Diocesan Youth Ministry News

Children, Youth & Families Ministry Leaders:

You’re Invited to our Spring Quarterly Gathering

Join us to connect with Children, Youth & Families Ministry leaders from around the Diocese! Let’s gather via Zoom on Wednesday, March 29 from noon – 1:00 p.m.

We’ll tackle the questions that we’re hearing most in the Diocesan Faith Formation office:

How do we (re)start our ministry?

How do we bring children, youth and families back to church again?

And we’ll share ideas for Easter, look ahead to summer plans, and hear back from our Forma delegation about what’s new in faith formation from around the country.

This meeting is open to all who create and provide programming for children, youth and/or families, whether they are staff members, volunteers, or clergy. Register in advance for this meeting. After registering you will receive the Zoom link.

There’s Still Time to Register for EYE:

EYE (Episcopal Youth Event) is a gathering for high school youth across the country to join in worship, fun, and fellowship. This year, EYE will take place at the University of Maryland,

College Park on July 4-8.

The Diocese of Olympia is sending a group of youth delegates who will travel together to this AMAZING event (along with adult chaperones, of course!).

The total cost to attend is $340.00/person which covers: registration, airfare, lodging, meals, and transportation to/from the airport (in Maryland).

(*We have scholarship funds available so please do not let the cost be an obstacle.)

Registration deadline has been extended to March 31 so please let us know if you have youth who are interested in going and we will register as one group from the Diocese of Olympia.

If you have general questions about the event itself, here is a link that should give you all the information you are looking for: FAQ

Contact: Naomi Woodrum

Diocesan Youth Confirmation Coordinator 

nwoodrum@ecww.org

A Pilgrimage to Holden Village:

St. Paul’s, Bellingham, in collaboration with the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, will sponsor a pilgrimage for 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th graders to beautiful Holden Village, located in the North Cascade mountains above Lake Chelan.

While at Holden, we will hike through snowy forests, gather with the villagers to eat delicious meals, participate in the sacred rituals of Holy Week, and learn about the natural and liturgical cycles of renewal.

Our journey will begin on Palm Sunday (April 2nd) and we will return on Good Friday (April 7th). 

The cost of this trip will be $450, which covers all food, lodging and boat tickets and contributes towards gas. Significant scholarships and fundraising opportunities are readily available.

There will be a required informational meeting one month prior to the trip (March 12th,) as well as a second meeting one week prior to the trip (March 26th) Both will be held at Saint Paul’s at noon. Live-streaming will be available if requested.

Contact: Benjamin Schieber

Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministries at St. Paul’s childrenandyouth@stpaulsbellingham.org

Worship Together in the Beauty of the Outdoors:

People of all ages gather on trails up and down the I-5 corridor for a guided hike and to share readings from scripture, prayers, conversation, and time for reflection. 

Sometimes all it takes to change the world is a little time experiencing nature in community with fellow travelers. 

Next Holy Hike:

• March 18 – Hamlin Park, Shoreline

(We hike on Saturdays at 10:00am unless otherwise specified.)

Contact: Alex Flannagan

Holy Hikes Coordinator for Western Washington

alex.flannagan@gmail.com

Join the Summer Camp Staff at Camp Huston:

Working at Camp Huston is an opportunity to serve the Episcopal community (and beyond!) while gaining a wide variety of skills. We have campers, from kids to teens, attending Camp Huston and coming from all walks of life. Our camp counselors and staff are the ones who make the summer a positive, impactful experience for these kids. Staff are guaranteed to walk away with a positive, impactful experience for themselves as well! Camp Huston’s catchphrase is “when I leave there, my life won’t be the same!”

From specific skills like leading archery and doing tie-dye to widely applicable skills like conflict resolution, communication, and feedback, you’re bound to walk away from camp counseling with a new skill up your sleeve. Some knowledge, such as interpersonal communication or psychology like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, will follow you into your high school or college classes, or reappear in your jobs and professions. 

Applications are now open for Session Counselors, Resident Counselors, and 

Discovery Group Leaders. Apply online, and upload completed paperwork, here: 

camphuston.campbrainstaff.com

Contact: Katie Sue Eichner 

Camp Huston Program Director 

katiesue@huston.org 

In preparation for Holy Week: An article from Building Faith 

“Holy Week is a remarkably powerful spiritual week. Provide time and space for young people to be immersed in a quiet Sabbath time and space. Invite them to hear the whisper of God.”