After 14 months of not being able to gather in person, Quest Teens was thrilled to welcome back middle and high school students beginning in May. Soon after, we were able to set the stage for an exciting summer by hosting our annual Color Wars event (photo at right) in June on our Rockaway Campus. It was an action-packed afternoon enjoyed by 68 of our teens, from both campuses, which concluded with a barbecue and an acknowledgement of our high school graduates who each received a certificate to recognize their accomplishment. But before the food and cheers to our grads, it was time to get down to business: dodgeball, tug o’ war, a relay race and a free-for-all water balloon fight were all on the menu before the grand finale—an epic Color War. Each teen wore a white t-shirt that was covered in powdered rainbows by the end of the event. The smiles and laughs served as a reminder of how thankful we were that God made a way for us to regather.
Over at our Montclair Campus, 10 high school graduates, from both campuses, were awarded a $200 scholarship toward their higher education. This gesture is just one way we support teens who have made a commitment to their academic future. In addition, Quest Teens hosted an initiative called Starting Well at both campuses in August. In partnership with the Montclair Neighborhood and Development Corp. and the Montclair Police Department, Starting Well offered students grades 6-12 a day to highlight Self-Care, Community Engagement and Youth Empowerment followed by a backpack and school supplies giveaway. Parents in attendance also received a wellness bag with items to help them cultivate self-care at home.
