The YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs was started began in 1968. This program offers unusual opportunities for a young person to do research in an area of national and international concern, organize this information into a proposal, and to debate these proposals with outstanding teens from across the country.

Students who have participated in YMCA CONA are unanimous in their belief that this experience makes a vital contribution in helping young citizens to learn more about the democratic form of Government. The objectives of the program are:

• To gain awareness of national and international concerns and issues.
• To increase understanding of Federal Government and its relations to state, national and international matters.
• To develop increased understanding of needs, responsibilities and opportunities in different communities.
• To work creatively together with students from different backgrounds and of differing opinions.
• To help youth and adults better understand and strengthen their values for living through the YMCA Core Values of caring, honesty, inclusion, respect and responsibility

The Michigan delegation will attend a pre-trip, then travel on to the conference. This year's pre-trip is to be announced. The conference itself is held at Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, North Carolina; located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Students are selected during the high school spring conference and extended an invitation to attend. This will be announced at the end of spring conference.  Interested students should talk to their advisor and request that they recommend them on the high school conference awards recommendation form.