NPYM Programs and Activities for Youth
"Youth" includes Friends from middle-school age through young adult (approximately age 35). Listed below are some of the resources available for youth within the North Pacific Yearly Meeting community.
The Youth Opportunity Fund provides partial financial support for the spiritual enrichment of individual Central, Junior and Young Friends of the Yearly Meeting. The Fund is managed by the Youth Committee [PDF]. The application form for applying for financial aid from the Fund, including application deadlines, can be downloaded here in either [Word] or [PDF] format.
Central Friends
Central Friends are the Middle-School-aged Quakers who have completed 6th grade up through the summer before they enter 9th grade. They also need an adult Sponsor and Medical Release form if their parents will not be at the Annual Session. There is usually a camp for Central Friends held after the NPYM Annual Session.
Junior Friends
Junior Friends are a lively group of Quakers from every corner of North Pacific Yearly Meeting who have completed 8th grade up through the summer after graduation from high school. Their program at Annual Session is self contained and usually finalized at their first business session. They usually participate in intergenerational worship sharing with the rest of annual session. Junior Friends who come to annual session without a parent need an adult sponsor, and a medical release form signed by a parent which authorizes the sponsor to make emergency medical decisions.
Junior Friends Contacts
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Advisors:
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Junior Friends Activities
Next upcoming event: Ski Trip 2012- Feb 17-20, near Hood River Oregon. Download the Medical Release Form. The registration form, which will provide details about location, transportation, lodging, and cost will be available soon.
The 2011 Junior Friends Camp will be July 17- 21st at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend, Washington. Download more information and registration forms. [PDF] [Word]August 2011: two Junior Friends joined Adult Friends in Nicaragua for a service project at the Center for Development in Central America. See writings and photos for this project here.
July 25 - August 1, 2010: some of the Junior Friends with several FAPs (Friendly Adult Presences) were in Jamaica on a service project. See the service trip webpage for their report and pictures.
for information about the Junior Friends group, or to join the Junior Friends listserv.Young Adult Friends
Young Friends of North Pacific Yearly Meeting, recently re-formed, are a small (but nonetheless mighty) group of Friends aged 18-35 looking for chances to grow and expand. Since our inception, we have been looking for ways to reach out to those individuals who might be interested in being a part of our assembly. We hope that by asking Monthly Meetings and Worship Groups to extend our invitation into the community, we will come across a group of Friends who are still searching for a spiritual niche to call their own.
If you are, or know of anyone who might be, drawn to the idea of joining a group of young adult Friends to connect, communicate, and worship with, please let us know! We currently have a Young Friends listserv which is a great way to get connected and to be informed about our present issues. If you have any interest in joining our e-connection please contact Chris Willard at chriswillard@harbornet.com for more information or to be added to the list.
Another excellent way to get involved is to join us when we physically meet a few times a year, most regularly in the summer at Annual Session and again around New Years. If you are financially insecure, fear not! Grants and travel scholarships are available to those who need them.
Young Adult Friends Contacts
New Years Gathering of Western Young Friends provides an annual opportunity for young adult Friends (aged 18 through 35) to celebrate the new year together.
Friends General Conference's Quaker Youth website provides resources and networking opportunities for young Friends.