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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.
After joining my local UU church, I was very excited. After coming to my first CON, I was blown away! I don’t really know how to describe it in so little, but it’s a wonderful experience. You find so much love and friendship, from people you never knew. You develop such a relationship with people, it’s unbelievable. One word to describe CON?
Family
Community
Love
Awesome
–D.M.
9 CONS, and two years, since March 2007
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.
6 CONs, since winter 08
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. WinterCon
06 to Spring/SummerCon 09.
Con is the greatest thing since sliced bread toasted to perfection covered in butter and topper with cinnamon sugar
–Galen
owl con 06-leprecon 09
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)
Spring 2007-Summer 2009.
Con is like shocking yourself with an electric water heater, it was weird but kinda really awesome.
–Celeste
CONdiment 08/SummerCon 11. Highschool 07-11.
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
attended cons for 3 years starting in the winter of 2006.
A con is a hoard of youth and some adult advisers descending on a church for 36 hours and creating magic.
–Sharon C. (Adult Advisor)
Muusic Con August ‘01 to ??? More than 15.
Con is an escape from the pressures and high school life, where everyone cares and cliques are nonexistant.
Con is a place to learn and grow who you are through activities but also through community.
Con is a stage to perform as you, only to have bountiful applause (and hugs!) in return.
Con is love
–Ben L
Wintercon ‘08-Summer Con ‘09
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 Fall Con
‘07-Summer Con ‘12
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. (Adult Advisor)
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.
WinterCon 07 to SummerCon 09
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.
Fall ‘96 through Spring ‘01
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.
WinterCON 04-SpringCON 09
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.
FallCON 06-present (SummerCON10.)
‘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)
Summer CON 06 ––?????
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.
Wintercon07-Summercon11
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.
Fall Con 02 (Annapolis Con) - Spring Con 07
Con is a place where you can take your mistakes and make them right
Where you dont have to be shy
It’s a place to feel welcome when you don’t know why other people are being so nice and you don’t need a reason to be nice back
It’s the only place love is unconditional no matter who is there
– Alex A.
