Peer Chaplain Training
for Youth, Young Adults and Adult Allies

What’s a Peer Chaplain???
Peer Chaplains are caring, understanding and compassionate listeners. They are there to offer one-on-one, personal care and attention to those whose needs go beyond what the larger conference community can provide. These are not certified professionals, but every-day people with a desire to serve their fellow human beings. The chaplain is one of the most important positions at a conference or other UU community event because of the emotionally supportive and spiritually nurturing role that they play in the community as a whole.

What’s this training all about???
The training for this event will be conducted by a team of outstanding facilitators which includes youth, adults, and experienced chaplains. The programming is designed to teach basic skills necessary for effective chaplaining such as active listening and responsive awareness. In addition, the training will cover topics such as the chaplain’s role in the conference community and will address issues of confidentiality and ethical chaplain behavior. Ultimately, each participant will be challenged to take an inward look into their reasons for being a chaplain as they strive to find ways of enhancing their abilities to serve others.

Who is this Conference For?
It is for YOUTH (ages 14-19) who want to learn these concepts and skills, and then may possibly act as a peer chaplain at youth conferences or Summer Institute.  ADVISORS (at least 25 years old) who want to support youth and who also want to learn the skills and then possibly act as adult peer chaplains at youth cons. This training is also being offered to YOUNG ADULTS (18-35) who are active within the young adult community. This training is part of Chrysalis certification.

The goal is a maximum of 50 people.  Participants will be chosen for leadership ability and peer chaplaincy potential, and should come prepared for a fun, working retreat. The application form (see below) will be reviewed by the Ohio Meadville District staff who will determine the applicant’s appropriateness to serve as a Peer Chaplain. This is not a youth conference.

REGISTRATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY APRIL 5!
If Space Available, we’ll take additional folks – call the registrar!
Cost - $65 per person

Registration for the training (which includes all training materials, as well as food and accommodations for the weekend) is $65. Participants are strongly encouraged to seek financial assistance from their congregations to cover the costs of registration and transportation. A limited number of scholarships for ½ of the registration fee are available for OMD participants, please contact the registrar for a scholarship form.

Housing
Participants, adult and youth, are strongly encouraged to sleep at the church.  Motels are nearby and home hospitality can be made available for those who cannot stay at the church.  Contact the registrar for further information.  All meals during the conference will be provided at the church. Young adults will be housed in a separate sleeping area from youth.

What to Bring: Casual clothes, sleeping bags, air mattress, pillow, personal toiletries.

SPECIAL RULES
This is a NON-SMOKING conference.  All youth, young adults, and adults attending this conference are asked to observe this policy.

Download the flyer and registration form as a word document or a pdf file. If you are registering online, you need to download and complete these permission forms and bring them with you to the training ~ word ~ pdf

Our host congregation: Olmsted UU Congregation, North Olmsted, OH:
To learn more about the host congregation visit www.olmsteduu.org
For a Google Map click here, for a Mapquest map click here.

Register online by completing the form below.
Registration Deadline is April 5, 2010, if the registration form appears below after that date, then there is room in the training for additional folks.
Questions? Contact the registrar at office at ohiomeadville.org