The Summer Youth Program at Holy Trinity Monastery was established to expose our young men to the rich spiritual heritage and legacy of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. Its objectives are to nurture the development of the young men in the areas of spiritual discipline, steadfastness, and sobriety through a structured program of participation in the monastic community. Participants “unplug” from computer and internet use, cell phone use, and in general electronic devices.
The number of participants has grown in recent years. The age range for participants is now split into two groups to take place in two separate sessions. The younger group is 14 to 15 years old. The age range for the older group is 16 to 18 years old. During this period the young men will attend and participate in the daily cycle of services and are expected to partake of Holy Confession and Communion once a week. While attending meals in the monastery refectory, they will listen to the daily readings of the lives of saints. On a daily basis, there will be spiritual instruction in the “Law of God,” or rather, the faith and teachings of the Orthodox Church, with various clergymen and guest speakers on a variety of topics relevant to young men who are preparing for college or careers. All presentations and discussions are in the English language.
Table Of Contents
Schedule
The dates of the program for 2026 are as follows:
- For boys 14 to 15: Saturday, June 27 to Friday, July 3.
- For boys 16 to 18: Sunday, July 5 to Saturday, July 18.
NOTE: Pickup must happen on the last day of the program or earlier. Those who wish to stay longer at the monastery can only do so under parental supervision and using Guesthouse accommodations. The Monastery cannot provide supervision or accommodations in the Seminary dorm beyond the last day of each program.
Each group will be limited to 25.
The young men will work alongside the monastics in their various daily obediences: tending the monastery’s cemetery, working in the vegetable garden, caring for the chickens, cooking for the brotherhood, helping with various construction and repair projects, etc. They will also have the opportunity to enjoy summer recreational activities such as sports, swimming, hiking, fishing, campfires, and field trips.
Orientation begins on the evening of the first day. Families are welcome to come one day early to participate in the life of the Monastery. Reservations in the guesthouse are available. Participants should stay with their families until registration. Registration takes place on the first day. Parents/guardians must meet with the program coordinator prior to their departure, or make prior arrangements. Airport pickups can be arranged on the first day of the program only, at Syracuse, NY Airport, for an additional fee. All arrivals should be by or before 5pm. Departures can be scheduled on the last day of the program, at Syracuse airport, after 2pm, also for an additional fee.
The Summer Youth Program has been supported annually by the Fund For Assistance to ROCOR. The FFA grant has allowed Holy Trinity Monastery to keep the tuition very low. Please consider donating to the FFA for this and other worthy causes.
Registration
To apply to the Program please follow instructions below. All required forms are available to download in the section below.
1. Download and complete the following forms.
- Registration Form
- Code of Conduct
- Required Health Form (attach copy of front and back of health insurance card)
2. Provide a copy of the Instructions for Required Recommendation to your parish priest or spiritual father. Then have him write a letter of recommendation and mail it directly to Holy Trinity Monastery (address below).
3. Include one cash payment or two checks (made payable to Holy Trinity Monastery)
- Program fee: $400 for the two-week session, and $200 for the one-week session.
- $150 refundable security deposit that will be refunded at the completion of the program if no damages have been incurred.
4. If you are a minor, your parent or guardian must…
- Complete a Required Hold Harmless Agreement and Medical Release form
- Sign the Required Health Form
5. Mail all the completed forms and the two checks to…
Holy Trinity Monastery Summer Youth Program
Attn: Yevgraf Jakimowicz, Program Coordinator
PO Box 36
Jordanville, NY 13361
6. Once all forms and payment are received a confirmation and further instructions will be sent to the email address specified on the registration form.
Download Forms
- Registration Form – PDF / Word
- Code of Conduct – PDF / Word
- Required Health Form – PDF / Word
- Instructions of Required Recommendation – PDF / Word
- Required Hold Harmless Agreement and Medical Release – PDF / Word
What To Bring
Work clothes
- Long-sleeved and short-sleeved shirts WITHOUT FASHION OR OTHER LOGOS (light material for hot weather is best)
- Jeans or work pants
- Waterproof work boots
- About a week’s worth of socks and underwear
- Laundry detergent: We have coin-op laundry facilities. Each wash is $1 and the dryer is $1 for a length of time. It takes $1-2 to dry. We have clotheslines outside, but it sometimes rains.
- A light jacket or sweatshirt, as weather can be unpredictable
Church clothes
- Long-sleeved collared shirts only
- Dress slacks
- Dress shoes
Other
- Sun hat, preferably wide-brimmed (no baseball caps with logos)
- Sunblock
- Mosquito repellent
- Flashlight
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Soap and shampoo
- Towels
Optional
- Fishing pole and gear
- Swimming trunks
What to leave at home
- Smartphones, iPods, mp3 players, and any video entertainment devices (games, video players, etc.)
- Laptops
- Knives
- Anything inappropriate for a monastery environment: Part of the mission of the Summer Youth Program is to take a vacation from modern worldly distractions.
Contact Information
Please direct all general program inquiries to:
Program Coordinator
Yevgraf Jakimowicz
[email protected]
Program Director
Priest Ephraim Willmarth
(315) 858-0945 ext 258
[email protected]
Mailing Address
Summer Youth Program
PO Box 36
Jordanville, NY 13361