Avoid Early Arrivals

As much as possible, we encourage families to plan for High School Program participants to arrive on the first day of the program, and no earlier. The High School Program is not prepared for participant arrivals prior to that date.

Can’t avoid an early arrival? Keep reading.

Requesting an Early Arrival Exemption

At times, a parent/sponsor is arriving early to volunteer or attend a pre-Gathering event, and there is no feasible option, like another ride or local family/friends, to avoid an early High School arrival. In these situations, please contact kodyh@fgcquaker.org to request an exemption.

Parents/Sponsors are Responsible for Early Arrivals

Parents and sponsors commit to taking a pro-active role in engaging with their teens until the High School Program begins.  If high schoolers are going to arrive before their parent or sponsor, then the teens and their parents must make arrangements for temporary sponsors who will act in loco parentis until the parent/sponsor arrives. 

Early Arrival Housing

Because the High School dorm does not open until the High School Program begins, early High Schoolers (unlike other early arrivals) cannot sleep in their assigned room. They will instead sleep on the floor with or near their parent/sponsor and then move into the High School dorm after check-in on Wednesday. On campuses where high schoolers are not allowed on the floor, they will be assigned to a room close to their parent/sponsor, and will be responsible for returning the room key promptly on check-in day for the next participant’s use.

What can/should an early high schooler do? 

Early arriving high schoolers will be asked to pitch in to help with event set-up any time they are not under the direct supervision of their parent or sponsor. Parents and sponsors are asked to actively interact with early-arriving teens until High School Program check-in, and to help them connect with FGC staff and other volunteers to find ways to help that are a good match for their abilities.

Curfew for early arrivals

All early teens are expected to be in the presence of their parent/sponsor after 9 pm at night.