“Joining the high school group was like joining a family. Meeting people from all across the country, sharing experiences and learning about Quaker process is something I’m not going to find at any other program.”
2024 Participant
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 FGC High School Program?
We wholeheartedly welcome you to join high school-aged Quakers from all over North America for spiritual exploration, community building, and fun!
The FGC High School Program meets during all-ages, in-person FGC Gatherings, and during Young Adult and Youth Gatherings. 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 each event, 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, 2025, 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 29 is the deadline to register for the 2025 YAY Gathering. Register earlier if possible for priority workshop selection and financial aid!
- 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 describe those needs on their Parent/Guardian Release Form, and/or contact FGC’s Young Adult and Youth Ministries Coordinator at kodyh@fgcquaker.org.
High School Parents & Sponsors
All High School participants need an adult sponsor. 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 event 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 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 the event. Alternate sponsors are designated in writing in advance. Complete sponsor guidelines 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 parent/guardian release form.
Early Arrival
On site check-in for the High School Program begins on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, and we encourage High School Program participants to arrive ONLY on Wednesday, July 2 when possible. If a High School participant’s parent or sponsor must arrive early because of their volunteer role, and alternate travel arrangements cannot be made, please contact kodyh@fgcgathering.org to request permission for a High Schooler to arrive 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 duration of the event to help build our community, and to attend all required High School program events.
Parents and guardians are asked to review the All-Gathering Expectations and Participant Expectations for FGC High School Program with high school participants before arrival.