Download the CT UCC Media Form     |     Download the Medical Information and Authorization Form

Welcome to the Youth Tab for CELEBRATION VIII. We are excited that you are interested to learn more about how young women from your youth group or confirmation class can participate in this amazing event.

What is Celebration VIII?

CELEBRATION VIII, TOGETHER BUILDING BRIDGES is a Retreat for women, ages 14 & up, held at the Sheraton Hotel & Conference Center in Burlington, Vermont from March 12-14, 2010. This event has happened 7 times before, attracting 1000 women to share worship, workshops, music and lots more.

The 2010 event is special because we have created Connections (specific programming) for young women. This is the FIRST time we have opened CELEBRATION VIII to female members of youth groups and confirmation classes. This is a unique opportunity to “Build Bridges” between the young and young at heart women that fill our churches.

What is CONNECTIONS?

CONNECTIONS is an intergenerational, participatory workshop for women of all ages. Val Tutson, renowned story teller and Whendi Cook, singer, songwriter & musician will be working with youth from churches across New England to create artistic expressions, through dance, song & other media for the Saturday evening worship. Rev. Da Vita “Day” McCallister will preach during Saturday evening’s worship time as well as help Val & Whendi. So be sure to sign up for the CONNECTIONS workshop on Saturday.

In addition to the workshops on Saturday, youth will have activities on Friday evening at a local congregation in Burlington. Check back on this webpage for additional information regarding Friday evening activities for youth (ages 14-18).

How do I Register?

You can register online by using the “Event Registration” link on this page (it is just above the Youth Group tab). Each youth and adult chaperone will need to register separately. The cost for early bird registration (prior to December 31, 2009) is $90 per person or $100 after December 31st. Registration for the event DOES not include room and board; please see the sections below for information on housing and meals.

All youth participants will also need to complete a Media release form and medical authorization form (Download the CT UCC Media Form). The Media release and medical authorization forms must be received by mail prior to the event. Please mail all forms to:

Eileen Lovett
Registrar
156 Barney St
E. Providence, RI 02916

What About Housing?

You have a couple of options for housing while participating in Celebration VIII. You may reserve rooms at one of the event hotels. To reserve a hotel please use the “Make Hotel Reservation” link (located above the “Event Registration” link). If you are a non-relative chaperone for youth during this event, please be sure to reserve separate rooms for you and for the youth. Your second option is to stay at a local congregation in Burlington, VT. If you would like additional information on securing housing at a local congregation please contact: Eileen Lovett, eslovett@msn.com

What About Meals?

Breakfast will be available at the church (if you are staying in a local congregation) or in event hotels. Prices for meals vary and may be purchased during the registration process. There are also a number of local restaurants where you can purchase meals for your group. The average cost for meals per person is $14.00.

Transportation

Some states will have buses to help ease the cost of travel. Information for each conferences bus will be added to this site when it becomes available. A FREE shuttle bus will be provided for youth and chaperones to and from the Conference Center (event site) and the local congregation that will host youth groups.

Chaperones

This is an intergenerational event for Women only. In order to honor our covenant to care for and protect the youth who are participating in this event, we are requiring ALL minor (under the age of 18) participants to have chaperones (1:5 ratio). All non-relative chaperones must be female.

Some Important Tips

Encourage young woman from your congregation to come to CELEBRATION VIII Together Building Bridges. Be sure to REGISTER (for the event), RESERVE a room and RETURN (the media and medical forms). Encourage young woman to bring their musical instruments for worship.
Come with an open heart and mind! HAVE FUN!

A Letter to a Young Woman

Dear Young Sister,

I heard through the grapevine that you are thinking about coming to CELEBRATION VIII: Building Bridges. I’m really happy to hear that because your presence is really important. You see the theme for this year is building bridges and we can’t do that without you. For years this event has attracted over 1000 women, but most of them have been “mature adults.” Women like your mom or grandmother, maybe even an aunt. But two important groups have been missing from this gathering: young women and young adult women. So the planning committee decided that 2010 was an opportunity for us to change all of that and they sent out special invitations to you and your friends in the hope that you would come.

My guess is if you’re reading this note, one of those invitations got to you. Your mother or grandmother may have asked you, or maybe even your minister or a friend. Whoever did their part to spread the word, please tell them I said “THANK YOU.” There’s nothing worse than sending out invitations that nobody opens or answers.

But you might be wondering what we’re inviting you to. Well, I’ve got an answer, we’re inviting to a Celebration and into a conversation. The Celebration part is pretty easy. Every four years we get together and Celebrate Women! It is really that simple.

We Celebrate the women in our churches who make a difference every Sunday!
We Celebrate Women in our homes who teach us about faith!
We Celebrate the Women who serve our churches on boards and in the national setting!
We Celebrate the unique gifts that we Women offer to the world!

This year we one to add one more thing to that list of Celebrations….YOU! We want to Celebrate:
The gift of YOUR presence among us!
Your gifts as young talented, unique and amazing young women!
Your knowledge, wisdom and questions that inspire us!

The second thing we want is to have some conversation with you, we want to CONNECT. Life is so busy, we have jobs and you have school, work, sports, friends and phones. Sometimes it’s hard for us to keep up and so we want to take a little time out during this weekend to have some conversation with you. It would be great to hear what you think of the church and of the world. We’d like to tell you what we think as well, but really we want to listen more than we speak.

We’ve added a few things to our schedule in the hopes that it would make you feel welcome. We added the CONNECTIONS workshops with Val Tutson (she is AMAZING) and Whendi Cook (pretty amazing too). We have activities on Friday night and opportunities for you to lead us in worship. They even invited me to speak on Saturday night. The planning committee knows that I’m one of your biggest fans.

So take a look around the website and if you’re interested in coming to the Celebration and the Conversation do three things for me:
Register - for Celebration VIII
Reserve – a room for the weekend
Return – the medical and media forms

I hope to see you there!

Grace, Peace and Power,
Day

The Reverend Da Vita “Day” McCallister