The PSWD has a long tradition of youth-lead programming and events, and the Youth Board is no exception. Adult Observers serve the board in an advisory capacity, providing mentorship, resources, and logistical support for the district’s youth leaders. Acting as “servant leaders”, AOs work with the board members to remove obstacles from their paths and help focus their efforts in productive ways. Providing valuable institutional memory, they work to maintain the culture of the board as a safe, healthy space that embraces and promotes Unitarian Universalist values. Adult Observers are elected by the youth community for two year terms, with a two term limit. Per their advisory role, it is a non-voting position. AOs must have a strong background as DREs or Youth Advisors and be very active in district youth programming.
The current Adult Observers are:
Mary Carter Vail, Director of Religious Exploration at Summit UU Fellowship in Santee, CA
Scott Grantsmith, Sr. High Youth Advisor at First UU Church of San Diego, CA
I. Sponsors
- Recruitment: At least 6 months of regular attendance in the congregation
- Register: your sponsors so we have a database for future events and you are organized and ready for the year’s slate of offerings. https://register.pwruua.org/youth-program-cong-reg/
- Background Check: performed by the congregation
- Relationship with Youth: Knowing the youth is critical to support them at immersion events, particularly in the event of trauma or crisis.
- Only youth from the home congregation: as a practice, we do not support sponsors sponsoring youth from outside their home congregation (See relationship above).
II. Safety
III. Congregational Affiliation
Youth and adult attendees at a conference must be affiliated with a congregation to maintain accountability outside the event.
IV. Con Talk
Adult sponsors and/or DREs must have Con Talk with youth before arrival at event.
V. At the Event
- Attend Sponsor Orientation
- Support youth
- Hold & dispense youth meds
- Check-in periodically
- Participate in programming
- Don’t youth or center your experience, these events are for the youth
- Refer concerns about the program to youth and adult staff
- Have fun! Bring it home. Share.
VI. Travel
- Youth attendees are not allowed to drive themselves or other youth to/from event.
- Rule of Three- There must be at least 2 youth and 1 adult or 2 adults and 1 youth together during travel and at the event.
VII. After the Event
Allow youth attendees to share and process their experience. Share takeaways/lessons in service/worship at church.