FAQ>From Youth
Frequently Asked Questions
From Youth
Ok, so here's what we did. The program office
wrote to the youth who have been at A & I and said "what
questions were you asking yourself before you came to the program,
and how would you answer those questions now?"
We thought it would be helpful to include their questions and answers on the website, because you, as an applicant, might have the some of the same questions.
Charles from Ontario went to A & I. His Q & A were:
"So, what was on your mind before you came?"
"Before I came I didn't quite know what to expect, you hear people talk about this Ask and Imagine program but you just don't know what it is. What it turned out to be is something which is beyond any experience you ever have in your life and something beyond what you can imagine. Your whole world view can change in big ways and small ways - from the way you see science to the way you see simply lighting a candle.
You don't realize it at the beginning but by the end you find totally new views about yourself and God."
"Is it like Church school for two weeks?"
"No, it's not church school. For two weeks every day I saw more than I ever had in church school for years. You discover yourself in a new light. You see everything differently and you are renewed in ways you had no clue anyone could be."
"How do the leaders treat you, like kids or adults?"
"They treat you like fellow human beings - seeking God and allowing you to be partner on the walk of faith together."
Cleo, from Labrador, heard about the program from her friend Jaz.
"What can I expect to get out of the Ask and Imagine experience?"
"It's hard to say what exactly you, as an individual, will take away from the program. Different people have taken away different experiences and feelings. What I took away from Ask and Imagine was a deeper understanding of the importance of prayer, new realizations about myself and who I am, it strengthened my faith, and I gained some really fabulous new Christian friends who understand and know me. There's much more that's just so hard to describe about the experience, and the only real way to know what YOU will get out of Ask and Imagine is to go yourself! ;)"
Joe, from Newfoundland was another participant who heard about the program through a friend.
"Do I have to know a lot about theology to be able to attend this program?"
"Absolutely not! The whole reason for this program is to learn, and not only about theology but about life itself. The whole thing is one amazing learning experience! Think about it, this is a chance to get together with people the same age as you and explore extremely interesting questions. As well, when you get a group of youth together for the same reason you know its going to be a blast! From God, to different cultures, to making new friends from across Canada, Ask & Imagine is not a test about what you know, its a program filled with activities to intrigue you, challenge you, and above all to answer that one big question.......WHY??"
Jaz (Cleo's friend) wrote and said, "Here are a few of the questions I had. They may seem a little silly but they're questions I seriously had!" (answers in italics are written by the staff)
- What are the bathrooms like? (I hate public washrooms! lol)
Yeah, ok. At the Huron College residence (the rez) in your hallway there is one single washroom (wheelchair accessible) and one communal washroom with a separate shower room (individual shower cubicles). At Canterbury Hills there is a single washroom on the main floor (where the conference room and dining room are) and near the bedrooms there are two communal washrooms for girls, one for guys.
- How will I get from the airport to Huron? (I was so relieved when I saw Tracie and them)
Someone from the staff team will pick you up at the airport or train station, and they will be wearing their Ask & Imagine t-shirt. No worries. You'll have a contact cell phone number, just in case of difficulties.
- Will there be phones so I can call home?
Yup. There are many payphones in the college (bring a phone card) and there is one college phone in the student lounge where you can make local calls OR can receive incoming long distance calls at certain times of the day. And there is a number where people can leave messages for you.
- Should I be super involved in my church at home in order to attend? (people in my diocese at synod asked this)
No. Church attendance is not a pre-requisite. Young people's lives are really busy, and the reality is that many youth find it difficult to feel connected in their local parish (especially if they are the only youth there!). But even if a person doesn't often attend church, they may still have a real faith, and want to ask questions, get the big picture and be with other young people who want to explore the same issues.
- Will the other participants already know each other? (or will we all be in the same boat?)
Wow, scary question! Yes, as alarming as it may sound, we walk in on the first day as twenty total strangers. Occasionally there will be people who know each other (people who applied from the same place, or who traveled together), but it's only a couple out of the whole group. Everyone's in the same boat. But by the end of the first evening, everyone is LOTS more comfortable with each other. We work hard (play hard?) at getting to know each other. Usually, the jitters only last for the first couple of hours. Then it's cool.
- What time will I have to wake up? (quite the question for teenagers hehe!)
Breakfast is from 8:00 - 8:30 and first session is at 9:00, so whatever time you need to get up to be ready for that is up to you.
NEW THIS YEAR - small groups will be helping make and serve breakfast at Huron (it's a long story), so once or twice you'll have to be up by 7:00.
Dylan, from Ontario, had just finished a one month LIT program at his diocesan church camp when he came to Ask & Imagine:
"How does Ask & Imagine differ from camps I've been to?"
"Camps differ from A&I in one central and specific way. A&I is not just about having fun, it's about learning. Not that A&I people don't have fun, quite the opposite as a matter of fact, but the focus is on learning more than just enjoying yourself. There is more focus to A&I, but this is a rewarding experience, much more than any camp, because instead of forming a group, we form a community that we will remain a part of for the rest our lives."
Jeff from Newfoundland told us that he was asking himself these questions before he came:
"Will I have to give my input on things?"
"If there are things that I feel uncomfortable about doing, do I have to do them?"
"Will they ask me to share my feelings?"
And his answer to his own questions was:
"Well, when I got to Ask & Imagine, I found that the people there were very understanding. I was not forced to do anything that I wasn't comfortable doing, including sharing my feelings, or anything else that I didn't want to do. Although a bit shy at first, I was opened up by the positive 'charge' I felt from the other youth and the leadership team."
Alison, from Ontario has this to say about applying for the program:
"How do I know if A&I is right for me?"
"When I was asked if I want to go to A&I, I really did not know if I wanted to go. Sure it sounded fun but I still worried about work, making money and to tell the truth, I wondered if going to one of those "Christian Camps" (it is not a Camp, but that is what I thought it was at the time) was something I wanted to do. I always had this idea in my head that these events were for really hardcore religious people, and I was not and still am not all about promoting my religion to others and worshiping all the time. I like to keep it to myself. So as you can tell, this type of thing was not something I would normally do and in the end I knew I had to do it for only one reason. The doxology, "Glory to God, whose power working in us can do infinitely more then we can ask or imagine." I had known about the program since the September before the summer I went. Every time I got to that part in the church service, my stomach flipped, it always made me think about the program. It was God's way of saying "you need this!" My life has been changed forever because of A&I, I am glad I listened to my stomach!"
Meg, from Ontario, has been to Ask & Imagine twice - as a participant and as a leadership assistant. She wrote and said:
"Here's my rather insightful (not) question. I have been giving tours at my college recently, and the question I got most often was:
How's the food?
So, to answer the same question for Ask & Imagine.
At Huron the food is good. We eat in our own dining room at the
residence food court. Since we're usually the only ones around
they have more time to make ours (which is never a bad thing).
And you're not that far from a variety store so if you need to
go get some snacks or just some junk food you've got a chance.
(Also there's a Tim Horton's nearby if you need coffee). But the
Canterbury Hills food is even better. It's served family style
and there's always choices and lots to go around. (With dessert
at both lunch and dinner!)"
Both Canterbury and Huron will accommdate food allergies and Vegetarian preferences.
Have you got a question that you want to ask a youth who has been
to A & I? Just enter it below, along with your name and email
address, and
this year's leadership assistants (youth who are 19 and have been
participants before) will answer your question.
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