A typical Middle School Friends gathering consists of anywhere between 15 and 35 middle schoolers and 6-10 adults (staff and volunteers). Our program is a mix of play, discussion, spiritual education, arts/music, and community-building activities.
Middle School Friends gatherings vary widely in theme and focus, but they all have several things in common:
- Every MSF gathering gives participants the opportunity to explore Quakerism and spirituality.
- Every MSF gathering offers a safe space for middle schoolers to be authentic and open.
- Every MSF gathering has a mix of high energy running around, low energy winding down/sleepy time, wild wacky fun and thoughtful exploration of new ideas.
- Every MSF gathering has a mix of big and small group activities.
- Every MSF gathering includes workshops, games, worship, and community building.
Below is a sample gathering schedule. The bold items are concepts or activities that appear at every or almost every Middle School Friends gathering throughout the year, although the order may change.
| Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
| 7:00 Breakfast prep small group gets up | 7:00 Breakfast crew gets up and packs | |
| 7:30 Everyone else gets up; crew reports to the kitchen | 7:30 Everyone else gets up and packs, gets stuff ready to go | |
| 8:00 Breakfast | 8:00 Breakfast | |
| 8:30 Breakfast clean up | 8:30 Breakfast clean-up | |
| 9:00 Small group session: worship sharing | 9:45 Meeting for worship with a concern for business | |
| 10:00 large group workshop/game/activity/ project | 10:30 Stomp circle (appreciating one another) | |
| 11:30 Lunch prep | 11:00 Worship with our host meeting | |
| Noon Lunch | 12:00 The end, get picked up, leftovers are up for grabs! | |
| 12:30 clean up/ free time | ||
| 1:15 Large or small group workshop/game/activity/project | ||
| 3:15 Often multiple workshops at the same time, with MSFers choosing the one that best fits for them | ||
| 4:30 Activities by grade level | ||
| 5:30 Dinner set up | ||
| 6:00 Dinner | ||
| 6-7 Everyone arrives, welcome! | 6:30 Dinner clean-up | |
| 7:30 Program begins, intro games, discussion of guidelines/rules | 7:30 Evening event: Dance/talent show/ ice skating/graduation depending on the event | |
| 8:30 Small group introductions, game worship sharing | 9:00 small group session | |
| 9:30 Snack and clean up | 9:30 Snack | |
| 10:00 Bedtime and staff meeting | 10:00 Prepare for bed: story time/singing/guided meditation | |
| 10:30 Lights out | 10:30 Lights out |