What is Virtual YEA Camp?
The next best thing to the real thing!
You might have noticed there are some big problems in the world. Obviously, coronavirus, but also climate change, racism, sexism, homophobia, poverty, gun violence, animal cruelty, our president.... Should we go on?
There's a global pandemic keeping us physically apart, but our efforts to make the world a better place won't stop. It's even more important that we connect and collaborate as a community now.
For the past decade, we've helped over 1,000 aspiring activists make a bigger impact on the causes they care about.
They've done amazing things, like change school policies, help get candidates elected, organize protests, and so much more that they say wouldn't have happened without their experience at YEA Camp.
We all know this summer will be a little different. But if you care about making our world a better place, YEA Camp was meant for you.
And we're bringing it right to your home so we can all make a bigger difference together.
Benefits + Outcomes
- Learn more about the problems in the world and what you can do about them
- Develop practical activist skills you can use to make a difference on the causes you care about most
- Build your confidence to express yourself, step up as a leader, and do what you believe in
- Make friends with other amazing humans who will inspire and support you in your activism
- Strengthen your self-care and develop healthier ways of thinking about yourself and the causes you care about
- Have so much fun and learn a ton that you would probably not learn elsewhere
- Have a plan and take action to make a difference in a way that inspires you
The knowledge, skills, confidence, and community that you develop through YEA Camp will help you make a bigger difference on the causes you care about for years to come.
Camp Activities Monday-Friday
We've created a schedule where you'll get to do so many different types of things, like we do at YEA Camp. Let's make the most of this summer! Each day, you'll get to experience:
- A teach-in with an experienced activist to help you take your change-making to new heights
- Small group time to create your action plan and do activism with other people who care about the same cause you do
- Interactive "free time" self-care activities with experts like we'd have at camp IRL: arts activism, yoga, improv, vegan cooking class, poetry, HIIT, gardening, and a virtual visit to an animal sanctuary
- Evening activities like Open Mic night, Show Off and Tell, Scavenger Hunt, Activist Trivia, and a dance party
- Unstructured "Pajama Party" hangout time in small groups with new friends who care as much as you do about making our world a better place
- Enough time between activities to go do your own thing with friends or family
Of course we want you to come to everything, but we understand if you need to miss an activity or a day! We'll send you recordings of workshops and free time activities so you can catch up.
I'm ready! How do I join?
Sessions of Camp
World Changing 101 | July 13-17
Build a strong foundation to make a big difference
Exploring the Issues | July 20-24
Understand problems and learn solutions
Amplifying Our Message | July 27-31
Develop skills for your activist toolkit
Careers for Changemakers | August 3-7
Envision creative possibilities for your future
- 1 session = $300
- any 2 sessions = $500
- any 3 sessions = $750
- all 4 sessions = $1,000
Financial Aid
Your Amazing Counselors, Teachers + Guest Speakers
We'll be adding more of our team as we finalize, so check back soon!
Please note that some of our speakers may only be at 1 session. We'll announce the schedule when finalized!
Nora Kramer
Founder + director
of YEA Camp
Rose Aguilar
Progressive journalist, longtime host of KALW "Your Call" radio show, author of Red Highways
Genesis Butler
Animal rights activist, TEDx speaker, Marvel Superhero, PETA Young Animal Activist of the Year
Eddie Garza
Celebrity vegan chef, author of Salud! Vegan Mexican Cookbook, Senior Associate of Food & Nutrition for The Humane Society of the US
Praise from Past YEA Campers
"For me, YEA Camp was a very clear turning point [when I was 12 years old] where before this moment I was not an activist and I did not know what an activist even was, and then after this moment... that was really a spark for me. It was really a life-changing experience for me.
[YEA Camp takes the approach of] breaking down what is possible for young people to do and then giving them the confidence, the community, the courage, and also the tangible skills and the knowledge to really implement these things."
-Ananya Singh, 17, youth climate organizer; CEO, Greening Forward
" Five and a half years ago, as a 15-year-old, I attended YEA Camp for the first time and my life was changed immeasurably.
I can’t imagine how different my life would have been from then on had I not spent that pivotal week learning what it means to be an effective agent of change and forming lasting connections that supported, and continue to support me, as I navigate a chosen path of social justice and fighting for what I believe in."
-Leah Kelly, 21, CT, college student; led successful campaign to get Meatless Mondays in her school district
“If not for YEA Camp, I wouldn’t be starting this club to help the homeless because I wouldn’t know how to, or what to do when I started it.”
-Megan Frisella, 12, founder of Helping Hands for the Homeless club
“You all changed my life a couple summers ago. YEA Camp changed my focus in life and opened my mind to compassion and love for everyone. I have gotten into amazing colleges because I learned so much from everyone that one week in July many months ago and I couldn’t have done it without YEA Camp.”
-Ethan Lyne, 18, political organizer
Praise from Past YEA Campers
"For me, YEA Camp was a very clear turning point [when I was 12 years old], where before this moment I was not an activist and I did not know what an activist even was, and then after this moment... that was really a spark for me. It was really a life-changing experience for me.
[YEA Camp takes the approach of] breaking down what is possible for young people to do and then giving them the confidence, the community, the courage, and also the tangible skills and the knowledge to really implement these things."
-Ananya Singh, 17, youth climate organizer; CEO, Greening Forward
" Five and a half years ago, as a 15-year-old, I attended YEA Camp for the first time and my life was changed immeasurably.
I can’t imagine how different my life would have been from then on had I not spent that pivotal week learning what it means to be an effective agent of change and forming lasting connections that supported, and continue to support me, as I navigate a chosen path of social justice and fighting for what I believe in."
-Leah Kelly, 21, CT, college student; led successful campaign to get Meatless Mondays in her school district
"If not for YEA Camp, I wouldn't be starting this club to help the homeless because I wouldn't know how to, or what to do when to start it."
-Megan Frisella, 12, founder of Helping Hands for the Homeless club
"You all changed my life a couple summers ago. YEA Camp changed my focus in life and opened my mind to compassion and love for everyone. I have gotten into amazing colleges because I learned so much from everyone that one week in July many months ago, and I couldn't have done it without YEA Camp."
-Ethan Lyne, 18, political organizer
Still have questions? Send us an email, chat with us in the chat box, or give us a call at 415-710-7351. We'll be happy to answer any questions you have!
We look forward to speaking with you or, better yet, meeting you at Virtual YEA Camp this summer!