Senior High Youth Cluster

The Senior High Youth Group begins the year with an off-site retreat to plan the year ahead, re-establish friendships, and get to know new members. After the initial kick-off retreat, youth enrolled in the Senior High Youth Cluster meet every Sunday evening, starting the year with a bridging ceremony for the incoming 9th graders. Youth leadership is nurtured and empowered by trained volunteer adult advisors, and a professional Youth Programs Coordinator, Alison Green Will.

The First Parish Senior High Youth Group is active! Among many other activities and events, the youth lead an annual worship service for the entire congregation, volunteer at the Boston Food Bank, bake bread at Thanksgiving for the congregation, go on retreats, have sleepovers at the church, host a morning food booth on Patriots Day, manage their own finances, and participate in district and national Unitarian Universalist (UU) opportunities (district conferences and General Assembly, the national annual gathering of UUs). In recent years, members of the Senior High Youth Group have traveled twice to New Orleans to gut houses and help rebuild the city after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, as well as a February 2011 trip to Pipestem, WV, for similar work.  They are eager to return to West Virginia, and have reserved a week in February, 2013, for their next adventure.

In addition to the weekly Sunday night youth group, high-schoolers are invited and encouraged to attend the weekly Sunday morning worship service and any Adult Programs that interest them.

Coming of Age

Every other year, 9th and 10th graders are also offered a yearlong Coming of Age (COA) program in addition to youth group. Similar to confirmation classes offered in other faith traditions, Coming of Age is an exploration of faith that includes reflection, challenge, service, and celebration, and includes two popular off-site retreats.  The year culminates with the COA class leading the congregation in worship, often touted as one of the most meaningful services of the year.  COA is led by professional Youth Programs Coordinator, Alison Green Will, and a team of three experienced lay leaders.

The 2012/2013 COA program kicks off on Sunday, September 30th, with a parent/participant potluck from 5:00 - 7:00 pm in Parker Hall.  The class for 9/10th graders then begins on Sunday, October 7th, from 5:00 - 7:00 pm, with dinner included.  After that initial class, the program is closed to newcomers.  The COA worship service will take place on Sunday, May 19, 2013.

Toolkits

New last year, Toolkits is a program designed specifically to meet the needs of  high school seniors.  As they begin the transition from a life of being primarily a student living at home with family, high school seniors have begun to think seriously about life beyond the town where they were raised, the family who raised them, and what it means to become independent.  They often anticipate the future with a mix of anxiety, exuberance, and awkwardness.  Many do not feel adequately prepared for what lies ahead, nor are they sure what that "ahead" really entails.

Toolkits, though still in the development stages, is meant to be a thoughtful reflection on the years just past, and a realistic window into what lies ahead, for both the college bound and those choosing other paths.  With panel discussions from those who have just completed a year away from home, those who have chosen paths other than four year college, to films and discussion about popular culture, to financial education, to an offsite retreat - Toolkits is a meaningful last "gulp" for our oldest youth.  Toolkits is led by Youth Programs Coordinator, Alison Green Will, and DRE, Lynne Weygint.

Offered on Sunday evenings before youth group from 5:00 - 7:00 pm, with dinner included, the 2013 class will kickoff on Sunday, January 27, 2013.