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Our History

Ask & Imagine, at Huron University College in London, Ontario offers 10-day spring and summer programs for Anglican youth and young adults. We also welcome participants from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Episcopal Church in the USA.

2008 marks the tenth summer of Ask & Imagine. It all started in August 1999 when 17 youth from Ontario, Michigan and Nunavut came for 9 days of leadership development, ministry skills formation and theological enquiry. Since then, over two hundred young people from 11 provinces and territories and 23 dioceses (that's more than 2/3 of all the dioceses in Canada ) have discovered themselves, their faith and the world in a whole new way through participating in Ask & Imagine.

The program was initially funded by a generous grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., a private philanthropic foundation who fund such projects as religious education, youth and community based initiatives, clergy development, public broadcasting and health and science research. Under their grants project "Theological Programs for High School Youth", Huron University College/Faculty of Theology was one of three seminaries in Canada to receive a grant to develop a program in leadership and theological formation for youth.

Before 2005, we offered a single two-week summer program for 16-20 year olds. In late 2004, we established a partnership with the Anglican Church of Canada in response to the National Church 's commitment to youth leadership development. The two Ask & Imagine programs are now available to youth and young adults from ages fourteen through twenty-six.

It's a ten day experience of living and learning in community with young Anglicans from across Canada. The aim of the program is to equip young people with skills for leadership and ministry in their own home parish, school, diocese or community, and to inspire them to integrate their faith with their life-choices – wherever their path is leading them.

The spring program (early May) is for young people in college, university or who are working. The summer program (mid-August) is for youth currently in high school (grades 9-12 in the academic year preceding the program they attend).

Ask and Imagine is fun, intense and challenging. The program includes Theological Reflection (how do we think about God?), Biblical Studies, Story of the Church, Ethics and Decision Making. We also look at issues like Personality, Science and Theology, Media Awareness and Global Justice. There is a big emphasis on leadership and skill development, including building community, small group dynamics, conflict, communication and an experience on the High ropes course or climbing to develop personal goal setting through challenge. We pray together, worship together and enjoy time in small groups to wrestle with everything we're experiencing and learning. Somewhere in all that we also find time for playing (lots of recreation opportunities including gymnasium, swimming, movies, creative arts, hiking) and growing in our own spiritual lives.

If you or someone in your parish or at your college would like to attend Ask and Imagine, or would just like to find out more, explore the site, read the brochure and download the application package. Get your application in early – space is limited to 20 participants on each program.

Bursaries are readily available .. .click here to inquire.