What is a Con? 

“Con” is short for conference. A Con is a weekend-long event where about eighty high school aged youth spend Friday evening to Sunday morning at a UU church. The Joseph Priestly District Youth Steering Committee (DYSC) run four Cons a year: Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring. Youth from churches across the Joseph Priestly District (Maryland, D.C., South New Jersey, Eastern PA, Northern VA) attend Cons. These Cons provide an opportunity for youth to connect and build community with other UU teens from all across the JPD while participating in fun activities and learning new things about themselves and their faith. Here’s a little more information about Cons. 

What is DYSC? 

DYSC, the District Youth Steering Committee, (pronounced ‘disk’) is responsible for planning and putting on four Conferences (Cons) every year. The elected committee is composed of youth and adult volunteers. 

What happens at a Con? 

Each Con is a different and unique experience. At every Con, youth are provided with the opportunity to build intentional community, enjoy activities (such as the Super Secret Saturday Night Activity and Coffee House), build leadership skills, participate in enriching workshops, and more. Every Con focuses on a certain theme. This year’s remaining Cons are Fall, Winter, and Spring Con (the Summer Con is the first of the cycle and will occurred next July). 

Fall Con: Fall Con’s theme alternates between leadership development and spiritual development each year. The workshops will be based on their respective themes. 

Winter Con: Winter Con is our Social Justice-themed Con. This Con’s workshops focus on Social Justice, specifically our Social Justice theme of the year. 

Spring Con: Spring Con focuses on the fifth UU principle of the democratic process! Held concurrent with and close to the JPD assembly, Con participants elect a new DYSC for the coming year.  

Summer Con: Summer Con is all about fun. Most Summer Cons feature a kid-sized pool, water gun fights, and more fun workshops. 

How expensive are Cons?

For first time con goers, it is $30. Regular con goers pay $40, and those who register before the early bird deadline pay $35. It is highly suggested that you register before the early bird deadline. For those who cannot afford the fee, scholarships are available. Contact the registrar for more information. 

Where are Cons? 

Cons are held at different Unitarian Universalist churches across the Joseph Priestly District. Churches volunteer to host DYSC Cons. 

How does one get to Con? 

People generally drive (or are driven) to Cons. We attempt to spread the locations of Cons out across the district as best we can so that no congregation is unduly burdened by travel time, but we understand that it can be hard to arrange transportation to Cons. If you are interested in having youth attend a Con, but are concerned about transportation, please let us know, and we will try our best to arrange a carpool. Also, to ensure a safe, alert drive home, ALL drivers are required to sleep in the quiet room specifically for drivers. 



Do teens use drugs or alcohol, or have sex at Cons? 

No, no, and no. Cons are a safe, healthy, and inclusive environment. We have also eliminated hazing and violent games like ‘wink.’ There is a 1:5 ratio of adult advisors to youth attendees. No unregistered adult or youth is permitted to enter Cons. In registering, every teen agrees to adhere to a set of rules and a behavior covenant. DYSC leaders review the rules at the start of Con to ensure the understanding that violation of those rules will not be tolerated. Adult sponsors and youth DYSC members volunteer for night patrols (called “Firefly”) so that there is peer and adult supervision at all times. Luckily, Con youth have great respect for themselves and each other, and we rarely have issues with violations. 

What are the rules at Con? 

· Pre-registration is required for all participants 

· No possession or use of alcohol or drugs 

· No violence or weapons 

· No sexual activity 

· No walk-ins or visitors 

· No leaving con grounds 

· One person per sleeping cover 

· R-E-S-P-E-C-T people and property 

· No use of tobacco if under 18 

· “NO” means NO! 

"Simply, a con is a gathering of UU youth gathering for a weekend to worship, share and grow in an intentional community. But the real answer can only come from someone who has actually attended one. Each con is a unique event with as many perspectives as there are participants. Cons are one of the most life-changing things I’ve ever been a part of. I’ve made friends here that I will likely keep for the rest of my life, and if not I’ve made memories that I’ll never forget. In my five years going to cons and other UU youth events I’ve learned and loved more than anywhere else in my life. They are an incredible example of the power that bold unconditional love can have on a community of people.

Thanks."

–Paul G.

–D.M.

"CON is a group of young people with similar feelings and views, namely, to find community and love. it is a place where we share your views with a group of wonderful people."

–Conor B.

"Cons have become more a home to me than anywhere possible. I love every single person there because I know they will always be there for me. I can’t think of what exactly to say here but all I can say is cons are my sacred space. My haven. That community is the most anyone can ask for."

–Claire H.

"Con is the greatest thing since sliced bread toasted to perfection covered in butter and topper with cinnamon sugar."

–Galen

"An explosion of awesomeness!"

–Alicia L.

"Each Con is a temporary but vital community that is formed when UU youth and adults from around the district gather together. The activities of cons include worship, games, workshops, performances, and shared meals. The outcomes of cons include lasting friendships, spiritual growth, increased awareness of social justice issues, and deepened commitments to Unitarian Universalism. For those on the planning committee (DYSC), there are additional responsibilites and therefore additional benefits. Youth on DYSC get to learn and put into practice leadership skills; adults on DYSC have the satisfaction of watching and gently encouraging and supporting that leadership. Adults also get to practice developing the virtue of patience….

No where in my life as an adult have I been welcomed by youth with more love and acceptance and less suspicion and defensiveness. No where as a youth did I ever experience such a loving, supportive, fun, challenging, and growthful environment."

–MoonEagle A.(Adult Advisor)

Con is like shocking yourself with an electric water heater, it was weird but kinda really awesome.

–Celeste

"I attended cons for 3 years starting in the winter of 2006. Cons are weekend-long retreats where UU youth inhabit the same space for spiritual comfort and growth. It’s a fun and thriving community with absolutely no prejudice. There is time for learning, exercising creativity and just chilling out and having a good time. I highly encourage all youth in the Joseph Priestly District to give cons a try! It’s a really great and enriching way to connect with new people."

–Elyse

"A con is a hoard of youth and some adult advisers descending on a church for 36 hours and creating magic."

–Sharon C. 

–Ben L

"Con is a loving community with awesome people. It may only be a weekend long event, but the friendships created will certainly last lifetimes. Con is the place where you can let everything go and truly be yourself. Everyone is welcoming, caring, and just plain fun to be around.

Con is LIFE!!"

–Erin S.

"After four Cons as an Adult Advisor, I find that my optimism about the future of the world is somewhat restored. A few days of being bathed in the energy, talent, and sheer entertainment value of 100 teenagers does a lot to offset media images of rude, illiterate, lazy youth."

–Tracy B. 

"Cons are more than just couple dozens teens crashing at a church. It’s a place where you can be accepted for who you are at the deepest level. It’s a place where you can lay down all the pressures and drama that come with being a teen and just be yourself. It becomes your home away from home after awhile.

Con is the best thing to ever happen to my teenage life."

–Kelson S.

"For me, a con was an escape from the rest of my life. It was the first place I was wholly accepted and celebrated for who I was. It was a loving, supportive environment that saved my life when I felt like an outcast in high school. And I hope they’ll be around for teenagers who need a place like that for generations to come."

–Mish K.

"Con is a place where: everyone is accepted; spirituality is honored, respected, practiced, and/or found; the outside world ceases to exist for the span of friday night through sunday morning, sleep is some lunatic’s deranged fantasy, and (*gasp*) growth is fostered on a level impossible (or, in my living on 3 different continents i have yet) to find anywhere else. It’s also alot of fun, and does not involve mass suicide with poisoned punch (please tell me someone else has heard of that cult…).

–Ryan G.

"If you were to put love, spirituality, chaos, exhaustion, and love again into a blender, poured it over a tentative schedule and put it in a church for 48 hours, you would have Con."

– Carl S.

"‘Con’ is a weekend retreat run by Youth, supported by Adult Advisors. It is a safe haven for youth – a place of acceptance, love, learning and spiritual exploration. Con is youth having fun, learning who they are, who they can be, who they want to be in a safe, accepting and sometimes quite rowdy, loud community. ‘Con’ has converted my ‘fear’ of teenagers, given me hope for the future, and deepened my experience of worship. Many talents, personalities, gifts and much sharing, compassion, Con is FUN with meaning.

I am honored and privileged to have been an adult advisor both to my youth group and on DYSC."

–Priscilla A. (Advisor)

"A con is a gathering of youth (and some youth-at-heart) looking for a place for spiritual expression, fulfillment, and acceptance. It is a thoughtful and creative community for those in need of friends, love, encouragement, clarification, understanding, or just a lot of hugs and laughs."

–Deanna B.

"A Con is an evolving and welcoming community where UU Youth can meet and become friends with other UU Youth. Each Con is different and provides for new and different knowledge and insight into an individuals spiritual journey, as well as the spiritual journey of the group as a whole. They are a place to find a part of your spirituality that you may not have known was missing from your journey."

–Dave W.

"Con is a place where you can take your mistakes and make them right

– Alex A.

"Con is not so much a weekend event as it is a state of mind. It is an experience that will transform complete strangers into unforgettable friends in only a matter of hours. Con is a place where you can be yourself and be accepted (and sometimes find someone just like you!). Con is an escape as well as a discovery. The people you will meet, the experiences you will have, and the memories you will hold will stay with you forever as you walk the road of life." 

-Ryan

"Cons are like an alternate universe. On Friday you leave your school, your work, your regular life, and enter a world where you are free to be yourself, because no one’s judging you. You can experiment and makes mistakes. You can push your boundaries, but only as much as you want to. You can be enthusiastic about this amazing thing called life, you can play games, hug, laugh, and be around others simply for the sake of being around others, no excuses, no false pretense. You can leave your shell without fear of injury, grow, and bloom in to the amazing person you didn’t know you were. You can create friendships in a single day that will last a lifetime, because time itself works differently. Laughter can be the most spiritual part of your weekend. You can fall down, even get hurt, knowing that you have a whole community of loving friends to help you back up. It’s the most amazing feeling.

Con is the first time I really belonged anywhere. Even now, I consider all my friends from Con my best friends, because I know it’s a place where I’ll always be welcome. No matter what’s happening in my life, I know I’ll belong. And that’s a feeling I’ve never been able to find anywhere else.

–Natesh

Con is a place where you can come to know some of the greatest, most interesting people you will ever meet, who will accept you whoever, whatever, and however you are and journey with you through new experiences of all kinds. It’s a place where love begets more and more love and walls are broken down. It’s its own microcosm of spirituality, friendship, activism, personal growth and all other manner of shenanigans, and my only regret is not starting to attend sooner.

–Susey

Con is a place, a time, and an act of worship. Every word, every action, every crazy tradition we’ve come up with, is a celebration of community, of the web that binds us together. We are, for a time at least, bound by the spirit of love and life and being, celebrating the individual while invoking the spirit of community. I have never felt more unashamed love between friends and strangers alike as I have at Con.

–Jack