Ministry with Children

Workshop # 44
John Inman

High school participants will join experienced Junior Gathering leaders in nurturing, witnessing, and delighting in our very young Friends. Serious work, serious responsibility, serious fun! If you choose this workshop, please complete a Junior Gathering staff application.

Percentage of time:
Worship/worship-sharing 5; Lecture 0; Discussion 5; Experiential 90

High school only

This workshop is for High School participants only. You will join other Junior Gathering Staff in the care, enjoyment and spiritual nurture of younger children during the Morning workshop times. This workshop provides support, camaraderie and mentoring for those who are moved to work with children. Participants are full Junior Gathering volunteer staff with all the rewards and responsibilities. You can expect a mix of play, learning, social, spiritual, and résumé building experience.

Preparation Before Gathering:

• Fill out a Junior Gathering staff application online, including References & meeting verification.

• Expect a phone call this spring from the workshop leader to talk about your interests & expectations, as well as group assignments. This is an interview.

• You will be notified if you are selected.

• Bring: Curiosity, ideas for games, centered worship, watching eyes and listening ears.

Expectations and Support:

• It is expected that this workshop will be the conscious and deliberate choice of the High School program participant and not selected by anyone else for her/him.

• Participants are expected to take regular JG Staff training all day on Saturday June 28: This includes Child Safety Training for new members as well as an orientation / team building meeting and worship session. You will receive free housing on Campus Friday night June 27, so you can be ready to begin Saturday morning. Your family members will not receive free housing unless they are also on staff.

• You will receive a staff t-shirt which you will be required to wear during program time. FYI, the color this year is supposed to be a truly flashy neon lime green.

• The workshop leader will check in with each of you daily during morning program time. If you have concerns, this will be a chance to schedule time for more lengthy discussion.

• There will be 2 feedback sessions for our whole workshop group, planned for late mornings before lunch. You will be excused from staff duty early on these days to attend these meetings. (No, we won’t have a session on Out Trip day.)

• Smokers: We ask Junior Gathering staff of all ages to use utmost discretion! Please avoid smoking in visual or smell range of the Gathering’s children whether you are on duty or not. We consider this crucial to your place in the Junior Gathering as caregiver and role model.

This is a huge commitment in energy and time. It is also a rare opportunity to be both an adult and a kid at the same time, in a Quaker setting, and to be valued for both.