Collected here is guidance regarding the developmental differences among teens and activities specifically for teens.

Developmental Differences

Middle school and high school Friends represent two entirely different groups in terms of developmental needs. The former (roughly grades 6th through 8th) are young adolescents entering a stage of rapid and volatile growth driven by raging hormones. As they leave the quiet and protected years of childhood, they begin a transition into adulthood. Yet, these years are marked with awkwardness, confusion, and uncertainty. Fortunately, as high school begins, their bodies adjust to the dramatic physical changes and their emotional roller coaster starts to settle. In the later teen years (roughly grades 9th through 12th), the discomforts diminish, and they begin to blossom into an adult identity.

Middle school and high school Friends represent two entirely different groups in terms of developmental needs. The former (roughly grades 6th through 8th) are young adolescents entering a stage of rapid and volatile growth driven by raging hormones. As they leave the quiet and protected years of childhood, they begin a transition into adulthood. Yet, these years are marked with awkwardness, confusion, and uncertainty. Fortunately, as high school begins, their bodies adjust to the dramatic physical changes and their emotional roller coaster starts to settle. In the later teen years (roughly grades 9th through 12th), the discomforts diminish, and they begin to blossom into an adult identity.


Video Scavenger Hunt

This activity is a great opportunity to have some fun and create some excitement about your First Day School program. In addition, it helps young Friends to identify and represent themselves in the larger community as Quakers. It takes between 2 and 3 hours.


Recipe for Weekend-long Retreat for High-School Aged Quaker Youth

This resource from kri anderson will help folks working on coordinating a weekend long retreat for Quaker youth.


Skit: A Short History of Quakerism in 10 Easy Points

Friend Maya Wright wrote this skit for the Young Adult Friends Conference in Richmond, Indiana, May 23-26, 2008. She welcomes and encourages anyone to re-perform this skit, with or without alterations. The complete script is in the Build It! Toolkit, available at QuakerBooks.

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