Creativity!

6th - 8th Grade

In-Person at Powell House
April 25 - 27, 2025

Creativity is a gift that everyone can share! At Powell House, we believe that creativity isn’t about being perfect—it's about expressing yourself and having fun! This weekend, we'll explore all kinds of creative activities like drawing, writing, dancing, making piñatas, and more. No experience or special skills needed—just bring your curiosity and an open heart! Come join us for a weekend full of art, fun, and connection with Friends.

Omen Cullinane Weaver, 27, (any pronouns): Howdy Friends! I have been attending Powell House since the 4th grade and have been APing since I graduated in 2016. I live in Rochester with my partner Malice. I'm best known with the PoHo Crew for stickers, art, and being the crazy old man who sends children in search of wild people in the woods. I can't wait to see y'all soon!

Malice Garcia, 23, (He/They): Hello Friends! I am relatively new to PoHo and Quakerism, having discovered and unofficially joining both back in 2022 but I’ve fallen in love with the program. I have butlered for middle school conferences and attended many young adult weekends and I cannot explain the amount of joy, comfort, and belonging that the program and those involved have brought to my life. I live in Rochester NY with my partner, Omen and we’ve been doing what we can and offering our very best to every conference we possibly can! I have spent many years caring for and teaching children on and off and I love every second that I’ve been able to share my gifts with this community and help these already amazing kids continue to grow and flourish!

Cai Quirk, 28 (any gender neutral pronouns). Cai is a lifelong Quaker who grew up in Ithaca Meeting and attending youth conferences at Powell House, and has now been APing and co-facilitating Powell House youth conferences for 10 years. Cai also works for Friends General Conference in the Spiritual Deepening Program and on the Gathering Team, helping form Quaker events around the country. As a multi-disciplinary artist, Cai creates work around queerness, gender, spirituality, nature, mythology, and storytelling. They have published a book, given hundreds of talks and workshops around the country, exhibited work in 14 states and 4 countries. At Powell House, their “Map of Genderland” and tapestries from the “Queer Temple” series are often appreciated by attenders for expanding and celebrating ideas around queerness.

Wiggle & Think

4th - 5th Grade

In-Person at Powell House
May 9 - 11, 2025

When is the last time you wiggled or giggled? Stuck in a chair all day is a drag. What movements does your body, heart, and mind need to feel free? Is there spirituality in movement? Let’s explore looking inward at what we think about all of the ways, places, and spaces we move and groove. We will explore different ways of moving our bodies with dance, games, improv, and more. We will be having lots of fun with old and new friends!

Jillian Smith Age 36:  she/her or they/them: Poho youth alumni class of 2006! I identify as a feminist universalist Quaker who dabbles in Hinduism & I’m a member of NYYM. I was a JC back in the day and a co-facilitator with Mike. I served on the board of Poho for 9 years. I obtained my American Montessori Society certification in ages 3-6 during the pandemic. I’ve worked in a variety of industries.

Rosalie Presser, 21 (she/her).  Rosalie has been attending Powell House since 7th grade, first with Chris and Mike, then Sarah and Marty. Since graduating from the youth program in 2022 she has been attending Young Adult conferences, APing, and working in the kitchen with Kim. She enjoys her work on a small farm in Cambridge, NY. In her free time she loves to garden, dance, hike, play, and read.

Beth Kelly, 46 (she/her): Hello, old and new friends! I serve New York Yearly Meeting as Children, Youth and Young Adult Community Director – and am the point person for Powell House’s youth programming teams this spring. I have worked with kids (tutoring, baby-sitting, camp-counselor-ing) since I was a teenager and worked as a pediatric hospital chaplain from 2013-2021. My favorite things to do at Powell House include listening to the wisdom of the group, singing songs, playing Primate Bellows, and walking to Dorson’s Rock. My favorite things to do when not at Powell House include singing, crossword puzzles, and physical play with my 4-year-old niece.

EarthSong 2025

7th - 12th Grade

In-Person at Powell House
May 23 - 25, 2025

EarthSong is a time of celebration and care for our community. It includes our annual send-off ceremony for our seniors as they enter a new phase of life. You can expect deep conversation, fun activities, and joyful games. We hope you join us for this warm and vibrant conference!

Beth Kelly, 46 (she/her): Hello, old and new friends! I serve New York Yearly Meeting as Children, Youth and Young Adult Community Director – and am the point person for Powell House’s youth programming teams this spring. I have worked with kids (tutoring, baby-sitting, camp-counselor-ing) since I was a teenager and worked as a pediatric hospital chaplain from 2013-2021. My favorite things to do at Powell House include listening to the wisdom of the group, singing songs, playing Primate Bellows, and walking to Dorson’s Rock. My favorite things to do when not at Powell House include singing, crossword puzzles, and physical play with my 4-year-old niece.

Lucas Quintana, 23 (he/him).  Lucas has been attending the Powell House Youth Program since 5th grade.  He has become more involved in the last year working in the kitchen with Kim, attending committee meetings, volunteering and being an AP. Outside of Powell House Lucas works seasonally in the ski industry (as a slopes groomer) in Wyoming and in the Capital Region during the summer. He loves to spend his free time outdoors, skiing, backpacking, swimming, and enjoying sunlight whenever possible.

Cai Quirk, 28 (any gender neutral pronouns). Cai is a lifelong Quaker who grew up in Ithaca Meeting and attending youth conferences at Powell House, and has now been APing and co-facilitating Powell House youth conferences for 10 years. Cai also works for Friends General Conference in the Spiritual Deepening Program and on the Gathering Team, helping form Quaker events around the country. As a multi-disciplinary artist, Cai creates work around queerness, gender, spirituality, nature, mythology, and storytelling. They have published a book, given hundreds of talks and workshops around the country, exhibited work in 14 states and 4 countries. At Powell House, their “Map of Genderland” and tapestries from the “Queer Temple” series are often appreciated by attenders for expanding and celebrating ideas around queerness.

Omen Cullinane Weaver, 27, (any pronouns): Howdy Friends! I have been attending Powell House since the 4th grade and have been APing since I graduated in 2016. I live in Rochester with my partner Malice. I'm best known with the PoHo Crew for stickers, art, and being the crazy old man who sends children in search of wild people in the woods. I can't wait to see y'all soon!

Malice Garcia, 23, (He/They): Hello Friends! I am relatively new to PoHo and Quakerism, having discovered and unofficially joining both back in 2022 but I’ve fallen in love with the program. I have butlered for middle school conferences and attended many young adult weekends and I cannot explain the amount of joy, comfort, and belonging that the program and those involved have brought to my life. I live in Rochester NY with my partner, Omen and we’ve been doing what we can and offering our very best to every conference we possibly can! I have spent many years caring for and teaching children on and off and I love every second that I’ve been able to share my gifts with this community and help these already amazing kids continue to grow and flourish!

Nature & Me

4th - 5th Grade

In-Person at Powell House
June 13 - 15, 2025

A lot of people think of themselves as separate from nature. The truth is that we are as much a part of nature as any living being. Maybe you know this because some mornings you wake up and feel like a wild animal running through the house. Or maybe you feel connected to the slow and steady life of a plant, content to stay in one place as you are fed sunlight and water. Or maybe you just don’t feel like part of nature at all! At this conference we will explore what connects us to nature and how it feels to be in nature. You can expect games and plenty of time in the woods around Powell House.

Becks Anacheka-Nasemann, 23 (they/them). Becks grew up at Powell House as a 3rd generation attendee and as one of Chris and Mike’s kids. After graduating from the youth program in 2020, they have been working as an AP for all age groups and have loved seeing the ways that young people playfully build and uphold the community they hold so dear. Becks is a Mount Holyoke senior currently working towards a career in science education, and has worked as a babysitter, nanny, and tutor for children since age 13. When not at PoHo, Becks lives in Amherst, MA and enjoys hiking, watercolor art, cooking, and playing with their menagerie of pets (1 dog, 2 cats, and 2 pet rats).

Rosalie Presser, 21 (she/her).  Rosalie has been attending Powell House since 7th grade, first with Chris and Mike, then Sarah and Marty. Since graduating from the youth program in 2022 she has been attending Young Adult conferences, APing, and working in the kitchen with Kim. She enjoys her work on a small farm in Cambridge, NY. In her free time she loves to garden, dance, hike, play, and read.

Jillian Smith Age 36:  she/her or they/them: Poho youth alumni class of 2006! I identify as a feminist universalist Quaker who dabbles in Hinduism & I’m a member of NYYM. I was a JC back in the day and a co-facilitator with Mike. I served on the board of Poho for 9 years. I obtained my American Montessori Society certification in ages 3-6 during the pandemic. I’ve worked in a variety of industries.

Lucas Quintana, 23 (he/him).  Lucas has been attending the Powell House Youth Program since 5th grade.  He has become more involved in the last year working in the kitchen with Kim, attending committee meetings, volunteering and being an AP. Outside of Powell House Lucas works seasonally in the ski industry (as a slopes groomer) in Wyoming and in the Capital Region during the summer. He loves to spend his free time outdoors, skiing, backpacking, swimming, and enjoying sunlight whenever possible.

Young Adults (18+)

In-Person at Powell House
August 15 - 17, 2025

The mythical heroes of the world -- from Hercules to T'Challa to Katniss Everdeen -- have stories that explain how they came to have the powers and concerns they possess. What does it mean to consider our own origins? What superpowers -- or Kryptonite -- do our own pasts give us? Let's spend a weekend exploring the mythologies of our own lives and build community based on our strengths!

Beth Kelly, 46 (she/her): Hello, old and new friends! I serve New York Yearly Meeting as Children, Youth and Young Adult Community Director – and am the point person for Powell House’s youth programming teams this spring. I have worked with kids (tutoring, baby-sitting, camp-counselor-ing) since I was a teenager and worked as a pediatric hospital chaplain from 2013-2021. My favorite things to do at Powell House include listening to the wisdom of the group, singing songs, playing Primate Bellows, and walking to Dorson’s Rock. My favorite things to do when not at Powell House include singing, crossword puzzles, and physical play with my 4-year-old niece.

Monya Relles, 27 (they/them). Monya grew up as one of Chris and Mike’s kids and now their real job is at the Hitchcock Center for the Environment, training other educators and working with young people to learn about nature, science, engineering, and leadership. When they’re not working they can be found dancing, doing circus, hiking, and making weird zines. Their favorite memories of Powell House are tied between sardines on Friday nights and silent late night walks on Saturdays.

Lucas Quintana, 23 (he/him).  Lucas has been attending the Powell House Youth Program since 5th grade.  He has become more involved in the last year working in the kitchen with Kim, attending committee meetings, volunteering and being an AP. Outside of Powell House Lucas works seasonally in the ski industry (as a slopes groomer) in Wyoming and in the Capital Region during the summer. He loves to spend his free time outdoors, skiing, backpacking, swimming, and enjoying sunlight whenever possible.