Junior/Senior High Hybrid Conference (Ages 12-18)
When junior- and senior-high youth meet together, rare occasions for mentoring and role modeling occur. However, conferences that draw from this wider age range must be planned very carefully. There are great things about them. For instance, junior-high youth will open up more to participating in worship when senior-highers lead the services than in adult-led services. They may not be ready for participation, but they will be taking mental notes. Older youth provide leadership in setting norms for the younger ones as they learn what it is to be at a conference.On the other hand, the potential exists for the younger conferees to feel overwhelmed, afraid, and insignificant. It is best to structure welcoming activities either to mix up the ages in touch groups and workshops or to have two conferences in one, where junior-high youth have more structured workshops and behavior guidelines. In the latter case, the space needs to accommodate it.
Scheduling, Behavior, Thematic Suggestions
With an age range this spread out, all decisions should be made with the youngest conferees in mind. Scheduling, workshop topics, and behavior guidelines should all be set with the considerations described in the junior-high/ middle-school section in mind.
For more information contact youth@uua.org.
Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.
