This past Friday night was the Coming of Age sleepover at Waters House. 14 youth participated and made it a success by being present and participating. Thank you to all of the adults who showed up to help by playing, sleeping (so we had the proper ratios!), donating, cooking a scrumptious breakfast, and sharing their time and energy with these bright, energetic youth.

Friday night, after introductions and settling in, we shared a pizza dinner followed by a super fun new game COA Advisor Erin Piotrowski taught the group. We enjoyed a campfire and s’mores, just about every snack imaginable, a unique/funny movie, and finally some actual sleeping took place. Awakening to the scent of bacon, coffee, and waffles, we were greeted by some of the elves who came to Waters House in the wee hours to prepare a breakfast feast for all of us. Refueled and refreshed, we reviewed the plans and broke into four groups. We grabbed our maps (paper maps!), pencils, pads of paper, a small amount of money, and headed out on a three-hour adventurous exercise in empathy. If you are the parent of a COA Youth, or just know one, be sure to ask them to tell you all about the exercise. It was a meaningful learning experience.

Once we returned to Waters House we ate a modest lunch (a result of the exercise in empathy), and we spent time debriefing. All too soon, it was pick-up time. Tired and maybe a bit hungry, I think we all left with a greater awareness of the struggles some must endure.

Truly grateful to be able to share this experience with all these awesome youth and volunteers!

This coming Sunday all children and youth will begin the day in the Great Hall for a multi-generational service.  Then, after a story, children in Grades 1-5 will follow me and another teacher to the Religious Education hallway for a group activity.

Robin Ahearn at dlre@uuschenectady.org.