❄️✨ DCA Youth Winter Camp 2026: Five Pillars, One Path! ✨❄️

🕌 Diyanet Center of America

YOUTH WINTER CAMP

November 27 – November 29, 2026
Maryland

📘 Information Packet

🔹 Program Overview

As part of the Youth Winter Program, participants will attend a variety of lectures, seminars, and activities.
The program is designed to help participants understand group dynamics, strengthen teamwork, listening, and discussion skills, and foster a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood.

🔹 Program Venue

Diyanet Center of America
9704 Good Luck Road, Lanham, MD 20706
📞 571-474-8889

🔹 Program Directors

Ismail Koca
📞 267-274-7562
✉️ ikoca@diyanetamerica.org

Hilal Monis
📞 571-474-8889
✉️ hmonis@diyanetamerica.org

🔹 Program Dates

Friday , November 27– Sunday, November 29, 2026

🏕️ Camp Options

🌙 Sleep-In Program — $300

Drop-off: Friday, November 27 at 6.00 PM
Pick-up: Sunday, November 29 at 11:00 AM
➡️ Includes 2 overnight stays and 5 meals

🌞 Day Program — $150

Drop-off: 8:00 AM
Pick-up: 9:00 PM
➡️ Includes 3 meals

📌 Ages: 12–17 (Boys & Girls)

🌟 Activities & Highlights

🌟 ACTIVITIES & HIGHLIGHTS

🕋 Interactive Discussions & Debates

🎭 Presentations & Drama

🏆 Jeopardy, Family Feud & Fun Games

🏊 Swimming

🕊️ Dhikr Sessions

🔥 Campfire Gathering

⚽ Sports & Team Activities

🧭 Scouts Activities

🤖 Robot Building

🧳 Important Information for Participants

Recommended Items to Bring

Indoor slippers

Pajamas

Weather-appropriate clothing

Scarf or hijab for prayer and Qur’an sessions (for female participants)

Sneakers and sportswear for physical activities

Bath towel and hand towel

Notebook and pen

Toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, and soap

Any regularly used medication

Hair dryer (optional)

Modest swimwear (it must cover at least from knee to belly button)

Irons are available in the accommodation rooms.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided in the DCA cafeteria and restaurant.

Electronic Devices & Phone Policy

Participants could bring tablets, laptops, music players, or any other entertainment devices. They are going to need it when they prepare presentations. Those who bring such devices may only use them during designated times.

Participants are responsible for their own phones and valuables.
DCA management is not responsible for lost or damaged personal items.

The DCA campus includes a gift shop, bookstore with English and Turkish titles, a market selling Turkish products, and a restaurant serving Turkish cuisine.

Use of phones is not permitted during seminars, workshops, or nighttime hours.
Phones will be collected during these times and temporarily returned during designated breaks.
If a participant needs to use a phone for an urgent reason, prior permission will be granted by the program staff.

Communication Guidelines

Participants are encouraged to contact their families only during free periods outside class and workshop hours.
Parents are kindly requested not to call their children during program sessions unless it is urgent.

Program Conduct & Attendance

Participants are not permitted to leave the DCA premises without authorization.

All participants must follow the instructions of program staff at all times.

DCA facilities and property must be treated with care.

Attendance is mandatory for all seminars and activities unless excused for a valid reason.

Participants are expected to maintain a friendly, respectful, and cooperative attitude toward others.

The program administration reserves the right to dismiss a participant or restrict participation in certain activities if deemed necessary. Parents will be contacted in such cases.

Participants may not leave the program early unless approved by their parent/guardian and authorized by the program administration.

PARENTAL CONSENT FORM

I hereby give permission and approval for my child, ____________________________________, to participate in the 2026 Youth Winter Camp that will take place at Turkish-American Community Center from November 27, 2026 to November 29, 2026 (“Program”).  I have been fully and completely informed and advised regarding the nature and purpose of the Program and the activities conducted therein.  It is my full and free decision to allow my child to participate in this Program.  

In consideration of TACC accepting my child into the Program, I, for myself, family and anyone entitled to act on my behalf, release, discharge and hold harmless TACC, its officers, employees, and/or agents from any and all claims or causes of action that may arise during or as a result of my child’s attendance and participation in the Program including the activities in and outside the TACC campus.  I likewise release from responsibility any person transporting my child to and from any of the activities.

In the event of a medical emergency requiring immediate medical attention, I give permission for medical assistance to be given to my child.  Furthermore, if I cannot be reached and emergency care is needed, I give permission for the responsible person at the Program to make arrangements for my child to be transported to the nearest hospital emergency room.  The hospital has my authority to provide my child all medical care they deem necessary and I agree to be financially responsible for any and all care given

I agree to allow photographs of my child taken by photographers and/or TACC staff during the course of the Program to be used in Program publicity, including display boards, booklets, brochures, TACC website, Facebook and any other media deemed appropriate by TACC.

I have read the above agreement and understand fully the terms and conditions that have been explained. I also understand and accept the policies as stated in the informational packet for this Program and accept responsibility for charges and fees incurred. By signing this parental consent form, I am giving my permission for my child to attend the Program. 

WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY

FOR VISITORS OF DIYANET CENTER OF AMERICA SPORTS CENTER

I, the undersigned, hereby acknowledge that participation in sports, fitness, and recreational activities (“Activities”) at the Sports Center of Turkish-American Community Center, Inc. (d/b/a Diyanet Center of America) (hereinafter, “DCA”) involves inherent risks and dangers of serious bodily injury, including, without limitation, permanent disability, paralysis and death (“Risks”); (b) these Risks and dangers may be caused by my own actions or inactions, the actions or inactions of others participating in the Activities or the negligence of the Releasees named below; (c) there may be other risks and losses either not known to me or not readily foreseeable at this time; and I fully accept and assume all risks of losses, costs and damages, whether or not they are now known or foreseeable, I incur as a result of my participation in the Activities to the extent that the losses, costs and/or damages are the result, whether directly, indirectly or otherwise, of the actual or alleged negligence of any one or more of the Releasees.

I agree that I will examine the facilities and that if I observe any unusual, significant danger or hazard, I will remove myself from participation and bring such condition to the attention of the nearest DCA employee.

In consideration of being allowed to use the facilities and participate in activities at DCA’s Sports Center,  I hereby release and discharge, and covenant not to sue, Diyanet Center of America, its members, managers, agents, officers and employees (the “Releasees”), from/for any and all liability, claims, demands, losses or damages caused or allegedly caused in whole or in part by the negligence of any of the Releasees, and waive any liability of, or any claim I may have against, any Releasee as a result, in whole or in part, of the negligence of any of the Releasees. I further agree that if, despite this release, waiver of liability, assumption of risk, and indemnity agreement, anyone on my behalf makes a claim against any of the Releasees based upon the negligence or alleged negligence of any one or more Releasees, I will indemnify and hold harmless each of the Releasees from any expense of litigation, attorney fees, loss, liability, damage, or cost.

I certify that I (or my child) am physically fit and sufficiently trained to participate in the activities offered. I understand it is my responsibility to consult with a physician regarding my fitness to participate.

I authorize DCA staff to provide or obtain emergency medical treatment for me (or my child) if deemed necessary. I agree to be responsible for all costs associated with such treatment.

I have fully informed myself of the contents of this Waiver and Release of Liability by reading it before signing it. By my signature below, I understand and agree to the above terms and conditions.

FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS OF PARTICIPANT OF MINOR AGE (UNDER AGE 18 AT TIME OF REGISTRATION)

As the parent/guardian with legal responsibility for the minor child whose name is stated above, I accept and agree to the full contents of this Waiver and Release of Liability in consideration of him/her being permitted to use DCA’s Sports Center. I agree to release, indemnify, defend and hold DCA harmless from all liabilities and future claims presented by my minor child and/or his/her parents, for any losses suffered by him/her. This includes any claim of the minor and any claim arising from the negligence of DCA.