SMYC is a community of learning, worship and plenty of fun
It’s noon on the second last day of St. Michael’s Youth Conference. John Edwards, 9 — almost 10 — steps up to give the much-anticipated report on cabin inspections.
John and two others are “house kids,” children of staff whose job each day is to check on cabin cleanliness and report the dirt to everyone — who is neat and who is not.
“The boys’ cabin is probably the cleanest it’s ever been,” said John. “Their clothes were picked up, but their shoes…
“The girls picked up their shoes, but they didn’t sweep.”
The house kids gave both cabins a score of nine, which was settled by a quick game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. The girls won.
Then it was off to afternoon activities — rock wall climbing, canoeing, swimming and relaxing — before pageant rehearsal.
In these last lazy days of August at Camp Wildwood, the teenagers, called conferees, were mixing fun with serious study.
SMYC has been chugging along for 39 years in the diocese. Its website describes it as a week-long gathering of young people, clergy, academics, lay theologians and their families from across the Maritimes, all aimed at “spiritual formation through study, worship, and recreation.”
Like so many other aspects of the Church, the pandemic hit hard, but this year has been SMYC’s best since 2019, with 13 conferees from this and the Diocese of Nova Scotia & Prince Edward island. Nine are returnees; four are new.
“We have a 90 per cent return rate,” said Shannon Parker-Nicholle, site manager and wife of director, the Rev. Colin Nicholle. They serve in Summerside, PEI.
“We’re going to really push next year since it’s the 40th anniversary. We’re going to contact all the alumni we can.”
STAFF
Staff this year included a newcomer, the Rt. Rev. Stephen Andrews, recently retired as the principal of Wycliffe College in Toronto, now living in Quispamsis.
An Old Testament scholar, it’s no surprise he’s teaching it to conferees.
“It’s been great and I’ve really enjoyed it,” he said. “They really want to be here.”
He described the SMYC conference in this way:
“Audacious! In today’s Church, to have a conference for young people, the foundation of which is Prayer Book Anglicanism!
“I’m so impressed with the talent, devotion, giftedness. It’s so well-run, so organized, and it’s great for me getting together with friends I’ve known for a long time and rekindle those relationships.”
While the Ven. Perry Cooper will soon be retired and is moving back to Newfoundland & Labrador, he has plans to return to SMYC.
“I come for the teaching, the fellowship, the positive energy from the young people,” he said. “I’m already making plans to come back next year, and maybe even bring some kids with me!”
While he and his wife are returning home to be with family, Perry says it’s bittersweet.
“New Brunswick has been very good to us. The Diocese has been very good to us. We’ve made lifelong friends here. I will miss this diocese tremendously, the people, the positive atmosphere.”
This year’s SMYC teaching staff included Eric Edwards, Sandy Fraser, Elizabeth King, Jane Neish, Bishop Stephen, Archdeacon Perry, the Rev. Canon Dr. Ross Hebb, the Rev. Canon Chris VanBuskirk, the Rev. Chris Ketch, and the Rev. Dr. Gary Thorne.
CONFEREES & HOUSE KIDS
New conferee Michael Dunfield, 14, has always had an intense interest in Anglicanism and Christianity, so SMYC has been the perfect fit.
“Kimberly Ranson, Paul’s wife, told me about it,” he said. “I’m big on history, tradition.”
Michael is a member of the Parish of Sussex.
“It’s awesome here. It’s a great atmosphere. Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer are really nice. It gives a sense of a monastic life, the ritual and rhythm.
“It’s for someone who wants to learn more about the history of the Church and how it all came to be, the Old Testament and the New Testament.
“I’m coming back next year!”
This is the second year for John, who lives in Belfast, PEI and will start Grade 5 this fall. His father is on staff.
Too young to be a conferee, he is a house kid. House kids have their own learning program. This year’s leader is Sandy Frasier, who now lives in Summerside, but is the former organist at St. Peter’s in Fredericton.
“We’ve been learning about Hildegarde,” said John. “She had visions and had her own alphabet.”
The Hildegarde lessons included music and calligraphy of her alphabet.
PAGEANT
The culmination of the week is always The Pageant Of Our Redemption.
“It’s really a story of redemption boiled down to the pure essentials,” said Aidan Ingalls, a long-time counsellor at SMYC. “It has everything from Alpha to Omega, bound to the story of Christ’s crucifixion and our redemption in him.”
Olivia Lipton has been coming since she was 13. She’s now 25 and a Registered Social Worker, but she makes time to return as a counsellor and the pageant’s director.
“This was a really important thing when I was this age,” she said. “I am so thankful I got that. It means the world to me to give that back. It’s my favourite thing!”
One of the special aspects of the conference is the intergenerational atmosphere, from kids aged seven or eight, to people in their 70s.
“It’s hard to find a place where they all come together to form a community, being together for a week and all the mentoring. I have no plans to stop coming.”
REFLECTION
As the week was drawing to a close, it was time to reflect.
“This is a community,” said Shannon. “Because it’s small, we have time to pay attention to each other. Everyone is joined together by their interest in theology, literature, the bible, their love for God, prayer and worship, and our love of fun.”
Even during their day trips, Shannon and Colin paired up staff with conferees so the conversations and learning could continue on the drive.
Above all, SMYC is an investment in children. Shannon recalled a conversation between Sandy and the house kids during their lessons. The topics was on our God-given gifts.
“One of the kids said, ‘I don’t think I have any gifts,’ and Sandy was able to point out what gifts she’s already seen in them.”
To learn more about SMYC, visit its website: https://www.smyc.ca/
Photo captions:
1. Thomas Piercy of Geary, NB goes for a paddle on the Little Buctouche River during recreation time at St. Michael's Youth Conference.
2. Olivia Lipton, seated, directs the rehearsal of the pageant, with Aiden Ingalls and Braxton MacDonald in the background.
3. Silas King makes short work of a very tall climbing wall at Camp Wildwood during St. Michael's Youth Conference.
4. House kids Silas and Anna (hidden) King and SMYC director Colin Nicholle watch John Edward, 9, give the cabin inspection report during lunch.
McKnight photos