JUNIOR YEARLY MEETING ELEMENTARY RETREATS
RETREAT SUMMARY

DATE OF RETREAT: September 18-20, 2009
LOCATION: Woolman Hill
RETREAT LEADER: Kevin Lee
RETREAT THEME: “Does God Text Jesus?”

# ATTENDERS: 31 # MALES: 10 # FEMALES: 21 # FIRST TIMERS: 12 AVE. AGE: 8.6

# ON WAITING LIST (IF ANY): 0 STAFF/ATTENDER EVALS COMPLETED? Yes. # ON SCHOL: 6
Also received a $60 donation by parent!

NAMES OF STAFFERS: Gretchen Baker-Smith, Wendyl Ross, Rich Cairn, Anne Anderson, David Baxter, Betsy Kant, Dee Gomes, Theresa Oleksiw and Kevin Lee. Krystal Andrade and Rye Amber Carroll served as Junior Staffers.

NARRATIVE OVERVIEW: "Does God Text Jesus?" (Thanks to JYMer Nathan K. for this theme idea!)

As Friends, we don't spend much time teaching our children about the Trinity, or levels of interconnectedness among and between "heavenly beings," and what we generally understand to be "holy" in nature. We speak of God's presence, or the work and gift of the Spirit in many things, from flowers and fields to people and art forms. But what do our children think and feel about how these things interrelate? Does God, or could God, actually communicate with the Spirit of Christ-today, right now, at this retreat? Could the teachings of Buddha become manifest through the burning of incense, use of chant and the gathering sound of the gong at the beginning and end of Buddhist meditations? And when Native Americans tell us that we may be standing on "sacred ground," what exactly does that mean? As we live into and through our own faith experience as Friends, are there "crossover" plains where Muslims facing Mecca, Catholics making the sign of the Cross, and the raised hand of the Pentecostal in praise and a "covered" Friends worship all mean the same thing?

WHAT MADE THIS RETREAT SUCCESSFUL? WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE, ADD, DELETE? Awesome staff, great weather, fabulous location and of course amazing young Quakers all made this retreat a success! And a special thanks to our staff who did all the heavy lifting as Kevin’s back recovered from a sprained back that was not serious, thank goodness!

WERE THERE ANY CONCERNS OR CRITICAL INCIDENTS THAT YOUTH PROGRAMS COMMITTEE OUGHT TO BE AWARE OF? Nome, thank goodness!

HAVE INVOICES BEEN SENT TO NEYM TREASURER? Should be on their way by 9/26.

DATE OF THIS SUMMARY: September 22, 2009

DATE AND LOCATION OF NEXT RETREAT: Westport Friends Meeting, November 20-22, 2009

RETREAT LIAISON NAME: Karin Sprague

SUMMARY SUBMITTED BY: Kevin Lee