MYC can best be described by reading our mission statement: "The Muslim Youth Camp brings Muslim families and individuals of diverse backgrounds together for a fun-filled week of Islamic living, learning and inspirational experiences in nature. By encouraging camaraderie, personal spiritual exploration and respect for diversity of Islamic practice, MYC seeks to be a strong catalyst in the creation of American Muslim identities."

The Muslim Youth Camp has been a place for unique living and learning experiences since 1962. What started then with a small group of young Muslim families is now a yearly event reflecting the changing face of American Muslim society. Every year for one week the camp aims to create a living Muslim community. From the Fajr adhan to the late night campfire, the MYC schedule includes a diversity of activities. Set in a natural rustic environment, an MYC day includes:

the daily prayers in congregation swimming and group sports group and individual counseling teamwork cooking and cleaning classes on Islam and Muslims in America campfire humor and reflection free time

(2002 logo by Salma Mojaddidi, MYC 2001)

There's also a camp store (run by our Junior High campers to learn basic management skills), where you can buy snacks and the now-traditional MYC T-shirt designed by a fellow camper. Click here for the winning designs this year!

Of course, no Muslim Youth Camp would be complete without our traditional competition dinners and award ceremony where calligraphed MYC banners are awarded to campers for prayer, fasting, Quranic reading, and memorization of the shahada.





Jama'a (Togetherness)
"And hold tight, all together, to the rope of God" (Quran 3:103)

Remember the last time you played tug of war? Holding onto a rope with a group of people and you could only succeed if you all worked together? This year's camp will explore the meaning of the Quranic metaphor of Muslims holding together to the rope of God, and what that means for each of us, as individuals, and as a community.


At Muslim Youth Camp, we have a broad definition of "youth." No one is too young or too old to attend, and we encourage whole families to experience an MYC week together, each finding their own "inner youth." When families arrive at MYC together, each family member can find camaraderie with campers of his or her own peer group -- whether in the craft cabin with other 7-year-olds, or in postgraduate classes with other parents.

We place a unique emphasis on counseling. Many former campers have commented that it was an MYC counselor who answered an embarrassing question or offered that bit of support crucial to their young, developing Muslim identity.

MYC is also known for bringing together young Muslims from not only all over the United States and Canada, but the entire world. An MYC camper is just as likely to make a new friend who lives just across town as one who lives halfway across the globe.

What you take away from a week at MYC depends upon what you put into it. Most campers find that the most lasting rewards of an MYC week are the friendships they find there. The teamwork and trust which keeps MYC running creates relationships which are cultivated over many years. Friendships built here do not break easily.


This is the 50th anniversary of the camp, making MYC the longest running Muslim youth camp in the nation. To celebrate this historic milestone, we will feature special activities and programs during the week of camp. This year will be truly special, inshaAllah! Don't miss it! We will return to our lovely campsite in the Angeles National Forest near the town of Wrightwood. This campsite features a pool, lots of hiking trails, archery, and other activities! Plus, the cabins are great!

As always, registration is going to be on a first-come, first-served basis - and we always sell out. Your registration will be accepted if there is space in your cabin group.

Marghoob Quraishi (1931-2005) His legacy will live on through MYC, inshallah We at the Muslim Youth camp have lost a dear friend, mentor, and inspiration. Read some reflections by Dr. Aslam Abdullah to learn more about Mr. Quraishi has meant to us. "Mr. Q" passed into the next life on January 26th, but by then he had already passed the baton to the next generation of organizers who are determined to fulfill his dying wish: to insure the permanence of MYC and to continue its mission. Planning is already underway for MYC 2005, and there's always room for you to join in and help us with immediate needs for MYC, as well as our long-term capital fundraising project to build a permanent home for MYC in the beautiful mountains of California. Donations in Marghoob's name to the MYC General Fund are welcome and appreciated, as well as your prayers and thoughts for the Quraishi family at this difficult time.