Upcoming HOOT

Join us for a HOOT on Friday, December 11 from 6:30-8:30pm at Nimmonsburg United Methodist Church. A HOOT is a gathering of youth who have either been on or would like to attend a Chrysalis Flight. It's a time to check-in with friends, and pray, worship, and have fun together. For more information send an e-mail to matt(at)skylakecenter(dot)org.

2009 Flights

Flight #39 (Boys) and Flight #40 (Girls) held December 3-6, 2009 at Sky Lake Camp & Retreat Center saw 8 boys and 18 girls become transformed into Butterflies. Thank you to everyone who sponsored these great youth and to everyone who prayed, made agape, and gave of their time to make these flights a great success. Be sure to save the dates for 2010: December 2-5! Fly with Christ.

Upcoming Chyrsalis Flights

Are you a youth going into grade 10, 11, or 12? Does faith play an important role in your life? Want to take that faith in Christ to a deeper level? If so, it’s time to get involved with Chrysalis! And fortunately for you, there’s a flight coming up December 3-6 at Sky Lake Camp and Retreat Center in Windsor, New York.

Boys Flight #39 and Girls Flight #40 will take place concurrently, which means that there will be two separate flights going on at the same time. “Why separate flights?” you might ask. Well, for one thing, it makes for a unique and oftentimes more powerful learning environment. It’s also designed to make it easier for you to share with others who are experiencing some of the same things you are. (Let’s face it, boys and girls do have some differences.) And it’s not like you’ll be separated forever--Fourth Day activities are co-ed.

You’re probably wondering how much it costs to attend a Chrysalis Flight. Simply put, $145. You get three nights lodging and eight delicious meals. We encourage your sponsor or church to help cover the cost. We also have limited scholarship funding available upon request.

Speaking of sponsors…you’ll need one to attend a Flight. A sponsor can be anyone who’s been on Chrysalis Flight, Walk to Emmaus (the adult version of Chrysalis), or a similar three-day experience. A sponsor is sort of like a mentor who will be there to support you before, during, and after a flight. Don’t worry, if you don’t have a sponsor let us know and we can help make the connection for you.

Okay, we won’t bore you anymore. Don’t delay in registering. Space is limited. Download an application and return it TODAY! If you have any questions, feel free to email Erica Heier, Community Lay Director.

See you in December!

Next Steps Groups

Reunion group, group reunion, or Next Steps Groups. However you choose to call them, they're those small groups that meet regularly (weekly, monthly, quarterly...) for spiritual support, sharing, mutual encouragement, and accountability. The newly formed 4th Day Team of the Wyoming Chrysalis Board would like to compile a list of Next Steps Groups that exist. So, if you belong to such a group, please send an e-mail to matt(at)skylakecenter(dot)org with the following:

• Location
  
• Time
  
• Publishable contact info (aka info you don’t mind sharing with the world—we like to be safe!)
  
• And whether your group has room for new participants or not
  
  

We’ll then create a list for folks that want to get involved with a group. For those interested in starting a Next Steps Group, be sure to attend the HOOT tentatively scheduled for April 4th.

Don't Miss the Next HOOT

We had a great time at the HOOT on December 13th and hope you'll join us for another fun-filled HOOT on Saturday, February 7th from 4-7pm at Whitney Point United Methodist Church. (You're invited to stick around for the church's Coffehouse featuring the local Christian Band, Crossfire from 7-8:30pm). The 4th Day Team is putting together a HOOT around the theme "Go!" that'll help us explore the idea of Christian Action a little more deeply.

HOOTs are periodic gatherings of the Chrysalis community that help to maintain relationships formed on Chrysalis weekends through informal interactions, music, fun, games, and--most importantly--worship. HOOTs are open to anyone who's been on a Chrysalis flight or any youth in grades 9-12 interested in going on one.

A Note On E-mail Links

Yeah, people may like SPAM--but I think they're talking about the kind that fills their stomachs, not their inboxes. To help cut down on obnoxious junk mails from random machines, we've replaced the "@" sign with "(a)" in the e-mail links on this site. Be sure to correct that before you send any e-mails.

Chrysalis in a Nutshell

So you may be wondering, "what is Chrysalis?" Well, let me tell you...

Wyoming Conference Chrysalis seeks to provide life-changing opportunities for youth through encounters with Christ. Chrysalis Flights are designed to provide youth, in grades 10-12, with an opportunity for spiritual renewal and growth in a cloistered environment (aka: a retreat free of all the distractions of everyday life!) Through down-to-earth talks given by other youth along with lay and clergy adults, powerful worship experiences, great music, and incredible fellowship (both on the flight and long afterward), you’ll be equipped with the necessary tools to be a better leader in spreading the Gospel at home, school, church, and in the world. On a Chrysalis Flight you'll experience the love of God through prayers and the acts of service from a loving support community. Think of it as three days for you to discover or re-discover you spiritual self, to analyze, and realize who you are in Christ.

Chrysalis also provides you with "Fourth Day" support long after you take part in a Flight. We hold a few gatherings each year called "HOOTs", along with the occasional "Next Steps" retreat. Not only do these events help you stay in touch with the friends you make on your flight, but they also help you keep going on your faith journey. You'll also be encouraged to take part in or form "Group Reunions", which are kind of like covenant groups where you can share what's going on in your faith journey, pray, and be supported by other youth. Any youth in high school is welcome to take part in Fourth Day stuff.

It's also important to keep in mind that Chrysalis doesn't replace youth group, Sunday School, or church participation. Chrysalis is designed to make your participation in congregation life more meaningful and to help you have a greater impact wherever your faith journey takes you.

(Read this part fast--like in the commercials) Chrysalis is a program of The Upper Room, a division of The General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church.