“My Gathering experience made me more encouraged to share my beliefs.”
2020 Participant
This page is about the 2024 in-person Gathering
Goals of FGC’s High School Program
- Provide a supportive and healthy social and spiritual community for Quaker youth that enables engagement and connection to Quaker practice and Quaker values.
- Provide unprogrammed time for participants to develop connections, leisure, voluntary activities, and attend to self-care needs.
- Provide a brave space for each participant to discover and express themselves truly and freely.
What is the Gathering High School Program?
We wholeheartedly welcome you to join about fifty high school-aged Quakers from all over North America for a week full of spiritual exploration, community building, and fun.
The 2024 FGC High School community will gather in Haverford, PA from June 30- July 6. High schoolers are housed together and create their own self-governing community (with a little help from adult Friends who serve as counselors). The program includes workshops, worship, support groups, affinity groups, and a final celebration. There are also opportunities for dancing, sports, singing, committee work, sleep, and hanging out.
During the week the entire High School Program convenes for a meeting for worship with attention to business. These meetings are integral to our community-building process, where we seek discernment of the Spirit and hold relevant issues in the Light.
Workshop participation is mandatory. There are a variety of workshops to choose from. Select one that satisfies your needs for worship, self-reflection, discussion, activity, and relationship building.
Who is in the High School Program?
The Program is open to young people who have completed ninth grade, have not yet turned 19 as of June 30, 2024 and have not yet completed a first year of college. Only Gathering attenders in this age range may participate in the Program. Participants must attend the full week of Gathering and all required activities.
“Everyone was super inclusive and we all got along really well and had a lot of fun.”
2020 Participant
More Information
- May 31 is the deadline to register HS participants for Gathering.
- We welcome people with specific needs of a medical or non-medical nature. If a young person, parent or guardian believes the young person has any needs of which the program should be aware, they should contact the coordinators.
High School Parents & Sponsors
All High School participants need a sponsor at Gathering. A sponsor is a parent, family member or other conscientious person 25 or older who knows the High School program participant well. If the sponsor is not the parent, the sponsor should be someone who is actively concerned with the young person’s activities and well-being. We request that a sponsor be responsible for no more than two high schoolers. If a sponsor is commuting to the Gather rather than staying on campus, the sponsor or parent/guardian needs to designate an “overnight” sponsor who is staying on campus, in case of emergency.
High schoolers may not arrive before sponsors or remain at the Gathering after sponsors have departed. Please make travel plans accordingly. The sponsor (or designated alternate) must be on campus (or with the sponsee) at all times during Gathering. Alternate sponsors are designated in writing in advance. Complete sponsor guidelines may be viewed at our website in June, and will be explained in detail at the High School Program sponsor orientation on Sunday evening. All participants, even those already 18, must identify their sponsor when registering for Gathering and submit a parental release form.
Early Arrival
On site check-in for the High School Program begins on Sunday, June 30, 2024. Any arrival prior to June 30 is “early.” Read important information for teens and parents/sponsors about early arrivals.
Choose a Workshop
For many participants, workshops are the heart of their Gathering experience. Some workshops are designed specifically for high schoolers or high schoolers and young adults. Intergenerational workshops have an attendance of about half younger people (young adults and high schoolers) and half older adults.
Shared Expectations
The high school program is a unique and loving community. All who participate are asked to commit to the safety and health of all community members, to use common sense and to meet all Gathering expectations, including those about sexual activity, recreational drugs and alcohol. Participants in the High School program are expected to plan to attend for the entire week of Gathering to help build our community, and attend all required High School program events.
The complete Program Guidelines will be e-mailed in advance of the Gathering, as will the all-Gathering expectations. All-Gathering expectations are also available at this link. Please review the Participant Expectations for FGC High School Program.