Half Yearly Meeting
A Family Friendly Event
November 28 — December 1, 2024
Wekiwa Springs State Park, 1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka, Florida
Half Yearly Meeting is a family friendly serendipitous 4 days over Thanksgiving weekend when Friends come together for good food and good company in Wekiwa Springs State Park. We have exclusive use of the Youth Camp, a natural setting with rustic cabins, ADA lodging, dining hall, and conference hall.
There’s lots to do! Enjoy swimming in the springs, canoeing and kayaking, and biking or hiking the nature trails. You may bring your own bikes, canoes, and kayaks, or rent them from the Park’s concession. Volunteers lead workshops, crafts, and games. And on Saturday night, we have a talent show — Friends bring music, skits, poems, stories, and jokes to share.
HYM is a great opportunity for youth, families, and all ages to connect, play, and relax; come for an afternoon, an overnight, or the whole weekend!
Registration
Call for Events
Meals & Lodging
Details
Photo Gallery
Registration
Registration is open November 1 – 25. Registration Fees are Pay-as-Led. Some registrants may be able to pay more to help cover the costs, others less or nothing. We want you to attend!
Youth are welcome to attend HYM with a parent, guardian, or adult sponsor who will be present and is willing to be responsible for them the whole time they are there.
Questions? Contact Rosalind Kirupavathy, HYM Registrar
Call for Events
Half Yearly Meeting has two full days (Friday and Saturday mornings, afternoons, and late evenings) of unprogrammed time where anyone can lead a workshop, worship sharing, arts and crafts, games, a nature hike, canoeing, etc., as led. We will continue this almost unique tradition in Quakerdom.
If you would like to lead an activity, please email HYM Clerk Brian Olson, or text him at 305-582-3027, with yourname, proposed day and time your activity, and a brief description.
Meals & Lodging
Meals
New regulations instituted at Wekiwa Springs State Park mean that we are forbidden to use the on-site kitchen for any purpose, including food preparation and washing dishes. Instead, we are required to use their catering service, Guest Services. Guest Services has assured us that they will accommodate allergies and other dietary restrictions.
As a result, the Half Yearly Meeting Committee has decided that we will have Guest Services prepare Thanksgiving dinner; breakfast, lunch, & dinner on Friday; and breakfast & lunch on Saturday. Attendees will decide what we will do for dinner on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday.
Thanksgiving Dinner: Half-Yearly Meeting kicks off with Thanksgiving dinner at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
Lodging
The Wekiwa Youth Camp has group cabins. Unfortunately, we cannot use tents in this area. Families and friends are housed together as requested. Attenders 18-35 years old can opt to stay together in a “Young Adult” cabin. Gender-neutral housing and ADA compliant cabins are available. The infirmary building has burned down, so there is limited availability of heated cabins with bathrooms
All the Details
Volunteer! HYM Works Because Everyone Pitches In.
- Sunday Cleanup: everyone, please! Sign-up in the dining hall when you arrive.
- Discussion or Workshop: lead a discussion about the environment, Quakerism, spirituality.
- Imagination Stations: bring anything that sparks creativity: crafts, games, outdoor games, science projects, etc.
- Talent Show: musical instruments, skits, or stories to share.
- Worship Sharing: set a time, bring some queries.
- Photographer: capture our memories then send your photos to the SEYM office, office@seym.org.
Things to bring
- Warm bedding, sheets, towels, pillows, toiletries – temps in mid-December range from an average of 51° at night to 74° during the day. It can get cold!
- Appropriate shoes, outdoor clothes, sweater, jacket, coat
- Flashlight, water bottle, personal coffee mug or tea cup
- Games, craft supplies, toys, telescopes, binoculars
- Talents, story-telling, painting and other arts and crafts materials, musical instruments
- Bikes, canoes, and kayaks (or rent them from the Park’s concession)
Covid precautions
We will observe the following Covid-19 protocols:
- Masks are required for all indoor spaces at all times
- Masks are encouraged outdoors when social distancing is not an option.
- Outdoor dining will be available
- Windows will be kept open in the dining hall weather permitting
- Hand sanitizer and KN95 masks for adults and children will be provided.
Contact the HYM Committee
HYM Clerk: Brian Olson
email • 305-582-3027
Registrar: Rosalind Kirupavathy
email Rosalind
Food Coordinator: Beverly Ward
email Beverly
HYM Photo Gallery
Click on any photo to start slideshow.
Thanksgiving grace
Canoeing on the Wekiva
Nature hike
Talking on the porch
Hangin’ on the porch
Nature hike.
Story Corner
Talent Show
Talent Show
Sunset at the lake.
Plaid shirt guys
S’mores at the campfire
