Welcome Home!

Thanks to everyone who made the AWESOME Coming of Age retreat happen! Thank you to the CoA Leaders for arranging and leading the programming; Laura's family for the loan of their spectacular house; Ann, Lyn, Laura and Dick for driving; all the parents for providing luscious food stuffs; all the mentors who came along for the ride and lent their expertise; and all the youth for being great individuals with so much to share!

But wait, there's more! Here at the end of the program there's a heck of a lot going on. A week from Wednesday, on May 27, parents, mentors and youth will gather to rehearse Sunday's service. Details will be coming shortly about what will be asked of you for that worship service. Saturday, May 30 at 7:00 pm we will gather for dinner to celebrate the youth, their mentors and the conclusion of our program. Sunday morning will be the big enchilada we've all been waiting for as the youth share their faith statements in a worship service of their own design.

We'll be seeing ya!

What to Bring on the Wilderness Retreat

Coming of Age Wilderness Retreat

Basic Things to Know

ê Main activities

o Worship (mostly outdoors, including youth-led worship Saturday)

o Evening board games (mostly inside; no DVD player)

o Solitary nature meditation (no electronics during this time)

o Bonding games

o Craft time: decorate stoles & T-shirts

o Zip Line

o Practicing faith statements with mentors

o Hike

ê Where we’ll sleep

o Youth will sleep on the floor downstairs, unless you bring a tent

o Adults will sleep on beds and couches

o That means it’s especially important for youth to bring a sleeping bag or bedroll and a pillow. If you have a sleeping pad (such as for camping) bring it.

o Seventeen people. One bathroom. Don’t plan on an extensive beauty routine.

ê Definitely bring

o Sleeping bag, bedroll, pillows, sleeping pad

o Towels: one for bathing, one for sitting on during nature meditation

o Closed-toed shoes. We are not kidding. A spare pair wouldn’t hurt.

o Two changes of clothes. Not everyone will get a chance to shower, so at least our clothes should be fresh.

o Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, face soap, deodorant, contact lens stuff

o Medications, especially allergy medications (there will be plenty of pollen and dust to go around)

o Outdoor provisions: sunscreen, bug repellant, hat

o Coming of Age Journal

o Draft faith statement

o Waiver, if you haven’t turned one in already

ê You may bring

o Musical instruments

o Tent

o Cell phone charger (no guarantees about cell phone signal)

o A snack to SHARE in the car

o Personal, reusable water bottle LABELED with your name

o Swim suit, if you enjoy extremely cold water

ê What NOT to bring

o Don’t bring electronic games

o Don’t bring DVD’s or movies

o Do we even need to say this? Don’t bring weapons or illegal drugs.

Wilderness Retreat Schedule

Here it is, what you've all been waiting for: the schedule for our Wilderness Retreat, May 15-17!

Friday, May 15

5:30 pm Gather at church at 5:30

(unless carpool requires other time/location, tbd)

6:00 pm Leave church.
9:00 pm Arrive at Creekside (Edinburg, VA)
10:00 pm Evening worship
10:45 pm Socializing, Board games
12:00 am Lights out

Saturday, May 16
8:00 am Breakfast
8:30 am Morning Circle
9:00 am Solitary Retreat (Each youth stakes out a circle of about 10 feet to stay in, silently, for a full hour)
10:30 am Programming & Active Games
12:00 pm Lunch
Clean-up
1:00 pm Craft Time: Work on stoles, decorate T-shirts
2:30 pm Leave for zip line at Bryce Resort
3:30 pm Zip-Line
5:30 pm Picnic dinner at Bryce
7:30 pm Arrive back at Creekside, begin worship planning
8:30 pm Faith Statement practicing, with mentors
9:00 pm Youth-led worship
9:30 pm Socializing, Board games
12:00 am Lights out

Sunday, May 17
8:00 am Breakfast
8:30 am Hike & Programming
11:00 am Major Clean-Up
12:00 pm Closing Circle
12:30 pm Lunch
1:00 pm Leave Edinburg
3:30 pm Families pick up youth at church

Becky will be in touch with those who will be traveling to determine carpools.

As with the last retreat, families are asked to provide food for the group. An updated version of the CoA food assignments is available for download here (and also in the column to the right.) This document has changed since you last saw it. Please consult this newest version.

And, finally, a list of things which require exclamation points:

• Remember that all youth must bring a draft of their faith statement to the retreat!

• If you haven't already submitted your playlist, email it to Becky asap!

• If you haven't already handed in your waiver for doing the zip-line, please bring it to Wednesday's CoA class!

• Closed-toe footwear is required for the zip-line! (no sandals or flip flops!) And long hair must be tied back in a clip or pony tail! (for other requirements, click here)

• There is only ONE bathroom at Creekside! Take a shower before you come!

• If you have allergies to dust or to pollen, be sure to bring your medications—there will be lots of both!

• If you have any questions, please let Becky know asap!

• Looking forward to a great retreat!

Zip-line, here we come!

Coming of Age youth and mentors will be working hard at their weekend retreat, May 15-17. But adventure will not be left out. On Saturday, the whole group will trek out to Bryce Resort for a ride on their zip-line.

Click here to see the zip-line in action.

In order to participate, however, a waiver must be on file. Click here to view and print the zip-line release.