"Connecting with our Community,
Connecting with Nature, Connecting with Ourselves"
The 2023 TriQuarter Gathering at YMCA of the Pines
September 29th through October 1st
You might be asking, "What is the TriQuarter Gathering?"
TriQuarter is an annual gathering of Friends (and friends!) from Haddonfield, Salem and Burlington Quarterly Meetings at YMCA's delightful "Camp in the Pines". It is an invaluable opportunity to convene with nature, participate in workshops led by members of our community, and develop new and lasting friendships.
You might be asking, "Why should I come?"
During the weekend, you might explore the night sky with a dedicated astronomer, join a guitar sing-a-long with some s'mores by the light of a roaring campfire, clamber onto a bumpy hayride through the woods, or paddle a canoe to the serene center of the cedar lake. You might stop by the Art Center to marvel at the beautiful works on display there, or use the space to create something of your own to take home. The kids might test their daring at the Challenge Course while their parents attend one of the workshops offered all throughout the weekend. On Sunday morning, the outdoor Meeting for Worship is always accompanied by a little symphony of birdsong that fills the spirit with joy. This annual event is truly beloved by all who participate. We hope to share in the Light with you at TriQuarter this year!
Some notes and announcements for this year's gathering
We are making some changes this year
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We will have 3 formal presentations all happening at different times - along with the normal fun activities like canoeing, star gazing, tie-dye (feel free to bring your own shirt), morning yoga, art shows, sing alongs, bonfire, hay-rides, adventure courses, nature walks, and plenty of time to just be together.
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We have implemented a "pay as led" fee scale and instituted work grant opportunities. See the registration page for details.
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We will have transportation within the camp for F/friends with mobility issues.
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We will have two opportunities for community worship. The first will be Saturday evening at the chapel on the lake. The Second will be Sunday morning at the amphitheater next to the dinning hall.
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As of now masking will not be required for vaccinated attenders in outdoor spaces, but we request friends be respectful to others and wear masks when appropriate according to state guidelines.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
YMCA Camp of the Pines provides a wheelchair friendly setting with wooden walkways and ramps throughout camp, and it offers choices for your sleeping accommodations.
For those who relish the great outdoors, it offers clusters of cabins, with one family to a cabin. Each cabin has a wooden floor, wooden walls with screened windows (with fasten down tent flaps), a wooden roof, and eight built in bunks with plastic mats. Nearby, there are regular indoor bathrooms with hot showers in small buildings; however, the cabins are not heated and most do not have electricity.
The YAF Cabins, which are for Young Adult Friends ages 18-40ish, are in a seperate cluster.
For those who prefer indoor sleeping quarters, the camp provides three lodges, each with heat, light, electricity, bathrooms with showers, and built in bunks with mats:
(1) Douglas Lodge, which is for adults, with separate sides.
(2) Robins Roost, which is reserved for families, with built in bunks on two sides, so Friends choose a cluster of bunks and share two large bathrooms with hot showers.
(3) Pomona Lodge, which is reserved for the Teens [13 – 17 years old], with separate sides, and supervised by experienced Friendly Adult Presences (FAPs). All lodges have space for sleeping bags which could accommodate all campers if necessary. Many Friends bring their own memory foam or blow up mattresses and sleep comfortably on a bunk or on the floor. Campers need to bring sleeping bags, their own sheets, pillows and blankets.