YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND SPIRITUALITY
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The YES Covenant

At the start of all our conferences, conferees collaborate with staff to create a convent. Open dialogue allows us to set mutual, supportive and inclusive expectations within our community. They can—and often do—vary from conference to conference to reflect different environments and conferees' changing needs.

One's values transform with experience and knowledge. We want to give our conferees the tools to establish their own physical and emotional boundaries, in addition to being role models for our youth. The convent encourages love, respect and collaboration to grow within our community. 

In addition to our covenant, we have other sets of rules that are more permanent regarding our staff and advisor election processes, and other central conference guidelines (e.g. that we are a dry conference). Click here to see our bylaws.

View our current and previous years covenants by selecting the Year / Season of a conference below.

Current Covenant
January 2024

​Stick to the rules

Respect
  • Use trigger warnings
    • Talk about the feelings rather than the event(s)
  • No "harshing mellows"
    • Ex: entering a decompression space with high energy
  • No “yucking yums”
    • Don't invalidate or disparage someone's likes or interests
  • Step up, step back
    • Constructively engage with conferees violating the Convent
    • Cool down and recollect to address an issue
  • Talk to chaplains and staff (that’s what we’re here for!)
  • Ask for and respect consent
  • Ask for and respect pronouns

Confidentiality
  • Chaplains abide by confidentiality
    • Expect when someone is hurting or going to hurt themselves or others
  • Adult advisors
  • Conferee confidence
  • Use "I" statements
  • It's okay to feel down; talk about it! 
            
Challenge your judgements
  • 24 hour rule
    • Back it up, bring it up
  • Ouch!...Oops!
    • If something doesn't sit right, saying this may be an easy way to identify it for others
  • Assume good intentions
  • Be mindful
  • Be inclusive
    • Smokers: past concerns about smoking exclusivity
August 2021
to be added
January 2021
Stick to the rules

Respect
  • Use trigger warnings
    • Talk about the feelings rather than the event(s)
  • No "harshing mellows"
    • Ex: entering a decompression space with high energy
  • No “yucking yums”
    • Don't invalidate or disparage someone's likes or interests
  • Step up, step back
    • Constructively engage with conferees violating the Convent
    • Cool down and recollect to address an issue
  • Talk to chaplains and staff (that’s what we’re here for!)
  • Ask for and respect consent
  • Ask for and respect pronouns

Confidentiality
  • Chaplains abide by confidentiality
    • Except when someone is hurting or going to hurt themselves or others
  • Adult advisors
  • Conferee confidence
  • Use "I" statements
  • It's okay to feel down; talk about it!
            
Challenge your judgements
  • 24 hour rule
    • Back it up, bring it up
  • Ouch!...Oops!
    • If something doesn't sit right, saying this may be an easy way to identify it for others
  • Assume good intentions
  • Be mindful
  • Be inclusive
    • Smokers: past concerns about smoking exclusivity
August 2020
Stick to the rules

Respect
  • Use trigger warnings
    • Talk about the feelings rather than the event(s)
  • No "harshing mellows"
    • Ex: entering a decompression space with high energy
  • No “yucking yums”
    • Don't invalidate or disparage someone's likes or interests
  • Step up, step back
    • Constructively engage with conferees violating the Convent
    • Cool down and recollect to address an issue
  • Talk to chaplains and staff (that’s what we’re here for!)
  • Ask for and respect consent
  • Ask for and respect pronouns

Confidentiality
  • Chaplains abide by confidentiality
    • Except when someone is hurting or going to hurt themselves or others
  • Adult advisors
  • Conferee confidence
  • Use "I" statements
  • It's okay to feel down; talk about it!
            
Challenge your judgements
  • 24 hour rule
    • Back it up, bring it up
  • Ouch!...Oops!
    • If something doesn't sit right, saying this may be an easy way to identify it for others
  • Assume good intentions
  • Be mindful
  • Be inclusive
    • Smokers: past concerns about smoking exclusivity
January 2020
to be added
August 2019
to be added
January 2019
to be added
August 2018
to be added
January 2018
Stick to the rules

Respect
  • Island
    • Their rules, nature and wildlife
  • Self
    • Remember to hydrate, sleep, and wear sunscreen
  • Others
    • Personal property, experiences, quiet timeSG2: their space, alternative swears, Brookfield at night
  • Pels
    • Their space, be gracious
  • Use trigger warnings
    • Talk about the feelings rather than the event(s)
    • Limit recreational drug and alcohol discussion
  • No "harshing mellows"
    • Ex: entering a decompression space with high energy
  • No “yucking yums”
    • Don't invalidate or disparage someone's likes or interests
  • Step up, step back
    • Constructively engage with conferees violating the Convent
    • Cool down and recollect to address an issue
  • Talk to chaplains and staff (that’s what we’re here for!)
  • Ask for and respect consent
  • Ask for and respect pronouns

Confidentiality
  • Chaplains abide by confidentiality
    • Except when someone is hurting or going to hurt themselves or others
  • Adult advisors
  • Conferee confidence
  • Use "I" statements
  • It's okay to feel down; talk about it!

Challenge your judgements
  • 24 hour rule
    • Back it up, bring it up
  • Ouch!...Oops!
    • If something doesn't sit right, saying this may be an easy way to identify it for others
  • Assume good intentions
  • Be mindful
  • Be inclusive
    • Smokers: past concerns about smoking exclusivity
  • Limit technology use
  • Buddy-system (safety, notification)

Other
  • Leave the mainland on the mainland
  • Come to island a not smoker-leave island be a not smoker
  • Moving smoking to summer house not back of brookfield​
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  • HOME
  • About YES
    • Information
    • Covenant
    • FAQ
  • YES 2024
    • Register Here
    • Cost & Bills
    • Financial Aid
  • Leadership
    • Adult Advisors
    • Meet the Staff!
  • Community
    • Blog & Events
    • Alumni
    • Donate
  • Contact Us