Nine Attend Fall Youth Con in Vancouver

Nearly fifty youth and youth advisors from Oregon, Washington and British Columbia participated in a Fall Youth Con in Vancouver, B.C. over Veterans Day (Remembrance Day for Canadians) weekend. Our group of nine from UUC traveled via the bus with 20 teens and youth advisors from other Puget Sound-area congregations. I am happy to report that we all made it through two border crossings, four youth-led worships, four chalice circles, an epic coffeehouse or talent show, lots of fun, creative games and activities, and two nights of sleeping on the church floor, with flying colors. 


To demystify worships for you, one our spiritual practices was making beaded bracelets together during one worship and during another we each got to go up to the chalice, start a small piece of paper aflame, throw it into the air indoors in the sanctuary and watch it flame out midair before hitting the ground. It was pure magic every time…as was the whole Con. I was so thankful for the regional youth who designed and led the event. They did a tremendous job and, I think I can conclusively say, we all had an amazing time. Along the way, we learned a lot about UU youth culture and all the promise it holds. 


Every single UU church that I have come into contact with has a small high school youth group like we do at UUC. The pandemic hit our youth now in high school especially hard. Those younger years where friendships are forged at church and then built upon over the years were just plucked away from them. Not to mention the ability to learn from those youth who came before. Furthermore, as a culture, we are now having to learn how to reenter and make space in our lives for community again. That’s why opportunities like Youth Cons and Camp Blue Boat are so important for our middle and high school youth. As we build back, youth and youth advisors across the region are very committed to creating opportunities for UU youth to gather together to connect, reconnect, learn, adventure, evolve and grow together within a critical mass. Here are a some ideas between UU church youth groups that are circulating that we can work toward and plan for in the 2023-2024 church year: 

  • A multi-church movie night - TBD
  • MLK Day March meet up in January
  • A Spring Youth Con in Port Townsend in May
  • Another talent show/coffeehouse here at UUC? You tell me!


Please be in touch with your ideas and questions for me about middle and high school youth events and activities at amanda.mack@uuchurch.org. That includes what happens on Sundays here as well as other opportunities we pursue for our UUC and regional UU youth.


Amanda Mack, she/her

UUC Youth Ministry Coordinator

Posted/updated on:

November 21, 2023
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