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Junior Young Friends
As one of the youth programs of Baltimore Yearly Meeting, we hold a series of weekend retreats for 6th-8th graders, whom we call Junior Young Friends (JYFs).
JYF conferences or “cons” are held at different Quaker Meetinghouses throughout the school year. Cons are a fun way to see friends from other Meetings or camp, make new friends, and retreat from the pressures of pre-teen life, while still developing skills around living in community and having a lot of fun.
Sunshine Klein, the BYM Youth Programs Manager, and Ana Phillips, the JYF Assistant, facilitate these weekends in conjunction with the Youth Programs Committee.For more information, including a general schedule we follow, click here!
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Young Friends
Young Friends is a community sponsored by Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, consisting of high school age attenders who wish to enjoy the fellowship of our Quaker community.
The Young Friends program seeks to build a community, which nurtures the personal and spiritual growth of all youth and adult participants. Young Friends provides opportunities to take an active part in the affairs and concerns of the Religious Society of Friends.
Young Friends promote individuality as well as the unity of being in community. Decisions are made according to Quaker process, seeking unity among those gathered. With the exception of certain legal and bureaucratic matters, youth are responsible for all aspects of the Young Friends community.
The basis of our community and our system of governance is predicated upon acceptance. Our Quaker community expands beyond the borders of our Meetings. High school age youth who are not affiliated with a monthly meeting are welcomed to attend all Young Friends’ conferences. All new attendees of conferences will be thoroughly welcomed into the community with plethoric gusto.
As a self-governed community, Young Friends maintain their own handbook which can be found here. Check it out if you'd like more detailed information about Young Friends.
Check out YF on social media by clicking the logos below!
So How Do I Join?
You simply register for a conference (AKA con)! Links to the respective registration pages are below. If you would like an email notification, sign up here. Make sure to check the Young Friends and/or the Junior Young Friends box(es)!
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Register for a Junior Young Friends Conference!
Click here for the JYF con registration page! This school year's theme for workshops is animals and the environment! Dates for this year's cons (both YF and JYF) are listed below and locations will be updated as they are confirmed.
To stay up to date on JYF Programming announcements (like when con registration opens), sign up for our email list here! -
Click here for the Young Friends current covid policy/procedure.
Thank you for your interest in BYM's Youth Programs! If you have questions that aren't answered here, please reach out to Sunshine at youthprograms@bym-rsf.org.
Keep scrolling to see the conference schedule for the whole year! -
Register for a Young Friends Conference
Click here for the YF Con Registration page! Dates for this year's cons (both YF and JYF) are listed below.
To stay up to date on YF Programming announcements (like when con registration opens), sign up for our email list here! -
YF Nuts and Bolts Committee
Young Friends is facilitated by a committee made up of Young Friends. Want to know who's on the committee? Click here!
If you're a member of NBC, check the calendar below for the next NBC con dates! -
Apply to work at BYM Camps!
Are you 17+ years old? Do you love working with 9-14 year olds in a gloriously rustic environments? Do you love being goofy and creating space for younger folks to figure out who they want to be? Then mayhaps you should apply to work at one of BYM's camps!
NEW THIS YEAR
BYM Camps have a Counselor In Training Program! If you'll be 16 years old by July 30, 2023, check out the application form for more information here! -
Check out the YF run website here for the latest YF News!
To see some of the joy of YF, check out their Instagram page @erikbrokemyheart.
Interested in supporting BYM's Youth Programs?
Below are a few ways to do just that!
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Friendly Adult Mentor
Interest Form
Friendly Adult Mentors(The FAM) are key to making our programming possible by attending cons. If you, or folks you know, are interested in volunteering click here and let us know you're down to be trained and background checked! -
Youth Programs Merch
One way to support Youth Programs is to buy merch! -
Join Our Email List!
Want to know when registration opens for each con? Join our email list! You can sign up for JYF, YF, or both!
Youth Programs Events Calendar For 2021-2022
*All Young Friends in-person Conferences start at 7pm Friday and end at the rise of Meeting for Worship on Sunday.*
*The first 3 Junior Young Friends in-person Conferences start at 11am and end at the rise of Meeting for Worship on Sunday. JYF Grad con starts at 7pm Friday and ends at the rise of Meeting for Worship on Sunday.*
In the continued wake of a Covid-19, the Youth Programs of Baltimore Yearly Meeting is consistently shifting gears to address risk management for our in-person gatherings. Our conferences are an invaluable part of the personal and spiritual growth of so many of our young people and we want to make sure that we are still able to provide them with love and support in these trying times.
In consideration of this, we will be discussing the current state of our local areas and the risk management steps we can take before every con. We will keep the calendar up-to-date if we shift away from in-person cons. Thank you for your understanding.
Click here to see Young Friends current covid policy/procedure.
Junior Young Friends Conference
Join Junior Young Friends for a conference! JYF is open to folks in 6th-8th grade.
YF Grad Con
Join us for Young Friends(YF) Con at Goose Creek Friends Meeting!
YF Summer Con
Join us for Young Friends(YF) Summer Con! The dates are based on BYM's Annual Session, which Young Friends are invited to join us for!
testimonials
“My daughter always comes back with a renewed sense of self and peace.” – YF Parent
“the creation of a community with a spiritual focus… helps keep young people coming to Meeting in the weeks between conferences.” – JYF Parent
“When I came to JYF in 7th grade it changed my life.” –Young Friend
“The Young Friends seem to bless our Meeting with their presence. We love that our Meeting House is used for more than one morning per week!”- Host Meeting House
“My daughter’s high school years would have been more difficult without the abilities she developed at con: a sense of independence, ability to express her feelings and convictions, sense of belonging.” – YF Parent
