Friends Neighborhood Guild Weekend Workcamp Program Friends Weekend Workcamps have a new life starting Fall 2006, based at the Friends Neighborhood Guild in North Philadelphia, and supported in part by a generous contribution from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. With change comes opportunity. Fairhill Burial Ground and Fairhill Friends Ministry, also in North Philadelphia, will be working with the Guild to offer weekend service learning programs for the wider Quaker community. There are exciting new possibilities of working together with local community members on issues of common concern. Many of us who have cared about the workcamp program over the years, and the valued legacy of David Richie and Judy and Michael Van Hoy, have a sense of excitement about the possibilities for new life in this work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What?
* A weekend, from Friday evening through Sunday noon.
* Opportunities for learning about the community, service, reflection, play, community building and worship in North Philadelphia
* Cost of $55 per person (with scholarships available in situations of need)
* For members of monthly and quarterly meetings in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, groups of Quaker families, Quaker youth, Friends School groups, and other youth groups.

Why?
It is essential to our spiritual well-being as Quakers to know personally what it means to stand with the poor and the oppressed. Never have we needed a sense of connection and understanding across barriers of class and race in this country more. The workcamp program has a powerful history, as it invites Quakers and non-Quakers to a spiritually-based experience in low income communities. It offers an opportunity to increase awareness of economic, racial and cultural differences and inequalities as well as discover similarities, seeking to recognize "that of God" in everyone. Countless participants have told of how workcamps have changed their lives.

Where?
The workcamps will be housed at the Friends Neighborhood Guiild, 701 North 8th Street, on the corner of 8th and Fairmount in lower North Philadelphia. Workcampers will be involved in projects with the Guild and other Quaker-related groups in the area, such as Fairhill Burial Ground and Fairhill Friends Ministry.

When?
The winter/spring 07 schedule includes workcamps for Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, Germantown Friends and Guild Freedom School, PYM Middle School Friends, Lancaster Trinity Lutheran Church Youth Group, and Philadelphia Yound Adult Friends. Weekends are still available for other groups; contact the workcamp program for more details.

How?
Contact the clerk of the Workcamp Advisory Board of the Friends Neighborhood Guild (Pamela Haines) or the workcamp administrator (Emma Chubb): Click Here

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