Teens participating in a service project at the Cope Environmental Center near Richmond, IN
Annual Session ice breaker activity
OVYM Activities
Yearly Meeting Annual Sessions
Our Annual Sessions are the main event each year, held for 5 days at the end of July at either Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, or Wilmington College in Wilmington, Ohio. This is the time when Yearly Meeting members of all ages gather to make business decisions, such as revisions to our Faith and Practice document, financial decisions, and reviews of the annual budget and work of the various ministries and committees. There are also daily age-specific opportunities for worship, spiritual renewal and growth, fellowship, community service, arts and crafts, and recreation activities including canoe and bicycle trips. On the last night of our Annual Sessions (Saturday night), the famous Talent Show is a wonderful time of entertainment, fun, and fellowship.
Quarterly Meetings
Each quarter, our two Quarterly Meetings (Miami and Whitewater) meet for fellowship, fun, good food, an interesting program, and to transact the business of the Quarterly Meeting. As always, worship is central to our Quarterly Meetings. Once each year, we hold a Joint Quarterly Meeting at which both Quarterly Meetings are together for what amounts to a mini-annual session. Each of the Monthly Meetings that are part of the Quarterly send representatives. Youth from around the Quarterly Meeting also gather, for a program and community service, and often this involves two days with an overnight stay at the facilities of the hosting Monthly Meeting. The most recent Joint Quarterly Meeting was held at Camp Kern near Lebanon, Ohio.
Teen Service Project
Each year, the Teens get together for a service project. In years past, they have worked in depressed areas of Appalachia, Alaska, and Philadelphia and have done work including painting houses, rebuilding dilapidated porches, and renovating gardens. The 2012 trip was to Washington DC for the William Penn House Workcamp Program, working with Washington’s homeless, home and garden repairs, and meeting with an area advocacy group. The trip for 2014 was to Philadelphia.
Retreats and Other Activities
At various times during the year, several Monthly Meetings get together for a special program, such as the annual July worship and picnic at Fort Ancient, spiritual renewal retreats, or a work day to maintain one of our historic meetinghouses. Additionally, Earlham School of Religion (ESR) hosts special programs and the Quaker Heritage Center will have special exhibits, which are all announced on the Home Page Upcoming Events Tab and the Calendar Page.