Star Island and the International Affairs (IA) conference have often been described as a perfect summer vacation and one that keeps people coming back year after year, generation after generation. This year the IA Conference will begin on Sunday, July 21 and end on Sunday, July 28.
Summer Vacation on Star Island
For some…
… it is the opportunity to interact and share a diversity of ideas and experiences with a group of friendly, open-minded, and inquiring people. For others, it is the chance to be removed from the world, retiring for a week from daily routines to a small beautiful island to reconnect with family and friends, relax on the porch with a good book, and watch the sunrise or sunset.
Start your day…
… with a polar bear dip in the chilly Atlantic Ocean to get the blood flowing, join the morning stretch session on the Front Porch, or grab a cup of coffee or tea and settle into a porch rocker to watch the day begin to emerge. Later in the morning, make your way up the hill to the stone chapel for a thoughtful morning sermon delivered by our minister of the week.
Stimulating theme talks…
… with follow up discussions take place late morning. These are led by recognized experts and provoke conversations among conferees which spill over to the front porch, Happy Hour and the dinner table.
In the afternoon…
… there are several workshops from which to choose, such as chorus, yoga, art, and writing. Other afternoon activities include softball games, swimming, visits to the Marine Lab, kite-flying, rowboating the harbor, trips to the snack bar, and more relaxed time spent rocking in chairs on the porch. Evening activities include a bonfire, intergenerational dance, Island staff talent show, lay-led chapel services, and more.
For children…
… the Youth Program is a time to experience the freedom of island life and to gain a deep appreciation of the natural environment in the midst of caring, attentive adults. Activities related to the conference theme together with community building activities, games, crafts, and time to explore the island round out the week. The program offers children the experience of wonder and friendships of long duration, the kind that cause them to start counting down the days until the next year’s IA conference even as they depart on the boat at the end of the week.
The natural beauty…
… and spirit of the island, together with the intellectually stimulating theme talks, the spiritually uplifting sermons, the myriad of daily activities, the strong sense of community among the conferees, and the vibrant Youth Program make the International Affairs conference a truly unique and memorable vacation.
2025 IA Conference
Building Economic and Climate Justice
Sunday, July 20-Sunday, July 27
Join us for a dynamic conference and hear from leaders who are shifting the flow of capital and power to support communities that face the worst of the climate crisis and the racial wealth gap.
Youth Program
Children and teens at IA are enthusiastically welcomed into the Youth Program by friendly faces and engaging children’s staff who help to fill each day with fun and new experiences. The program is filled with engaging, age-appropriate activities and interesting topics inspired by the Island.
In 2023, there were six children’s groups, each with experienced staff:
● Toddlers ~ ages 18mos – 3 years
● Barners ~ Pre K – rising 1st graders
● Brookies ~ rising 2nd – 4th graders
● Newtons ~ rising 5th – 6th graders
● Marshlandians ~ rising 7th – 9th graders
● Seniors ~ rising 10th – 12th graders
Register
Registration for the 2025 Conference will begin in January For further inquiry, please contact conference registrar Joy Greeley @ jdgreeley@yahoo.com.