RAP—Responsible Adult Presence

NYYM Workshop on Adult Presences at Quaker Youth Gatherings
Friday May 16, 2008
9:30 A.M.–4:00 P.M.

Location: Long Point Camp, Penn Yan, N.Y.

For registration, e-mail office [at] nyym.org and a registration form will be sent to you.

For:

• anyone who leads or organizes youth gatherings in New York Yearly meeting
• adults who plan to be an adult presence at youth gatherings
• anyone responsible for oversight of youth gatherings
• high school–age youth who would like to be a Friendly Youthful Presence at this workshop!

The goals of this workshop are

• to clarify what it means to be a well-functioning adult presence
• to take home a process for selecting, orienting and guiding other adults who will come to youth gatherings as adult presences.

We will play, talk, listen, and reflect. We will ask how an “adult presence” in a youth gathering can help the participants to experience Friends’ testimonies. While the content will be adapted to the actual participants, you can anticipate topics to include: special considerations for men, setting boundaries for adults and youth, selecting (or saying “no” to) adult volunteers, creating a process and place to help ensure the physical and emotional safety of all, and what to do when an adult presence is not working out.

If you are attending this workshop, please consider staying for the Farmington-Scipio Spring Gathering. You can register for the Gathering at www.nyym.org/rochester/futureevents.htm.

For those needing overnight accommodations Thursday night in order to attend Friday morning, John Cooley has volunteered the use of his house.

Mike Clark is a codirector of the Powell House Youth Program and will facilitate this retreat.

Christopher Sammond serves NYYM as its general secretary and will help with logistics.