Junior Yearly Meeting (JYM) Program for 2026 Sessions
Welcome, families with children entering kindergarten through sixth-grade!
We happily anticipate meeting and greeting each of you at Sessions! We are honored to minister to the children in this program and have worked hard to prepare for our time together. Our goal is to create a safe, joyful and loving community and an enriching environment for each child and staff member. We will be exploring what it means to be in community through various activities and projects. We’ll celebrate with singing, art and crafts, storytelling, nature walks, games, worship, discussions, group projects, Quaker process and by having lots of fun together! Parents/guardians are invited to visit our JYM community during the week.
What to Expect at JYM Sessions
JYM morning and afternoon program times start with everyone gathering for singing, worship, and announcements. Mornings tend to be more content-rich and afternoons more playful. While we aim to start and end each sessions as a whole group, children will also split into two age level groups (K-3 and gr. 4-6) for more intimate opportunities to work on special projects, interact with visitors, and build or renew warm friendships with other Quaker children and loving adult staff.
Some families choose to do other things together for some or all of the afternoon blocks of time. Our afternoon programming has evolved over the years, but our staff’s intention is always to provide loving presence and engagement for the children in our care who are with us.
JYM Schedule
Here is a tentative schedule. Copies will be available when you arrive at registration, in the dorms, at the Info Desk, and in the JYM program space.
Where
Our primary gathering space is the Gallery on the 2nd floor of the Blanchard Campus Center. Specific meeting room locations and details will be available in the “JYM Program” brochure.
How Parents Can Help
- JYM Children aged K-6 need to be signed in and out of each program time by a parent, sponsor, guardian, or other specifically designated adult. Since we’re at a new campus this year, no JYMers, regardless of age, will have permission to sign themselves in or out.
- Please respect the opening and closing times of our program so that our staff can also get to meals, staff meetings, their own families, or to take a nap (as they get tired too)!
- We ask all parents and assigned pick-up and drop-off persons to leave phones on (but silenced) while their children are in program so that we can reach you if necessary.
- Snacks are provided both mornings and afternoons.
- If you would like your child to wear sunscreen during outside times, please apply it before program.
- We will be spending as much time as possible outside. A raincoat (or something suitable) will be very helpful on rainy days.
Covid Safety/Sick Children
The Yearly Meeting staff and other Friends planning Sessions are taking everyone’s health and safety very seriously. For example, a child who shows symptoms of Covid (or other illness) will not be able to attend until they are symptom-free for 24 hours. Here is a link to the Yearly Meeting policy.
Do not hesitate to ask us questions, or share your concerns. Our mission is to straddle a line that does all we can to ensure children’s health and safety while also providing a safe, joyful, and loving experience for all, this is our mission!
Families are Welcome to Say Hello
Parents, grandparents, and sponsors are welcome to come to the beginning or end of our program time to introduce themselves and see our program spaces.
Be in touch
Your questions or concerns are important. Help us know how to best support your child in having a joyful week with us!
Kara Price, Children and Family Ministries Coordinator [email protected]
Note: If you have a child entering 6th grade that you believe would have a better experience in JHYM than JYM, please reach out to Kara to discuss this option.