Friends General Conference

Together we nurture the spiritual vitality of Friends

Youth & Children

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First Day School

The presence of our children is an important part of New Haven Friends. Children gather with their parents and other Friends for a family circle for 15 minutes before Meeting for Worship; then they may join First Day School classes or remain in Meeting for Worship. Parents play a central role in First Day School, and along with other experienced adults from Meeting, provide a safe and nurturing environment for children.

Children are grouped into classes by age from pre-school through high school. Classes focus on Quaker beliefs, practices and concerns in ways that are age-appropriate.

Related activities include:

  • A fall junior business meeting to select one or more holiday projects to be brought to the adult meeting for business
  • A Christmas play, Easter egg coloring and an Easter egg hunt
  • A final celebration of the First Day School year on Father’s Day with tie-dying and ice-cream sundae-making.

Child care is provided by paid staff throughout the year for children age 0-2 during Meeting for Worship, Meeting for Business and other activities as needed/requested.

Youth Retreats

Our Young Friends find strength in themselves and in sharing with other by attending many Quaker retreats throughout New England. Each age group forms its own community to share worshiping opportunties, workshops, games, fellowship and explorations of spirituality. The link to the New England Yearly Meeting Youth Programs is here: https://neym.org/organization/youth-programs

They travel to different places in their journeys, and come together for rejuvenation, relaxation and to deepen their connection to one another and the Spirit. Good food and fun are also assured!

The Friends Center for Children

Friends Center for Children is an early childhood education center providing year-round, full-time care for children ages 3 months to 5 years. The Friends Center offers a child-centered, hands-on learning experience in a safe and nurturing environment. At the Center, children learn through creative play and a wide range of developmentally-appropriate activities. The Friends Center is a non-sectarian organization whose value-based curriculum is guided and enhanced by its foundations in the Quaker principles of community, equality, peace, simplicity and truth. As a cooperative organization, parents and teachers at the Center work together to create a diverse and supportive community. 

New Haven Friends Meeting is entirely dependent on financial contributions from people like you. Please consider what your experience here means to you and give as you are able

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First Day School

The presence of our children is an important part of New Haven Friends. Children are with their parents for the first 15 minutes of Meeting for Worship; then they may join First Day School classes or remain in Meeting for Worship. Parents play a central role in First Day School, and along with other experienced adults from Meeting, provide a safe and nurturing environment for children.

Friends Center for Children

We are an early childhood education center providing year-round, full-time care for children ages 3 months to 5 years

We believe in the values set forth by and founded upon Quaker principles:

equality, peace, community, simplicity, and truth.

We believe these values to be an integral part of our daily lives; they are universal and steadfast, fortifying the human spirit and improving the human condition.

The mission of the Friends Center for Children is: 

Educate Children, Empower Families, Inspire Teachers, Engage Community, Embrace Diversity.