Junior High Yearly Meeting Retreats are open to young people in grades 6, 7 and 8. We provide a safe, trusting and joyous community in which to seek and find that of God in ourselves and in each other within the faith tradition and practice of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).

Five JHYM Retreats are held between September and May in various locations around New England. The weekend’s schedule tends to be predictable, but we strive to have each retreat’s particular theme and program feel dynamic and fresh. Every weekend includes worship, music, group games, small group circles, chores and free time. Artistic and creative mediums are almost always part of the program. Occasionally we go on field trips. One retreat each year is focused on service.

Community
Junior highers come to JHYM Retreats primarily for the community. Most are the only Quakers in their schools or neighborhoods, and they relish the rare opportunities to be together as “a majority.” Our young Quakers sincerely and beautifully strive to consistently witness to their faith, while living in the wider world, every day of their lives. The retreats are havens from the witnessing – times when they can simply be in community, and in that fellowship and Spirit, find renewed strength, joy, and Light for their walks out in the world.

Inclusiveness is a significant goal in our community, and our staff is sensitive to nurturing this. We strive for a balance between the blessings of reconnecting with old friends and the openings possible by community-wide participation and fellowship. Friends who “just want to be together” are cheerfully encouraged to arrange sleep-over weekends outside of the retreats.

The JHYM Retreats are open and welcoming to friends of Friends, but it is important that visiting young people agree to be fully present and open to the rhythms and the manners of our Quaker community. Please be in touch with Gretchen if you, or a friend you are considering bringing, does not attend a Quaker Meeting so that we can explore this together.

Our community carries on in between retreat weekends, via our website as well as the usual tech modes of 21st Century teens and “snail mail.” Gretchen is always available to lend support and pastoral presence to junior highers and their parents as needs arise. Do not hesitate to be in touch.

Schedule
Retreats begin at 7:00pm on Friday evenings with a light supper and conclude after Sunday’s lunch. We are often blessed to have either Wendyl Ross, “the Supreme Kitchen Goddess,” or Carol Baker, “the Exalted Food Wizard” cooking for us. We join the host Meeting’s First Day Worship, and families are welcome to this and to the shared lunch afterwards. (Check with us for the exact time of Worship.) We ask that all attenders be picked up by 12:30 Sunday afternoon.

Friday evening’s program includes opening worship, a few games, and an introduction to our community and the theme. We often break into small groups for a short time, too. After dessert and a little free time, we find sleeping spots, and begin to settle in for the night.

JH’ers have a choice of sleeping areas – one being the ‘quiet room.’ (When possible, the quiet room is available throughout the weekend for those needing a retreat from the retreat.) Staffers bunk down in amongst young people in all sleeping areas. Lights out is at 11:30pm. Wake up is between 7 and 7:30 AM. Our weekends also include an hour of quiet time Saturday afternoon so that staff and JH’ers can regroup and share an energized evening program.

Saturday’s program includes large and small groups, games, free time, and activities. Individual staff often share art projects or oversee games as choices during free time. Whenever possible, we encourage Friends to get outside for a bit, too. Meal prep and clean-up are shared by the small groups throughout the weekend. The evening program varies widely from retreat to retreat, followed by dessert, free time, and then bed. Sunday morning is mostly focused on cleaning and packing up, and then bringing closure to our time together in community. Worship, lunch, and goodbyes help transition us towards returning to our families and daily lives.

What to bring
Attenders should bring clothes they don’t mind getting dirty, sleeping clothes they don’t mind being seen in, and toiletries. Please note that showers are not available for our use at any of the retreat locations. Other recommended items include a flashlight, a second pair of shoes, a book for “quiet hour,” outer wear for cold weather, a pillow and a sleeping bag. Some of the Meeting Houses we stay in have cold, hard floors, so sleeping pads are recommended! Label everything. PLEASE LEAVE ELECTRONIC TOYS, iPads, Laptops, etc at home. All of these are too easily lost and broken and impede us creating an inclusive community. Plan on using your cell phone only to call home when you arrive and then again before you leave on Sunday. iPods and other music players may be used by the individual owner during quiet hour and at bedtime.
If you are having a birthday, DO let us know so that we can provide a cake!

Staff
We aim to have 9-11 adults on staff for each retreat. We are blessed to have a core of staffers with years of experience, as well as some stellar Young Adult Friends – most of whom were JHYM attenders years ago! All have completed a screening and application process consistent with guidelines approved by NEYM’s Youth Programs Committee. Our staff are a wonderful group of people with a variety of gifts and spiritual journeys. What they share in common is that they are appropriate, loving and utterly safe with young people; they are grounded in Friends, don't mind sleeping short hours on hard floors, and have good senses of humor, willing hearts, reasonable backs, and flexible agendas. I am constantly in awe and full of gratitude for them. If you are interested in joining us, please be in touch. The application process generally takes 1-2 months to complete.

Individual needs
We strive to meet the needs of every retreat attender as best we can in order to ensure that they have a positive and spiritually nurturing experience with us. Let us know on the registration form, the health form, or via phone calls or email notes how we can work towards this goal. We can meet most dietary requests, as long as we have some advance notice. We always have several vegetarians and lactose-intolerant teens with us.

A staffer is assigned as the “retreat nurse” and is in charge of holding and reminding attenders to take any medications needed. (A schedule sheet, to be completed by a parent or guardian, is available on our website. Please complete a new one each retreat.) Don’t hesitate to contact Gretchen with any concerns or questions, including additional needs around rest or sleep, supervision, or emotional TLC stemming from family and/or personal challenges. Tending to each young person’s tender and beautiful body, heart, and spirit is the essence of our work and ministry.

Attender Fees
The cost per person is $60.00 A $5.00 sibling discount applies, and partial or full scholarship is always available. Don’t let money keep you away. Be in touch with Gretchen if scholarship is needed, and it will be quietly and gently taken care of. Please make checks payable to NEYM. Payment on Friday night at registration is most appreciated – please don’t mail checks ahead of time.

Oversight
The JHYM Retreats are under the care of NEYM’s Youth Programs Committee. Comments and suggestions about any of the youth programs are most welcome.