New Beginnings Information

• When is New Beginnings?

  February 24-26, 2023. We begin at 7 p.m. on Friday night (after supper) and conclude with a Closing Eucharist at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. We encourage parents to come to the Closing Eucharist!

• Who is New Beginnings for?

  New Beginnings is for youth who are currently in Grades 7-9.

• How much does New Beginnings Cost?

  Current cost is $145 for the weekend. However, cost should never be an obstacle to attendance! The Diocese seeks to partner with local congregations and families to divide the cost as necessary in order to enable young people to attend.

• What about masks and vaccinations?

  At this time, masks are optional at Diocesan Youth Events. The initial Covid vaccination sequence is still required. The Diocese may revise these requirements based on the public health circumstances closer to the event.

• What behavior expectations are there?

  In short, we expect participants and staff to live up to the vows made in our Baptismal Covenant. We ask that each person treat others with respect and caring. This includes respecting others’ desires about name and pronouns, respecting others’ possessions, making sure our words build each other up rather than tearing others down, and generally treating each other with loving-kindness.

  Part of this respect also means being present for the entire event, barring emergencies, fully participating in each activity, and listening to and following staff instructions.

  There are also general ground rules, which include the prohibition of alcohol, nicotine, vaping products, weapons, and so on. In order to enable the fullest participation during the event, the Coordinator collects all cell phones at the start of the weekend and returns them at the end.

• This sounds fun! Can adults come too?

  Adults who are bringing youth are not only welcome, but are encouraged to come be part of New Beginnings! In order to get a sense of who is coming, and to make sure everyone complies with the Diocesan Safe Church Policies, we ask adults who would like to come to contact Canon Varner at jvarner@gaepiscopal.org.

• How do I register?

  Register by clicking here: https://bit.ly/NBParticipants. You will need your health insurance information, basic contact information for participant and parents, and a credit or debit card to pay at least the deposit ($50).