Engaging High Schoolers This Summer

I am really excited for two Silver Lake At Home programs we are offering for high schoolers this summer, Virtual JuST Camp and Virtual Reel to Real. 

Based on our survey results, it's clear that high schoolers are less interested in attending virtual camp than younger children. However, it's also clear that high schoolers care deeply about justice issues, connecting their faith to action, and creating community with peers.

Both Silver Lake At Home programs are designed to meet those needs. And at just $10 per registration!

The Virtual JuST Camp, July 13-17, is a mission trip at home experience. Led by Rev. Jack Perkins Davidson, pastor at Spring Glen Church and a longtime dean, and Andrew Wicks, founder of Incredible Days, which runs online mission trips, and a longtime dean, this virtual experience will walk participants through a number of social justice issues, providing education, context, action steps, and a faith experience. And they are planning some fun online community building opportunities, too.

Jack and Andrew will join me on Sunday, June 14, at 5:30 p.m. for an information session for anyone thinking about signing up for the trip. We'll explain the program and answer questions. And, Jack and Andrew are looking for feedback from you: What issues are you most passionate about? What kinds of online activities have you found to be fun? And what are you totally sick of doing online?

Register for the Zoom information session here.

Virtual Reel to Real, July 20-24, will encourage participants to examine their role in the world. Participants will make and edit their own videos, expressing their viewpoints and opinions. The deans, Erica Meyer and Julie Richardson, who have been running video conferences at Silver Lake for years, will help stitch all the videos together into a longer presentation, which will be shared with the wider community at that week's closing campfire.

The Reel to Real group will meet three times throughout the week and connect daily through emails and video submissions.

My hope is not only will dedicated Silver Lakers jump at these opportunities, but that the local churches of the Southern New England Conference will encourage their youth group members to try them out. This is a great way to keep teenagers involved in faith exploration over the summer, safely from home. Both conferences will give participants an opportunity to figure out what they care about and how they can make a difference in this world, especially as their world changes due to the coronavirus pandemic. Conferees will also find community and fun.

If you know a teenager who is passionate about making the world a better place, encourage them to sign up! And let me know what questions you have. You can email me at jennkc@silverlakect.org.