity, truth, and intimacy with the heart of the Father, WAVES WORSHIP is a family overflowing with unlimited creative expression for this generation to authentically encounter Christ.
Meet Our Young Adult Program Director –
Nicole Shaw
Nicole is a veteran camp youth program director and brings her love for youth ministry and passion for camp to everything she does. She knows what church leaders need—because she’s been one—and she’s committed to making your Christian youth winter retreat a weekend full of fun, faith, and meaningful connection.
