UU 7th-12th Grade Youth are Invited to Spring Con & Bridging!
What’s a Youth Con? A Con is a weekend youth conference overnight gathering for UU youth! This weekend Youth Con happening at the Pacific Southwest Service Area (formerly PSWD) Assembly at UU Church of Ventura is open to active UU youth currently in 7th to 12th grades. The weekend is being planned and led by some amazing Camp deBenneville Pines Leaders, UU Religious Educators, Youth Advisors and Adult Volunteers.
We will create space for our UU youth to have time to connect, bond, play and grow as we nurture our connections in person once again. This is an intentional time for UU youth to connect and to spiritually grow an inclusive community with each other and join in with the larger PSWSAA gathering. There will be time for games, movies, outdoor adventures, deep conversations about how to rebuild our Youth Cons and UU youth leadership, and just hanging out together. Join us as we create community together!
Youth need to be affiliated with a UU Church, register for the Youth Con and be sponsored by an adult (registered and attending the Assembly). Their adult sponsor needs to be approved by their Religious Professional (DRE, DCFM, DFM) or Minister before attending the event. The youth’s adult sponsor does not need to participate in the youth con; they are asked to be present at the assembly.
We had a successful Youth Con at last year’s PSWSA Assembly in San Luis Obispo! The adult planning team is working hard to make this year’s Con at Ventura just as fun and safe. We hope your 7th-12th grader will join us!
IN ORDER TO HAVE AN OPTIMUM EXPERIENCE, A MINIMUM OF 6 REGISTERED YOUTH IS REQUIRED FOR THE YOUTH CON TO TAKE PLACE.
REGISTRATION CLOSES FOR THE YOUTH CON ON FRIDAY, APRIL 19TH IN ORDER TO MAKE NECESSARY PREPARATIONS.
OPTIONS for 7th -12th grade UUs: Attend PSWSA Assembly/Youth Con with your parent, guardian, or approved sponsor:
- during the daytime Assembly/Con events ONLY.
- during the daytime events AND join the Youth Con sleepover at the UU Church of Ventura on Saturday night ONLY.
- Graduating seniors are invited to be a part of the Bridging Ceremony at the Assembly’s closing Sunday service.
Registration fees are on a sliding scale, based on your assessment of your ability to pay. Scholarships are available.
In the spirit of welcoming, we are offering a two-tier registration fee for this event. $50 covers the very basic costs to host this event. $75 will help fund additional supplies or other materials need to enhance the Youth Con.
Note: This event is being planned, run and managed by Camp de Benneville Pines along with UU Church of Ventura, Chalice UU, and a Con Leadership Team following Camp’s Youth Safety Guidelines. Questions? Contact Marianne at: cm@uucamp.org
The attendees at the PSWSA Youth Con will create their own covenant and will be in covenant with Camp de Benneville Pines’ Youth Safety Policies. Youth will experience both the safety of being in a covenantal community and the responsibility to repair relationships when difficult situations arise. The Con Leadership Team has the authority to hold participants accountable and determine restorative consequences for their behavior. The Con Leadership Team will deal with any break in Covenant that is related to the rules/behavioral expectations.
Covid Policy: Due to the fact that there is an optional Saturday night sleepover for the Youth Con attendees, the following requirements will be in place:
- All attendees are required to complete a rapid Covid test before arrival; proof of a negative rapid test will be required. (We highly recommend testing before you travel, if you will be traveling a distance so you won’t have a positive person discovered at check in).
- All attendees are encouraged to be fully Covid vaccinated and preferably boosted.
- Masking is recommended but not required to attend.