Children and Families
Children and families are a vital part of the Friends Meeting of Washington community. We offer nursery and First Day School during the Sunday 10:30am worship. Our nursery is professionally staffed, but the First Day School program relies heavily on volunteers. Our children welcome you to spend one or many First Day Worship hours with them!
Nursery (infants – 4 years old) is in the Decatur Place Room (immediately to your right after entering the main Meeting House from Decatur Place). Several wonderful and highly trained care givers staff the nursery. Drop off beginning at 10:20 AM and pick up by Noon.
The Quakes (4 years old – 4th grade) meet in the North Room (all the way at the back of the Meeting House on the first level, behind the Assembly Room). Due to construction in the Assembly Room, we will be temporarily in the Quaker House Living Room (next door on Decatur Place, go up the stairs and turn left). We explore Quaker faith and practice through stories and activities guided by monthly themes.
Junior Young Friends (5th-8th grade) meet in the Terrace Room (above the Decatur Place Room, on the second floor of the main Meeting House). The JYFs have chosen to explore the monthly themes and Quaker testimonies through discussions of their favorite books and movies. Harry Potter features heavily! JYFs and families may be interested in listening on their own to the Harry Potter and the Sacred Text podcast.
Young Friends (9th-12th grade) meet on the 3rd floor of the main Meeting House for adult-facilitated free discussion.
Additionally, JYFs and YFs bake cookies for the Grate Patrol once a month (in the kitchen, attached to the Assembly Room on the 1st floor of the Meeting House). These cookies are passed out with bagged meals to our city’s homeless. Friends take responsibility for organizing the cookie baking in two shifts, 9:30-11:30 and 11:30-1:15.
All of our programs abide by our Child Safety Policy, most importantly that two adults with current background checks on file are in the classroom at all times during program hours.
For more information on any of the above, our Youth Programs Coordinator can be reached at fmwyouthprogram@gmail.com
Connect to Young Friends beyond FMW
Baltimore Yearly Meeting holds weekend youth conferences four times a year, which bring young Friends together for overnight retreats hosted by area Meetings several times a year. Going to a “con” is a fun way to form bonds with the Quaker community beyond FMW. Open to ages 11-13 and high schoolers. For more information about the Baltimore Yearly Meeting’s retreat program please contact youthsec@bym-rsf.org
Quaker summer camps have been a wonderful experiences for many Information about camps near and far is available on our Quaker Summer Camps page.