The Muslim Youth Group’s annual Ski Trip is the highlight of the winter season. It’s an occasion for the Muslim youth of Southern California to get together, meet other young Muslims and take some time out of their hectic lives to learn and appreciate Islam. The youth form irretractable bonds during those three days, bonds that very often bloom into lifelong friendships. The Ski Trip’s Islamic ambience harks back to that of the Islamic Center of Southern California’s belief that worshipping Allah can, and should be, fun.

This ideology is apparent upon taking a closer look at the activities that take place during the Ski Trip. Every day starts with Fajr Prayer as a group, despite the freezing temperatures; everyone gets up to pray with their cabin-mates and start the day off thanking Allah.

At the Ski Trip even the necessities of life are fun: meals are eaten in the lodge where youth, chaperones, and religious leaders strike up conversation with each other. Of course, there is the actual skiing, everyone piles onto nicknamed buses (ex. ‘Nightrider’) and drive to Big Bear’s Snow Summit. Many of the Ski Trippers have never been snowboarding or skiing before, but it is never a problem; some sign up for classes while the majority of newbies are taught and egged along by those more experienced. One of the highlights of the trip is the Talent Show that often showcases humorous skits as well as the instrumental and vocal talent of the Youth Group. Another much famed activity is the Snowball Fight in which youth playfully assail each other with balls of snow and create snowmen with groups of friends.

More often than not, such activities are only secondary to the greater understanding of Islam that most youth acquire during the Ski Trip. The assortment of spiritual sessions and simple conversations with other Muslims leads to (what many youth have termed) a ‘spiritual high’ that is sustained even after those three days are over and everyone goes home.

The 2010 Ski Trip is from February 12^th to the 15^th. The registration deadline for the trip is on Jan 31. Prices are: $130 for registered members of the Youth Group $160 for non-members and $200 for late registration. These prices cover transportation, food, board, and Ski Trip T-shirts (*they do not include the cost of lift tickets or ski rentals*). For more information or to register online, visit www.myg.org