“My Gathering experience made me more encouraged to share my beliefs.”

2020 Participant 

Haverford College

Sunday, June 30 to Saturday, July 6, 2024

Goals of FGC’s High School Program

  • Provide a supportive and healthy social and spiritual community for Quaker youth that enables engagement and connection to Quaker practice and Quaker values.
  • Provide unprogrammed time for participants to develop connections, leisure, voluntary activities, and attend to self-care needs.
  • Provide a brave space for each participant to discover and express themselves truly and freely.

What is the Gathering High School Program?

A picture of who high schoolers sitting on a couch and knitting.

We wholeheartedly welcome you to join about fifty high school-aged Quakers from all over North America for a week full of spiritual exploration, community building, and fun.

The 2024 FGC High School community will gather in Haverford, PA from June 30- July 6. High schoolers are housed together and create their own self-governing community (with a little help from adult Friends who serve as counselors). The program includes workshops, worship, support groups, affinity groups, and a final celebration. There are also opportunities for dancing, sports, singing, committee work, sleep, and hanging out.

During the week the entire High School Program convenes for a meeting for worship with attention to business. These meetings are integral to our community-building process, where we seek discernment of the Spirit and hold relevant issues in the Light.

Workshop participation is mandatory. There are a variety of workshops to choose from. Select one that satisfies your needs for worship, self-reflection, discussion, activity, and relationship building.

Who is in the High School Program?

The Program is open to young people who have completed ninth grade, have not yet turned 19 as of June 30, 2024 and have not yet completed a first year of college. Only Gathering attenders in this age range may participate in the Program. Participants must attend the full week of Gathering and all required activities. 

“Everyone was super inclusive and we all got along really well and had a lot of fun.”

2020 Participant
A picture of four high schoolers playing the active wrestling game, wink.

More Information

  • May 31 is the deadline to register HS participants for Gathering.
  • We welcome people with specific needs of a medical or non-medical nature. If a young person, parent or guardian believes the young person has any needs of which the program should be aware, they should contact the coordinators.

Early Arrival

On site check-in for the High School Program begins on Sunday, June 30, 2024. Any arrival prior to June 30 is “early.” Read important information for teens and parents/sponsors about early arrivals.

Choose a Workshop

For many participants, workshops are the heart of their Gathering experience. Some workshops are designed specifically for high schoolers or high schoolers and young adults. Intergenerational workshops have an attendance of about half younger people (young adults and high schoolers) and half older adults.

Shared Expectations

The high school program is a unique and loving community. All who participate are asked to commit to the safety and health of all community members, to use common sense and to meet all Gathering expectations, including those about sexual activity, recreational drugs and alcohol. Participants in the High School program are expected to plan to attend for the entire week of Gathering to help build our community, and attend all required High School program events.

The complete Program Guidelines will be e-mailed in advance of the Gathering, as will the all-Gathering expectations.  All-Gathering expectations are also available at this link. Please review the Participant Expectations for FGC High School Program.

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