The following is a Vitality email sent January 23, 2026. To sign up for Vitality, click here.

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Returning from my first FGC Gathering in 2017, I remember feeling exhilarated and transformed. I had met wise community elders who showed up with guidance. I had found new spiritual friends (and peers!) who wanted to journey with me. In short, I was hooked.

Amid the spiritual growth and development, I was also hooked on some of the extra features of the Gathering. So the next year, when I learned there would be no camping at the 2018 FGC Gathering, I got hot and bothered. For me, camping was a spiritual option as much as it was an economical one. “No camping?” I thought. “Don’t they know that’s what makes the Gathering fun and affordable? Who wants to be stuck in a hot, sticky dorm anyway?”

A few months later, when I filled out a survey for FGC called the Gathering Market Research Study, that resistance to change showed up once again. The survey asked participants what we thought about moving it to a different week of the summer.

A different week? No — thank you, but I liked where it was.

The survey said that Gathering attendance was declining, and perhaps moving to a different week would be necessary.

No, no, I thought, please keep it just like it was. I liked that time of year; it worked out well for me.

Do you see what happened? When confronted with change, I responded with resistance. I put my own needs and preferences first, instead of asking what was best for the group. In essence, I was asking “Is this change convenient for me, do I like this change?” instead of asking “What does our community need?”

Without a direct invitation to think beyond myself, I stayed in my own, limited perspective.

Well, you might see where this is going. I’m receiving a second chance at community care – and maybe we all are!

Coming up at the 2026 Gathering:

• The Gathering will be held slightly later this year, from July 7-12, 2026. Over the years, Friends have asked if the Gathering could be held after the 4th of July weekend. Starting on July 7 gives Quakers and university staff time to be with friends and family on the holiday. It also works best for our host site, the University of Vermont.
   
• There will not be on-site camping at the 2026 Gathering in Vermont. And no, it’s not because of ticks! It’s because the resources required to rent lawns, create camping agreements, assign shower facilities, and rent port-a-potties are beyond what FGC can provide. For camping options, check out two campgrounds nearby.

When I think about the heart of the Gathering, I remember what Regina Renee Nyégbeh recently shared with a group of Friends. She said:

“While it is a social gathering and an antiracist gathering, it is, for me, first and foremost a spiritual gathering.”

As we approach July 7, I hope you’ll find renewal with the workshops, prayer and grounding, singing and dancing, and the outdoor games that mark the Gathering. While I won’t be camping, I will be taking every opportunity to draw in spiritual renewal. I hope you join me! 

Johanna Jackson

Communications Coordinator