Climate and EarthCare are issues near and dear to the hearts of many younger people, especially younger Quakers. But young adults generally can't afford events in conference centres and don't want to be part of a very small number of people attending an event on bursaries. They want to be able to contribute to things, and be around lots of other young adults. So younger adults do not generally attend the standard style of event that centres around older adult Quakers. Instead, we're running an EarthCare event in the same way as we would Young Friends in Britain: in a Meeting House with most people sleeping on camp mats, and promoting the event to young adult Friends to encourage their participation.
I want to be very clear that the event is all-age, and that means older adults are included too. If this is you, please come along, you're very welcome! I'm inspired by Emily Provance's writing on good all-age inclusion, which is just as much about getting older individuals into spaces designed for younger people as the other way around. I've also had talks with older adults on smaller pensions who appreciate the affordability-focused setup of the event. Whether booking their own accommodation, staying with local Friends, or braving the camp mat, it works out cheaper for them than a conference centre. And because all the excess money from tickets goes to a Quaker meeting in return for the Meeting House hire, it also helps the ongoing sustainability of the Society of Friends to run events like this – which is something I feel we should be considering more in a time of squeezed budgets and organisational deficits.
I'm hoping that the worship-led side of the programme will contain space for receipt of reports from local and national Quaker climate-related groups, discernment on important and searching questions of EarthCare, and time set aside specifically for youth-centred worship forms such as Faith and Play stories and Epilogue. I'm also expecting a range of EarthCare-related talks and discussion sessions by attendees, and I will see if I can get any PhD students from the Environment department at Lancaster University (where I work) to give public engagement talks about their research. There will be arts and crafts sessions, nature connection activities in the Meeting House garden, a songs and stories circle, and guided walks around Lancaster's historic and natural settings – and chances to help out with our plant-based community kitchen team!
I'm hoping that events focused on inter-generationality and affordability will play an increasing part in our ongoing Quaker renewal, and I'm really excited to be part of forging this path.
https://www.trybooking.com/uk/FYIS
Bookings are now open for the Quaker EarthCare Follow-Up, 25th-27th September in Lancaster Meeting House! A weekend of witness, worship, community, and learning how to care for the earth. Organised by Young Adult Friends, open to all ages. Cost: £80/£40 concession, including all meals and sleeping in the Meeting House (on camp mats).
Kes Ward