High School Program at Summer Sessions 2024

New York Yearly Meeting Quakers/Friends are gathering for Summer Sessions between Friday, July 26 and Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at Oakwood Friends School in Poughkeepsie, NY (campus map).  In our new location there are a lot of excellent play fields and gathering spaces, and NYYM will be the only group on campus. We will be starting with a full weekend instead of arriving on a Sunday. The conference begins with Friday dinner, but you can arrive any time after that. Saturday and Sunday will very much be full days together.  

Like last year,  there will be high school "cluster housing" — high schoolers can room with each other, with a parent or chaperone staying elsewhere in the same building. A lounge in the dorm will be designated as the high school lounge, providing a place to hang out and have events. 

Friends who are in high school will have a program that focuses on building a solid community of Quaker teens. Activities will honor the energy, interests, and wisdom of the teens who come. Junior Yearly Meeting  high schoolers will meet together from Friday evening through Wednesday, 9:30 until noon as well as afternoon and evening sessions. High schoolers have the option to choose to join a worship sharing group with other NYYM Friends. The high school group will work with their leaders to shape their own program — expect good talks, art projects, music, indoor and outdoor games.

Special events during Sessions: the high school group will manage and emcee the Cafe night talent show on Monday evening and present activities at the Fun(d) Fair on Tuesday afternoon. We close Junior Yearly Meeting with a campfire and s’mores, the traditional all-JYM group sing, and the presentation of the youth epistles at an all ages gathering.