 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2003 (XXXXI 4) |
YouthQuake is a national conference of Young Friends ages 14-20 held every three years. The next YouthQuake will take place in Estes Park, Colorado, December 27th 2003 – January 1st 2004. YouthQuake is the only event of its kind; it brings together a wide variety of Young Friends to talk, play, worship, learn, and celebrate together. As a Young Friend, YouthQuake was one of the most influential experiences of my life.
Each day at YouthQuake is packed with workshops, lectures, Bible study, small group discussion, and of course free time to relax and get to know Young Friends from across the country. We will spend these days in the beautiful Estes Park Center, part of the YMCA of the Rockies. During our off-site day there will be an opportunity for some to go skiing or snowboarding while other groups explore Denver and Boulder. The presenters that we (the planning committee) are bringing in are some of the best Quaker speakers for Young Friends we could find. They include: Max Carter (bible study leader), currently a professor at Guilford College, who previously has worked at Friends Select and Friends Central Schools; Aaron Fowler, a founding member of the Friends of Jesus Community who works with inner city youth in Wichita, Kansas; and Becky Towne, a senior editor of the Friends Voice. There are others, along with a growing group of workshop leaders. We are very excited by all of the presenters we have found for YouthQuake.
For me YouthQuake has been so wonderful that I have attended every opportunity I've had. This will be my fourth YouthQuake. I attended two YouthQuakes as a Young Friend, one as an adult leader and now I am PYM's representative to the YouthQuake planning committee. Through these experiences I traveled to New Mexico, North Carolina, and Washington State. I have made lasting friendships with Friends from across the country.
In trying to write this article I struggle to explain YouthQuake in such a small space. To learn more about YouthQuake please look at the web site www.youthquake.org, and the PYM Young Friends site www.pym.org/YoungFriends/YouthQuake.htm.
September 15 is the early registration deadline. For those interested in attending YouthQuake, or wishing to assist PYM Young Friends trying to take advantage of this experience, please let us know as soon as possible.
Contact Young Friends Program Coordinator Cookie Caldwell at cookiec@pym.org or 215-241-7222 or PYM Representative to YouthQuake Planning Committee Aaron Crosman (a volunteer) at acrosman@afsc.org or 215-241-7080.
Each PYM applicant must go to his or her Monthly Meeting to ask for clearness, so that she/he will have an ongoing relationship and support from specific Friends in the Meeting.
Aaron Crosman
Newtown Meeting (PA)
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM