Tips, Ideas and Important Details for parents and guardians of PYT Participants ...

Safety 

Your teen’s safety, physically and emotionally, is very important to the staff and design team of the Presbyterian Youth Triennium.  Much of the planning, and a significant portion of the budget, is devoted to determining welcoming, safe, and preventative measures for this event.  There is a whole team designated to oversee Community Life for the Triennium.  The Community Life team begins its work by asking the question “What is it that makes a Triennium participant feel safe, prepared for, welcomed and healthy?”  From conference pastors, to onsite EMTs, to daily check in times, to emergency procedures, to abuse prevention training, and with clear community guidelines, the Triennium is designed to be a village where, for five days, young people (and their parents) can feel certain that God’s love and care is proclaimed and demonstrated in all areas of the event.

Helpful Hints

• Carefully review the forms you are asked to sign. Specifically, the Guidelines for Community Life Acknowledgement and the Health/Medical release form.  There is important information in this document of which you should be aware.
• Obtain the cell phone number and email of your teen’s adult advisors (the adults accompanying your teen to the Triennium).  
• If there is an emergency at home while your teen is attending PYT and you want to notify your teen of the incident, please contact the adult advisor for your teen first.  This will help the adult team to be prepared for the care that your teen might need.  
• An important part of the Triennium experience is the community building that happens.  It might be helpful for you to refrain from frequent or even daily phone calls to your teen.  Consider sending an email to say “Hi!” rather than phone calls.  The Community Life Guidelines prohibit cell phone/texting/email during Triennium activities and it can be awkward (and not helpful) when parents are calling or texting their teens during the event.  Particularly asking for return communication.  PYT staff does not wish to cut youth off from their parents, rather we wish for your teen to feel comfortable leaning on the care and presence of the delegation and community surrounding them.  
• Occasionally there is a youth participant who becomes homesick during the event.  This often happens in the first day and night at the event.  The adult advisors and the PYT staff are alerted to this and we work very hard to help young people work through their anxiety and sadness.  Most of the time it works and the homesick young person gets to experience the event of a lifetime!  We encourage you to talk with the adult advisor(s) of your teen if you receive sad phone calls.  The rite of passage that occurs with traveling away from home, depending on a faith community, working through your anxiety can be a powerful step in maturing.  
• Be sure to double check your teen’s packing list.  Make sure he/she has everything they need – particularly prescription medicines, toiletries, sunscreen and all other important items.  
• The PYT Emergency Contact Information will be posted on the website prior to the event.  There will be a 24 Hour Emergency Phone for late night issues, back home emergencies, and critical messages.
• The PYT communication team will be posting daily stories and images on the Triennium website and on the Triennium Facebook page!  Parents are encouraged to log on daily to see what’s happening!
• Assist your teen while he/she completes the Participant Registration Form.