General Information
About Registration
Hotel/Travel Information
Especially for Parents/Guardians

Q. What is the National Youth Summit?
A. The National Youth Summit is an annual event that brings together youth and adults from across the country to celebrate the strengths and accomplishments of America’s young people. This preeminent event in the field of youth development is built upon the belief that all youth can thrive with the support and guidance of caring adults and communities. This year, the Summit theme is Youth in Action – Making a Difference. Starting with the first Summit in 2002, the event has been hosted by the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB), an agency within the Administration on Children, Youth and Families; Administration for Children and Families; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. FYSB partners with other federal agencies and welcomes the participation of national youth organizations at each Summit.

Q. When is the Summit?
A. The Summit will be held July 28–30, 2005. Click here to register now. Onsite registration will begin Wednesday, July 27, at 4:00 pm. Summit activities begin Thursday morning and continue through Saturday morning.

Q. Where is the Summit being held?
A. The Summit will be held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, located at 2660 Woodley Road NW, Washington DC 20008. Telephone: (202) 328-2000, Fax: (202) 234-0015. Online: www.StayAtMarriott.com/2005NationalYouthSummit/. The hotel is on the Metro Red line (Woodley Park/National Zoo station) and is within walking distance of the National Zoo.

Q. Who should attend the Summit?
A. Young people from urban, suburban and rural America who want to become active in their communities and youth who already are actively involved in their schools, community- and faith-based organizations, local neighborhoods, and national organizations. Adults who work with or on behalf of young people will benefit from attending the Summit, particularly youth service workers; youth policy professionals; representatives from community- and faith-based organizations; researchers; and educators.

Q. What is the target age for young people attending the Summit?
A. Youth ages 16–21 will benefit most from participating in the Summit. Youth under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult adviser.

Q. What is the goal of the 2005 National Youth Summit?
A. The goal of the Summit is to increase the knowledge and skills of young people and adults who work to influence their communities through public policy, the economy, community service, and their creativity.

Q. What can I learn at the Summit?
A. You can learn:

• The various ways young people make their voices heard and influence public policy at the local, state, and national levels;
• The power of youth spending patterns and how that influences our economy and our culture;
• How youth use their creativity and energy to share their ideas and experiences;
• How youth serve their communities by mentoring, participating in community service, building neighborhood gardens, constructing low-income housing, and caring for vulnerable people in their neighborhoods; and
• How community - and faith-based organizations can effectively support youth in making healthy choices

Q. What is expected of Summit attendees?
A. Everyone who attends the Summit should participate in workshops, panels, general sessions and other scheduled events. There are several special events exclusively for youth, such as the youth orientation meeting and hands-on art project, as well as evening activities Thursday and Friday nights.

Youth and advisers are encouraged to meet during the Summit to share the information they have learned with others in their group and discuss ways to bring back to their organization and larger community what they gained from the Summit. Please see Youth Responsibilities and Adviser Responsibilities for more specific information.

Q. How many young people can attend per each adult adviser?
A. Young people under age 18 are required to attend the Summit with an adult adviser. FYSB recommends that one adviser be responsible for no more than eight youth.

Q. What will be expected of advisers?
A. Advisers are expected to coordinate the travel and lodging arrangements for youth in their groups. They should discuss with youth and their parents/guardians expectations for behavior. They are responsible for supervising youth during the Summit. And they are expected to help youth prepare a plan for bringing information learned at the Summit back to their communities. Please see Adviser Responsibilities for more specific information regarding advisers’ responsibilities before, during, and after the Summit.

Q. Where can I find a copy of the Summit program?
A. When the Summit program is finalized, it will be available online here.

Q. What is the role of the National Clearinghouse on Families & Youth in the Summit?
A. The National Clearinghouse on Families & Youth (NCFY) is providing planning and conference support to the Family and Youth Services Bureau. Throughout the year, NCFY is a central source of research and information for FYSB on youth and family issues. Please address issues or questions concerning the Summit to NCFY at (301) 608-8098, or send an e-mail to summit@ncfy.com.

Q. What if I have other questions that are not answered here?
A. For additional information, please call NCFY at (301) 608-8098 or e-mail your question(s) to summit@ncfy.com.

Q. How do I register to attend the Summit?
A. You can register for the Summit online or by mail. To register online, click on “Registration” and enter your password in the appropriate box at the bottom of the page. Or, mail the enclosed Registration Form to: National Youth Summit, NCFY, P.O. Box 13505, Silver Spring, MD 20911-3505.

Q. How much does it cost to attend the Summit, and what does that fee include?
A. The registration fee for the Summit is $125 for youth and adults. This fee includes a complete Summit registration packet, admission to all general and workshop sessions, workshop toolkits, special entertainment and activities, and three breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners, and all refreshments breaks at the Summit.

Q. Should each person attending the Summit complete his or her own registration form?
A. Yes, a separate registration form must be completed for each youth and adult who attends the Summit. You can complete the form online at www.ncfy.com or return the form included in this packet by mail or fax to NCFY.

Q. Will there be onsite registration?
A. A limited number of people will be able to register onsite. Since space is limited at this event, to ensure a place, we strongly encourage you to complete your registration in advance.

Q. What types of payment do you accept?
A. Payment for the Summit may be made by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express) or by check or money order. To pay by check, make your check payable to "National Clearinghouse on Families & Youth," and send it with your completed registration form to: National Youth Summit, NCFY, P.O. Box 13505, Silver Spring, MD 20911-3505.

Q. If I only want to attend one day of the Summit, how much will it cost?
A. The cost to attend the Summit is $125. There is no discount for partial attendance.

Q. Can I register now and submit payment later?
A. No, all payment must accompany your registration form. You can register either online with a credit card, or you can print and complete the registration form and mail it with a check or money order. You can also request a copy of the registration form be mailed to you by calling NCFY at (301) 608-8098. You are not registered until full payment is received.

Q. What should I do if I make a mistake in completing the online registration?
A. To fix an error on your online Registration Form, call NCFY or e-mail summit@ncfy.com. Please provide your name, telephone number, the error, and the correct information.

Q. How do I know if you have received my Registration Form?
A. If you register online, a confirmation screen will appear when you submit your registration form; registrants are encouraged to print this screen for their records. If you mail your registration form, you should receive a confirmation e-mail of your registration within two weeks. If you have not received a confirmation, please call NCFY at (301) 608-8098. If you are under 18, please note that your registration will not be considered complete without a signed Parental/Guardian Consent Form. Please include this form with your mailed registration, or if you register online, please print the form and mail it or fax it separately. Our fax number is (301) 608-8721.

Q. If I am unable to attend after I complete the Registration Form, what should I do?
A. If you have submitted a Registration Form and payment and you cannot attend, please notify NCFY by fax or e-mail. Youth under age 18 must notify their adviser. Please note: If you have already reserved a hotel room, you must inform the hotel of your cancellation. Otherwise, you will be charged for a one-night stay.

Due to the nature of this event, all refund requests must be received no later than 48 hours before the start of the Summit. All requests will be considered on an individual basis, and all refunds will be charged a $25 administrative fee. If you have paid the registration fee and you cannot attend, you may designate another person to attend in your place anytime before the date of the Summit. Please notify NCFY in the event of a change. For youth under age 18, an adviser must notify NCFY of any such substitutions.

Q. How do I reserve a room at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel?
A. To reserve a room, call the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel at (202) 328-2000, or call toll-free at (888) 236-2427. You can also reserve a hotel room online at www.StayAtMarriott.com/2005NationalYouthSummit/. Please be sure to mention that you will be attending the National Youth Summit.

Q. I know that there will be a block of rooms available for attendees, but what is the room rate and for how long is the rate available?
A. The special discounted room rate for Summit participants is $165 per night (plus tax) single occupancy and $195 per night (plus tax) double occupancy. Summit registrants should call the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel to reserve a room. Please say that you will be attending the National Youth Summit to receive the special discounted rate. Please note that this rate is only guaranteed for reservations made by July 6, 2005.

Q. I will be driving to the hotel. Can you give me directions?
A. Detailed maps and driving directions can be obtained online at www.Mapquest.com.

Q. Is there parking available at the hotel? If so, how much does it cost?
A. There is valet parking available at the hotel for $26 per day. The hotel also offers self-parking at $22 per day.

Q. Which airports are closest to the hotel?
A. Three airports service the Washington D.C. area: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (approximately 7 miles), Washington Dulles International Airport (approximately 25 miles), and Baltimore/Washington International Airport (approximately 40 miles).

Q. How can I reach my child while he/she is at the Summit?
A. The Summit will be held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, and Summit participants traveling from out of town are expected to stay at this hotel. You can reach your child by calling the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel at (202) 328-2000. Please be sure that you know the full name and correct spelling of your child’s adviser in the event that the room is reserved in the adviser’s name. The adviser should also provide you with a cell phone number, if available.

Q. Who will be supervising my son/daughter while he/she is at the Summit?
A. Each youth under the age of 18 must attend the Summit as part of a youth organization or group under the supervision of an adult adviser. Summit staff and hotel staff will be onsite at the event to coordinate activities, provide event security, and answer questions; however, the monitoring and supervision of youth under 18 is the responsibility of the accompanying adult. FYSB recommends that one adviser be responsible for no more than eight youth.

We recommend that you speak with your child’s adviser about your expectations for supervision. In addition, we have given each adviser specific guidelines about rules youth must follow while at the Summit. Please see Adviser Responsibilities for more specific information.

Q. How does my child make travel and hotel arrangements?
A. Your child’s adviser will arrange the travel and hotel arrangements for all the youth in his or her group. Youth are expected to share double or triple rooms. Advisers are asked to place youth into rooms with fellow group members. Please notify the adviser about any special accommodations that your child may need regarding travel, lodging, or meals.

Q. Does my child have to pay anything to attend the Summit?
A. Most meals, including three breakfasts, two luncheons, two dinners, and refreshment breaks, will be provided as part of the Summit activities. However, your child should bring spending money for the three days of the Summit, which would cover any optional activities, other meals, snacks, travel to and from the airport/train station, and souvenirs.

Q. What is expected of my child and the other young people who attend?
A. Young people who attend the Summit should participate in all Summit activities, including the youth orientation, workshops, general sessions, special events for youth, and the art project. They also are expected to meet with their advisers while at the Summit to share information about their experiences.

Please see Youth Responsibilities for more specific information on expectations for young people before, during, and after the Summit.

Q. What should my child do to prepare for the Summit?
A. Your child should complete the Registration Form and have you read and sign the Parental/Guardian Consent Form (for youth under 18 years old). Youth should read and understand their responsibilities as a participant at the National Youth Summit by reading Youth Responsibilities. Reading this information may also help parents/guardians to understand their child’s responsibilities at the Summit. Parents/guardians may also want to read Adviser Responsibilities in order to fully understand what will be expected of advisers before, during, and after the Summit. Youth should also talk with their adviser about travel and hotel arrangements.