Bahá’í Faith

Youth program focused on environmental stewardship

This year we celebrate 'Abdu'l-Bahá’s historic visit to America when He embarked on a journey across the country spanning 239 days between April and December 1912. His visit educated, united, and transformed the American Bahá’í community, conveying His father Bahá’u’lláh’s message of the oneness of religion, the need for universal peace, and America’s spiritual destiny. Through a vast number of public talks given across the country on topics ranging from the advancement of women, racial unity, elimination of religious intolerance, economic prosperity and justice, 'Abdu'l-Bahá addressed relevant topics that guide and inspire us today.

The national Bahá’í schools and the Wilmette Institute offer programming that develops our capacities to embrace social change and aim at facilitating public discourse in a rapidly evolving world. By encouraging the practice of spiritual consultation, study of sacred scriptures and observance of God’s laws, and promoting education as a fundamental human right, opportunities are created that assist children, youth and adult attendees to become spiritually distinctive human beings.

Programming related to media influences, discourse on race, contributing to the betterment of society for collegiate youth, environmental stewardship for junior youth, preparation for marriage, parent focused sessions on how to encourage their teens to be cool and chaste, are just some of the unique sessions we offer. Through participatory formats that include community-building aspects, multi-age group collaboration, small-group study, and integration of the arts, we gain new skills in applying Bahá’í teachings to our daily lives and social experiences.