Just the Beginning

A few years ago my life could not be called religious or spiritual. I didn’t really get what it meant to be a part of a Unitarian Universalist Congregation or know what it could offer me until I attended my first high school Con the summer of 2008 in Sequim, Washington.

I had registered with the intention that a friend from my youth group would be coming as well, but by the time I found out she wasn’t coming, it was too late to back out. It took a lot of support from my parents and will power and bravery on my end to venture out of my safety bubble that weekend. I can still remember how nervous and worried I was as my parents dropped me off at the campground. I owe Caleb Raible-Clark, aka “The Food Dude” that summer, at least a nod of appreciation for being the first of many to welcome me to that Con and into that family. He, along with many other youth and sponsors, motivated me to stick out the weekend and to continue with the youth Con experience for the next four years.

Since that particular con, I have witnessed a change in the Con community; the leadership that all the youth, bridged and present attendees, have initiated within themselves to keep this amazing family alive, thriving and prospering; the never-ending encouragement and love from one another for the opportunity to search for our own individuality within an already unique community; the attitude from the sponsors who have become real peers and mentors to us through the willingness to work with us on a level of teamwork and of course, the outside community of friends, family and congregations who support and encourage the in-coming and out-going youth of this program.

Being apart of this family has forever changed my life, changed how I look at myself, how I want to contribute to the world and how I want to influence others, UU or not. I will forever hold the friends (more like family) I have made in my heart for many times to come. You guys will help me go far in life and I hope my contribution to Con will lend a hand for the never-ending improvement of the Con community.

Written By: Alex Bain, Shoreline UU Church

Showcasing our PNWD youth talent

Anyone who has attended a No-Talent Show at con would tell you that we PNWD youth are a talented bunch. But in case you've never been to con, or if you're just in the mood for an extra dose of UUth talent, you're in luck! Some wonderfully skilled con goers have offered to demonstrate their talents - many of which have never been seen at con - especially for your perusal. Nifty, huh?

Enjoy! :)

Song lyrics by Jalen B.

Art and more art by McKayla W.

Poetry by Bethany D.

Excerpt from a novel by Haleigh M.

Kelly P. playing piano

Art and a sonnet by Logan G.

Alex P. fencing

Levi L. and Sara H-L performing a song

Poetry by Salomé D.

Photography and more photography by Alex B.

Ian G. making brownies

Poetry by Quinn H.

Demystifying Goldmine Leadership Camp

by Anne-Marie Davidson


A thought occurred to me today:  At Spring Con, we had 30 congregations in attendance.  At Goldmine Leadership School, there are 24 participants (maximum).  By any math, there are congregations without representation.  Who, I wondered, doesn't send their youth to Goldmine? 

I looked it up: in the last 3 years, 16 congregations have sent youth to Goldmine.  Edmonds, University, Corvallis, and Eastshore sent multiple youth each of those years.  That leaves at least 14 congregations with youth groups who don't have anyone who has been to Goldmine. 

I have a vision:  in my vision, every congregation that comes to Con (or has a youth group) sends at least 1 youth to Goldmine every year.  (Happily, this would mean we'd need TWO Goldmine camps every summer.)  Why is it so important?  What's so magical about Goldmine?

Undoubtedly there are aspects of Goldmine you can get at other leadership camps: namely, the focus on leadership skills.  However, even here, I think Goldmine is unique in grounding them in Unitarian Universalist history and values.  I suspect the discussion we have on Power and Ethics is a bit different when placed in a UU context than it is in other communities. 

Goldmine also spends quite a bit of time allowing youth to explore what they believe.  Each day tackles a key question; each evening, we spend time in small groups discussing our beliefs. 

Perhaps most importantly, however, Goldmine creates a intentional community.  It is not a perfect community: conflict can and does happen.  Part of learning to live in community, however, is learning how to address issues in a healthy way where the community can continue to grow.  This work of community allows the students and staff to develop incredible bonds that last well past their week together. 

Putting it all together, students develop a sense of personal power.  They understand their ability to impact their community and create change.  They go home energized and ready to take on challenges. 

This is where it comes back to the congregations: when you have someone coming home from Goldmine leadership camp, be ready to dialogue with them about what ideas they have and how they might contribute to your congregation.  Sometimes it is with their youth group, but they may also have a vision toward congregational or district level work. 

My timing for raising this is poor, as the application deadline for Goldmine is just past.  However, I hope this will encourage you to identify your youth leaders and encourage them to go next year.  I'm serious about seeing someone from every congregation with a youth group at Goldmine.  I often hear from advisors and sponsors - "How do we make the circle bigger?  How do we include more youth in leadership roles?"  Goldmine leadership camp is a great answer.  It will benefit not only the youth who attend, but your youth group and your congregation both. 

And what about your young adults?  This year, Goldmine for YAs is starting up, called Goldsmith.  Interested?  Talk to Samaya Oakley, chalicinsamaya@gmail.com. 

Destination : Romania

After almost 3 years of half discussing, pseudo-planning, and almost having ideas, the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation youth group is journeying to our partner church in Kissolymos, Romania. Despite the steep prices of the trip (over $2000 a person!) the youth (with the help of RE director Sara Lewis and advisors Erich Brown and Kate Harrington) have finally decided to take this incredible opportunity in early August 2011. To lessen the down payments on the trip, the Youth-Adult Committee and the group as a whole have brainstormed countless ideas to raise money for the group within and outside of the church. These ideas include Parents’ Night Out with daycare service provided by the youth, a Fun(d) Run organized by Erich Brown, soup sales during Coffee hour (and most recently a taco bar!), selling Standing On the Side of Love T-shirts, cupcake and flower sales for Mother’s day, and many others planned to fund this ten-day trip. Although I and a few others won’t get the chance to go, I greatly look forward to what my fellow youth will get to experience on this amazing trip to this historical church and village.

Even in this busy year of planning and fundraising, the youth group has carried on with even more than our usual load, having helped plan Fall Con 2010; taking a high school Our Whole Lives class; collecting donations for homeless youth; preparing for next year’s Articulating Your Faith course; planning an end-of-the-year sleepover, bridging ceremony for the seniors, and welcome party for next year’s Freshmen; and gaining FOUR new youth! It’s been the busiest year I’ve ever seen for the OUUC youth group, but definitely one of the best. I’m anxious to see what next year brings! Maybe that camping trip we’ve been talking about for at least 4 years!

by Ian Grendon (Olympia)