Young Friends Spring Retreat
Young Friends are invited to gather for our second overnight retreat of this year!
The Young Friends Retreats are special opportunities for high schoolers in New England to take a deeper dive into building community and exploring the Quaker way together. This retreat will be an in person overnight weekend retreat held at Portland Friends Meeting in Portland, Maine. Young Friends can arrive between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday April 22nd when we'll play games and get to know one another, and then we'll spend one long Saturday deepening our connections to one another, building community, having meaningful conversations, exploring Quakerism, and having fun together. We'll end the retreat by worshipping with Portland Friends Meeting at 10:45 a.m., and Young Friends should plan to leave between noon and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
I am an acorn is the theme of this retreat! This theme is in reference to a favorite song Young Friends like to sing, about how we have God within us, and around us, and how we are growing into our fullest selves. One of the biggest things that draws people to Quakerism is the faith that there is something sacred in every single person, no matter what. At this retreat we're going to explore what that really means when you're in community with other teens in the Young Friends community, and what this looks like out in the world and in our lives as Quakers. We'll explore what it's like to be in a community where anyone can be a minister or a leader, and everyone has the power to change someone else's life and the life of the group, no matter how old you are. This theme will look and feel different for everyone, because everyone will approach it in a different way. It's always ok to come to a retreat and only dip your toes into exploring the theme and other Quaker practices. We'll also do many of our favorite retreat activities, such as singing, going for a walk, choosing from various interest groups, hanging out with friends new and old, playing games, and spending time in Home Groups (smaller groups for connecting and reflecting).
Covid Safety Plan This plan is subject to change according to the level of spread of Covid. A more detailed plan, including any updates, will be emailed to registered participants before the retreat. You are welcome to reach out to Maggie if you have questions about this plan.
All participants*, including Young Friends and staff, must be vaccinated in order to attend. Those eligible for a booster should get one before the retreat if at all possible.
All youth and staff will receive an antigen test and symptom & close contact check upon arrival and will be sent home if they receive a positive test or are experiencing Covid-19 symptoms.
All youth and staff are encouraged to test before leaving home, especially if driving a long distance or carpooling with others.
As of now we will plan to use universal masking indoors, with the exception of eating, brushing teeth, sleeping, and taking mask breaks during rest hour.
Masks are optional outdoors and we'll spend as much time as possible outdoors, weather permitting.
We'll spread out throughout the meetinghouse to sleep, and you will not share a sleeping space with more than 5 other people.
Register by Friday, April 8th. In order to adequately prepare for the safety of the group, we are not able to accommodate late registrations. Capacity is limited, so register early. Should you need to cancel, you will receive a full refund.
In addition to registering here, each participant must complete an up-to-date health and permission form in order to attend. Download the form here and either email it to Maggie or bring it to the retreat. If you've already been to an in person Young Friends gathering this year, you don't need to complete one.
Delicious meals will be provided by a mystery cook (TBA) with something for everyone according to the dietary needs you describe when you register. Because this retreat is being held at a meetinghouse and not a retreat center, we will sleep on the floor. Young Friends should being sleeping bags and sleeping pads, or reach out to Maggie to borrow things to sleep on. Bathrooms are single stall and gender neutral.
This retreat is 'pay-as-led', meaning families can pay what they are able on a scale from $0 to $150+. Families may pay online upon registration, or enter $0 and bring a check or cash to the retreat. Here are three suggested tiers:
$40 covers some of the cost of one YF attending
$75 covers the basic cost of one YF attending
$150 covers the full cost of one YF attending as well as related costs for putting on this event
*Those with medical exemptions should talk to Maggie, and will need a letter from their primary care doctor saying it would be dangerous for them to receive the vaccine. They will need to receive a negative PCR test within 72 hours of the retreat.