Youth Epistles

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Epistles 2004-05

Epistles 2005-06

Epistles 2006-07

An epistle is a letter to everyone who was not at the event.
It is a way to share a summary of the activities, the process and the outcomes of the weekend.
The youth attenders write these as one of the Sunday morning cleanup jobs.

Planning 2007	7th-12th Grade	September 15-17, 2006
Unmasking	6th-7th Grade	September 28 - 30, 2007
3-D: Doubt, Despair, Delight	8th-9th Grade	October 5-7, 2007
Crossing the Line	10th-12th Grade	October 26-28, 2007
Having a Ball	4th-5th Grade	Novmeber 2-4, 2007
JCT 2007	9th-12th Grade	Novmeber 16-18, 2007
Give and Take	6th-7th Grade	December 14-16, 2007
Revolutionary Times	10th-12th Grade	January 18-20, 2008
Girls and Boys and Everything In Between	6th-7th Grade	January 25-27, 2008
The Grooves that Move You	8th-9th Grade	February 1-3, 2008
Mask-Arading	4th-5th Grade	February 8-10, 2008
Serious Seuss	6th-7th Grade	February 29- March 2, 2008
Jesus at the Movies	10th-12th Grade	March 14-16, 2008
Far Out Food and Fair Trade	8th-9th Grade	March 28-30, 2008
Friends: Making Them, Keeping Them and Letting Them Go	4th-5th Grade	April 11-13, 2008
Water, Water Everywhere	6th-7th Grade	May 9-11, 2008

Planning 2007
September 14-16, 2007
8th - 12th grade

As always, Jacki's awesome Friday night dinner was a great start to our awesome weekend. After some delicious spaghetti, we went into session to meet our JCs and to play some games such as musical pairs. After Chris and Mike went over the weekend's crazy packed agenda, we got into groups of four and began to brainstorm future conference ideas. We then rejoined the bigger group to check in with everyone in News of Me.

The free time that followed allowed everyone to relax and enjoy the company of old and loved friends. AS happy as we all were, the long and exciting day exhausted us. Luckily Chris had some Billy Collin' poems to accompany awesome massages followed by a huggle that sent everyone to bed pumped for Saturday. Hannah's lullaby on guitar ensured good dreams.

After a long night, we arose and gathered our caffeine then devoured bagels and eggs. We gathered for a session where we played a very emotional game of coffee pot. Then we had discussions about drugs, peace and renovation. During Free time there was a much-enjoyed game of Wink'em. We broke for lunch, sandwiches, and then continuing free time we played a very "mean" game of Wild People.

We did our work projects soon after, like making thank you cards and sending a beaver unit to deal with a downed tree. Then for snack, watermelon. Finally a check-in followed by 3-way massage. Self-space into a yummy supper of rice and a very "mean" salad completed the afternoon.

Session after supper included boys versus girls 4-on-a couch, in which testosterone prevailed, and a frenzy of sticking stickers on possible conference ideas. The cabaret full of clowns, not-clowns and other people entertained us. Free time was filled with an amazing dance party and an even more amazing pelvis ball with an optional night walk in the very, very dark woods. Then, we had to go to bed.

Sunday wake-up call was at 8:15. Everyone got up and stripped and made their beds. Breakfast was at 9:00 and we thoroughly enjoyed banana-ricotta pancakes or cereal. We then all migrated off to our separate cleaning jobs. Only time and love will be able to tell what shall happen after this very moment....

Unmasking
6th-7th Grade
September 28 - 30, 2007

(Facilitators: Mike Clark & Vinny Lomoriello)

Mike, Vinny, Marcy (adult presence), Jacquiline (butler), the JCs and of course the cook, Jackie, welcomed us to Powell House (aka PoHo) with a dinner of tacos and then a name whip in which we said our name and a type of mask. Then we played a game called Herman where invisible Herman is everything and anything as he is passed around and each person changes him.

When we were finished, we realized we were antsy and did a rousing dance called the Pata Pata.Then we had a free time and played lots of Ping Pong as Jackie made snack.A Sardine hid himself in a very deceiving spot. As we tried to look for him, one by one people started disappearing and eventually everyone had found him and the other sardines in the entry hall off the common room.we had a quiet time where some massaged each other and we listened to a story read by Vinny.Then as everyone was getting sleepy we nearly sleep-walked to our beds and fell into them, asleep.

Saturday morning, friends tiredly descended from sleep (or quite abruptly from being awakened ) and shared a replenishing breakfast. After going around making faces at each other, paper masks were started. After the difficult task of cutting eye holes was completed, friends decorated and doodled on the back of the varying masks as we spoke about them. We considered the reasons that people wear masks, for safety or fun, when we mask our feelings, and, finally,when it is good or bad to wear a mask. When this was completed along with designing the front with “hidden me” concepts we want others to see, groups paired off to guess whose mask was whose before a few rounds of Head Honcho and a banana tag-filled free time.

A nourishing lunch was shared to prepare for the work projects: pulling weeds, moving firewood, collecting walnuts, artwork on capital campaign pledge cards, and counting coins. Once all had finished a good work period, a game of Wild People pulled us out into the woods.Snack, check-in, and some rounds of Dragons and Trolls passed before we all calmed down for an ever-relaxing three-way massage and self space. Supper later energized us for 4 on a Couch and the much-awaited Cabaret that included improv, music, and of course, the JCs skit among others.Finally, quiet time and a story prepared us for another attempt at sleep.

As we woke up there was the sound of running feet as everyone changed their beds and put the used sheets into the laundry. Then coming down to a yummy breakfast of pancakes and peaches. We all did clean up jobs such as straightening the costume closet, the game closet and cleaning upstairs and downstairs. We played Primate Bellows that involves running between chairs in the circle and a round of Molly’s Game that involves sitting and focusing on one person. We sang a nice variety of songs and then sat in gathered silence. A super lunch was soon supplied and good-byes were made.

3-D: Doubt, Despair, Delight
October 5-7, 2007
8^th-9^th

On a surprisingly warm October Friday, we were all welcomed by our beloved companions and peers. After our traditional spaghetti dinner, we enjoyed a session during which we welcomed our "Mike" (played by Raphaela) for the weekend. We had two totally, radically, awesome JCs, Kai and Lee. We had lots of fun while enjoying sculpting ourselves into images of doubt, despair and delight. We had a real time trying to figure out the rules to "Duck and Chicken". Session was followed by a Pata-Pata and the Salty Dog Rag led by the awesome Franklin and the beloved "Mike" (Raphaela).

We then fit 20 awesome sweaty people into the entryway between the red door in a rocking game of Sardines. For quiet time we had a contest winning homemade story from Raphaela. We then brushed our teeth and went to bed after a beautiful lullaby from Chris.

We woke up on Saturday to a delicious breakfast of toasted bagels and eggs to order. With our newfound strength, we went into a session with some awesome games. The awesomeness of session was followed by a free time, during which the wonderful sound of a hollow white Ping-Pong ball hitting a paddle and the delightful sound of laughter could be heard without a doubt coming from the bowels of the game room. We then gathered in the common room preparing for lunch.

After that delicious lunch we all broke off into work projects which included making thank you cards, brush clearing around the garage and apple picking (which resulted in scrumptious apple pies later in the day.) After an hour of that, free time began. Free time was followed by a delicious snack of Jacki's homemade bread with jam, peanut butter and butter. Mmmm mmmm good!

Finally session. It included a check-in with a game of "Who am I" followed by 3-way massage which then broke into self-space. After self-space we came to the dining room to eat a very delicious meal with cooked ham, tofu, sweet potatoes and a salad. Mmmm mmmm good!

After dinner we had a really fun session. "Delight is…" was our name whip followed by great, amazingly funny, extravagant games of improv. Then came Cabaret. All the acts were really funny. REALLY REALLY FUNNY. And those that weren't really really funny were really really beautiful. After dinner we had a bonfire where we burned away all our despair and stuff. Quiet time had another great story written by Raphaela. We struggled up into a huggle and were sent off to bed.

Sunday: Chapter 3

We got up, made our beds and went off to breakfast. Mmmm good. Pancakes, cereal, oh it was delicious. After that delicious breakfast we broke off to work projects where this epistle was born.

Crossing the Line
October 26-28, 2007
10^th-12^th

After a delicious meal provided by Jackie,

We played an exciting game of Pillow Island.

We learned the rules of Powell House

by acting out fun charades.

We went to bed shortly after

We learned about the American Constitution.

Saturday was full of sessions, discussions and massages.

This Saturday, funny that we went swimming

It was all good and the candle ancestor thing,

Wink’em

Frisbee in the rain

Going swimming in the pond

The line we crossed, the lines we haven’t

Being with lots of people

Ukelele

Spanking that Yoda

Mud wrestling

Moon light walk This hug

Hot tea

Running around being crazy in the rain

Being scared, being strong

Mad love

This was our Saturday

Cabaret included so much singing, dancing, juggling and words!

Words that told a story!

Stories of our ancestors?

With a candle in the dark

The moon. The moon. The friends.

Sunday morning beds were made, food was eaten and session commenced…

Having a Ball
November 2-4, 2007
4^th-5^th

The theme was "Having a Ball". We got here Friday at 6:00 PM. When we were settled in, the games began. We started with a name whip. The question was say your name and something that makes you bounce. The answers were amazing. We interviewed some kids and they said, "They liked the games, massage, cabaret, lots of new friends, lots of teamwork, put ups and fun.

We played with balls and we had attender adventures like taking walks by ourselves, meeting new friends, being respected and most of all having fun.

One of the things we did was played keep the balloon in the air. We discovered how you need to work together. If we all tried to grab it at once it fell. Most of the boys liked Ping-Pong. So did some of the girls. Wall Ping-Pong was also a hit.

Will, our AP, and the JCs were great because they were responsible, caring, kind, funny, understanding and willing to dress up and be weird.

Three-way massages everybody really liked. People felt happy and relaxed and rebooted for the rest of the evening activities. Those included an amazing cabaret, a scary sardines (with a helpful AP and a crazy JC) and stories that were some of the best we’ve ever heard.

On Sunday everybody was really sad to leave, but we knew the new friends they made would be kept forever.

JCT 2007
November 16-18, 2007
9^th-12^th

Bright and eager we arrived at Powell House in anticipation of the weekend. We learned how to deal with the preparation of a weekend and what to do on Fridays as a JC. Many of us enjoyed the role-plays and the games.

On Saturday we awoke and ate then went to session where some of us led small groups which were enjoyed, as well as the scavenger hunt that followed. We learned a lot from both of these activities. In the afternoon we learned how to deal with kids who had problems (no friends, not liking the conversations etc…). After supper we had a cabaret full of much-loved and original JC Skits A crazy starry night walk later, we watched a movie of great teamwork, perseverance and bobsleds "Cool Runnings" and then our tired bodies stumbled up, or down, mostly up the stairs to rest…

Sunday we woke up, made beds and had a delicious eggy breakfast. We must wait to see what happens next in this productive and informational weekend.

Give and Take
December 14-16, 2007
6^th-7^th

Good. Really good! Great!!! We discovered that Powell House is awesomely fun no matter how long or short it is. It’s amazing the number of things we fit into a two-thirds conference like:

Great games
Cool new exercises
Sledding where going down fast and wiping out poofy was a blast but getting back up hill was a pill
Doing crafts with others
Climbing a big tree bare-handed which turned out to be frosty but awesome
And snowball fighting which was more like super snowball dusting – way cool fun.

Perhaps you’re getting the feel now: calm, exciting, very nice, cold but chill, happy, great, very fun, good times.

Plus we learned lots of new ways to think about giving and taking. We got different views on a whole bunch of stuff. And we got in tune with many people all at one time. And learned how to dress up really cool too!

Tunes?! There were plenty: homegrown piano, guitar, violin, trombone, bass and drum. We danced in musical pairs and ran in the Honduran Hat game. Then sat, laughed, acted, sang, leapt pillows, played instruments, did gymnastics and died for Cabaret.

We gave our all this conference and took home smiles, warm fuzzies, joy, handmade ornaments and fruit-flavored candy canes.

Revolutionary Times
January 18-20, 2008
10th - 12th grade

On Friday evening we crossed the threshold of heaven and eagerly awaited Jacki’s blessed nectar and ambrosia to be bestowed upon our worthy souls. After feasting like the gods, we conglomerated into a critical mass of revolutionaries. Upon defining and interpreting the sacred and great ideals of revolution and hope we physically manifested them. Thinking about where and why revolutions have happened sobered our souls. A revolutionary rendition of Rumpelstiltskin rallied us for rest.

Awoken by wafts of heavenly soul food, we commenced a purposeful plethora of activities. Discussions revolving around revolt evolved into American culture analysis. Lunch frivolous activities and freedom followed.

Work projects were undertaken successfully and a guided meditation – massage marked the entrance to self-space. After dinner small group communication, games and cabaret occupied our minds. Excellent music and entertainment kept us on edge. We broke for snack and a bonfire and concluded with revolutionary revelations of Winnie-the-Pooh.

Rest, relaxation and snow greeted us with the sun and by this time the epistle was little more than literary…We look forward to more revolving revolution as Sunday waxes.

Girls, Boys and Everything In Between
January 25-27, 2008
6th - 7th grade

This PoHo conference revolved around a topic that many were eager to discuss: communication between girls and boys as well as how this relates to cliques and the way our environment pressures us to be stereotypical. However, these problems did not seem to get in the way of friends greeting and hugging each other on Friday night, despite possible gender issues at home.

Fueled by another delicious supper, our group came together to be reacquainted with old friends and to greet new ones. During the Friday night session we began to discuss the differences between boys and girls through finding the way boys and girls view things differently. After speaking in small groups, we ended the day with a story of Baby X and some much needed sleep.

Next morning we got up and went downstairs. So many people were already up. We hung out until breakfast. After singing we had oatmeal with various toppings. We cleaned our plates, had some free time and then session. We played games, tried to guess who had seen what in the drawings from the night before and talked about friends and gender in small groups. Here are some of the statements that came out of our discussions:

Friends are friends no matter what gender.

Not all girls are the same. Not all the boys are the same. Boys and girls can be similar.

As children, boys and girls tend to find one another and form basic groups. As they grow their groups tend to drift apart and the driftees find one another and form new groups. Mixed groups have similar interests despite gender.

Boys compete with one another to prove themselves. Girls compete with one another too. Boys compete on strength, speed and also in sports and for girls. Girls compete to see who has the best grades and looks. They also compete in sports and for boys. Because of this competition it is sometimes easier to be friends with the opposite sex because there isn’t the same competition. There are not the same rules for how to interact. This mixing of groups is threatening to some and they try to stop it by saying "oooh you’re going out" and stuff like that.

Males and females are all equal. Not all stereotypes are real

We had egg salad and bread for lunch followed by a chilly but fun game of Wild People in the maze. We played 4 on the couch, relaxed with 3-way and then prepared for an amazing cabaret.

After wearily awaking on Sunday morning, doing the traditional bed making and eating an incredible breakfast we gathered for a session of Primate Bellows, evaluations, Molly’s game and a happy singing of worship.

We leave full of love, memories and hugs and with a better awareness of our own biases and stereotypes concerning boys and girls and everything in between.

The Grooves that Move You
February 1-3, 2008
8th - 9th grade

To be original, on Friday night we entered the common room and had delightfully delicious supper of spaghetti. At session, we were happy to welcome Liz Kessler as our "Chris" for the weekend. We also had a wonderful adult presence, starring Niko Tsocanos and three wonderful JCs – Kayla, Sergio and, last but not least, Big Willy from the Bronx. And of course our favorite Mike. We played musical butts, which is silly butt a whole lot of fun. We had small groups that musically presented the rules and weekend guidelines for PoHo. Later that night, we gathered around a crackling fire fir a fabulous story time with Niko. Then we all joined in on a huggle and a lullaby, and made our way up to bed.

On Saturday morning, we had a scrumptious breakfast cooked by our favorite cook Jacki. During session we read a music minute written at the 1998 planning conference and a quote from Woody Guthrie that talked about music that builds you up and does not tear down you or others. The readings signified what the weekend was mostly about. We brainstormed a list of current artists whose music carries a positive feel and message. Small groups discussed music in our lives.

The afternoon included work projects where we had a tree sawing and nut cracking good time. People worked hard on wheelbarrowing wood and picking out songs for expressive dancing. After work projects we shared massage during 3-way and then we had time to ourselves, for drawing, writing, taking a shower, practicing music or anything else one’s heart desired.

Cabaret was hosted by our much-enjoyed emcees Lea and Andy. It was small and full of cheesy good magic tricks and very enjoyable with loads of fun and variety. After Cabaret and a good cup of tea we headed up to a musical bonfire for lots of singing, company and pure sugar on a stick (marshmallows!) After more story time and a huggle, it was off to bed, our hearts filled with music and love.

Sunday morning we ate breakfast and cleaned up our messes while listening to some of our favorite tunes. Then it was time to say good bye to everyone with a whole lot of hugs.

Mask-Arading
February 8-10, 2008
4th - 5th grade

Powell House friends arrived Friday with memories of past fun, hopes to discover lots of fun and/or plans to make masks and friends. We were not disappointed. We found that everyone here plays nicely. We had a blast playing Ping-Pong and tag, giving and receiving affirmations, enjoying the JCs including a brand new one, giving and receiving massages, being part of cabaret, running like crazy during wild people and eating great food.

We learned who we are inside and shared that with others. We learned that we could make good friends. We learned that what we did some amazing things (stilts, Ping-Pong). We learned how we use masks. And we also learned that semi-frozen ground is slippery and muddy.

We leave Sunday with memories of laughing and fun, with awesome masks, less money but more friends, a sense of the wonder of Powell house and in desperate need of a nap.

Serious Seuss
February 29 - March 2, 2008
6th - 7th grade

We piled in on Friday to see

old faces, new faces, red faces, blue faces.

all smiling at you and at me

Energy buzzed as spaghetti was consumed.

In Friday night session, we seriously made a list of favorite Seuss books, then arranged ourselves on a changing spectrum according to feelings and looks. We searched for one fish, then two fish, then all the fish in a Sardine game.

Saturday began with green eggs & ham. We ate them, we ate them we did! As well as roasted beast and Ooblek as well. A list of hard things in our lives was made. In small groups, we wrote poems about crushes, schools and homes. We shared the poems with all the group, then returned to small groups to read more Seuss books in which Seuss tackles the hard things in life and makes them more comical. We love the fun stories that end with meaningful messages.

Seuss wrote political cartoons and more as well. As for us, we grew in creativity and rhymed real swell.

We had lots of fun with everyone

And learned lots about Seuss for everyone

Jesus at the Movies
March 14-16, 2008
10th - 12th grade

We came in Friday night not knowing what to expect. Even though we always say this, we mean it this time. No one saw the vampires coming. We came to be here with one another. We came for loads of hugs. We came because it’s fun. We came to learn more about each other’s faith in a way open to all. AND, we came to watch movies about Jesus. Anne told us the different movies represented different views of Jesus and there were many many different views; from blonde haired-blue eyed to uni-browed to claymation. We chillaxed and headed eerily off to bed.

Saturday was filled with pillow forts and jam sessions, ultimate frisbee, and Jesus. Jackie's food was sinfully delicious as she ran away with the theme. More clips followed, and we small grouped it, discussing themes and often glazed over philosophies. We learned about our own beliefs about Jesus, developed a deeper understanding and new perspective on things taken for granted. We filled up with love and got covered in mud. Cabaret was musically amazing with a humorous twist. We ended the night with an extended quiet time of watching Godspell, and we all went to bed with songs in our head.

People will take home with them wonderful conversations, facts about Jesus, and bits of each other's souls. Although the conference was big, it was quite mellow.

Far Out Food and Fair Trade

March 28-30, 2008

Friends, happiness and joy came together on Friday night. A diverse meal started the weekend instead of the usual spaghetti. A session with a rad game of elbow tag followed. We shared on things we believed were fair or unfair. We split into small groups and discussed the meanings of fair trade. Then there was a movie on coffee farmers and fair trade from Equal Exchange. After a discussion of rules, we went off in to free time with the great Pata Pata. Tom told us a story about work and anger, and we went to bed.

Saturday started with delicious sweet potato pancakes and then session, with us sharing our choices in good. Small groups were about what we eat and where it comes from. There was also a fun game of coffeepot. Winfried Fuchshofen told us about a Fair Trade Shea Butter project in Africa.

After lunch, we broke up into work projects. Whether it was cracking walnuts, or making bread, or taking down surprisingly complicated beds, we all enjoyed ourselves very much. Work projects were followed by free time and a fantastic snack of pita bread and zebra cookies.

We were treated with tea for session. During that we thanked everyone who helped us receive on that day. After the tea ceremony, we entered 3-way massage and blew off much unnecessary steam we had built up during the month. 3-way massage was followed by a much needed self-space. Mmmm supper was great.

At 7:15 we broke up into groups.by gender. It is hard to describe these amazing groups but we covered everything from body image, to eating habits, to philosophy, to piercings, to genitalia, and no one will ever forget what went down in that group. Personally, I don't think anyone could discover so much in so short of time. No group wanted to finish.

Then we had an amazing and radical cabaret. It was filled with musical acts, monologues, improvisation games, and the "In the Jungle" song. Boy was that fun. Snack and quiet time came close behind. We left with our heads filled with tranquility and joy for the nighttime.

We woke up sad of how the weekend was almost ended, but we stayed happy and content. Breakfast came and went. Then we all departed to our Sunday morning J-O-B-S. Singing and settling into silence brought us together, gathered us, even more. Several messages were shared out of the silence. We held hands to share after thoughts and break the circle, but still no one moved for a while.

We thank everyone who made this weekend possible.

Friends: Making Them, Keeping Them, and Letting Them Go
April 11-13, 2008
4th - 5th grade

The weekend, "Making Friends, Keeping Them, and Letting Them Go" started with hello hugs. Then we played a group game of dragons and trolls. After the game our cook, Jackie, served us a delicious dinner of spaghetti and meatballs.

After announcements, came free time. When meal crew was done we sat in a circle for session. We did a name whip and played some games. Rules of Powell House were also discussed. At the end of session we settled down for news of me. While waiting for snack, we played and laughed with friends. Eating sardines is okay but playing Sardines is even funner. In our pj's we listened to stories. Snuggled in bed we talked for a while but then it was time for lights out.

Saturday morning began with contagious yawns. After breakfast we had a session about who our friends are. We noticed that many people don't get as much time with their friends as they would like. Then we broke into group and talked about how to keep friends, and lose them. We made little pots and put symbols of what our friends mean to us inside the pots. There were lots of different designs and gifts from friends in them. Later in the evening we shared about our pots. In the afternoon, we did our work projects. We then played and made a game of capture the flag. After we were all riled up, we had 3-way massage followed by self-space.

Cabaret after dinner was amazing to see many different people perform with original and homemade skits and other great acts. And throughout the day, ping pong rocked.

After snack, many people went out to look at the moon. Then we heard about snake and frog, whose parents didn't want them to be friends. We went to bed and fell asleep almost immediately.

Sunday we gather to close, happy to have made new friends and to see old friends. We played an exciting game of primate bellows and gave each other affirmations and good-bye hugs. We will take home memories of good times with friends.

Water, Water Everywhere
May 9 - 11, 2008
6th - 7th grade

We came to Water, Water Everywhere looking forward to the classic fun of Powell House: ping pong, games, cabaret, friends and Jacki’s cooking.

We had lots of fun doing watery games and hearing watery poems at night. Small groups got people outside to explore the PoHo site. Do-Do-Do was a very popular game. It took our breath away. Elbow tag mixed us up while Honey If You Love Me made us smile. Some of us were really happy to end up in the middle. Some of us were really glad that we didn’t.

Jacki’s very good spectacular food kept us going for more fun games and other stuff. We found people here to be very nice and caring and helpful. Three-way massage was a very comforting and relaxing lead up to self-space.

Self-space allowed us to be by ourselves and lose ourselves in the PoHo maze or deep in a really good book. Some of us dunked a few baskets, others did art, all of us relaxed either inside or out.

Cabaret was a fun way to express yourself and show everyone the talents that make you, you. Cabaret varied from the ridiculously long jokes to beautiful instrument solos with jumbles of great improv, song and dnace in between.

We also learn things at Powell House too. We learned to be a lot kinder to others and that others were pleasant to be around. Some of us felt less selfish and stubborn. We learned to get together, to listen a little better. AND, we learned that water is fun.

Powell House is a great place to stay because of the wonderful people you meet. It is a great place to escape from life. You get to be who you want to be.

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