Leadership Training for Social Change
It's happening!
Join us for 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks this summer to take your change-making to new heights.
For progressive youth ages 10-17.
Because we could all use a little help making a big difference.
World Changing 101 | July 13 - 17
Exploring the Issues | July 20 - 24
Amplifying Your Message | July 27 - 31
Careers for Changemakers | Aug 3 - 7
You might have noticed there are some big problems in the world.
Obviously, coronavirus, but also racism and police brutality, climate change, sexism, homophobia, poverty, gun violence, animal cruelty, our president.... Should we go on?
There's a global pandemic keeping us physically apart, but it's more important now than ever that we connect and collaborate as a community to make a difference.
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, launch school clubs, 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.
Virtual YEA Camp Will Help You:
- 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
- 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
- Develop a plan and take action to make a difference in a way that inspires you
- Have so much fun and learn a ton that you would probably not learn elsewhere
The knowledge, skills, confidence, and community that you build through YEA Camp will help you make a bigger difference on the causes you care about for years to come.
Yes, we'll tell you more....
We've created a schedule where you'll get to do so many different types of things, like at YEA Camp. Each day, you'll get to experience:
- A teach-in with experienced activists 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" activities taught by experts, like: arts activism, yoga, improv, vegan cooking, poetry, HIIT, gardening, a virtual visit to an animal sanctuary, and all kinds of self-care
- 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.
A note on the schedule and your time zone. We know this is a little confusing!
There is 1 camp per session for the whole country -- not 2 entirely different camps. We've created 2 different schedules based on the assumption that folks on the west coast won't want to be waking up for camp at 7am! Almost the whole day, we will all be together at the same time. The only difference is when your small group hangout Pajama Party is. It will either be 10am Eastern (7am Pacific) or 8pm Pacific (11pm Eastern).
If you live in a different time zone, you can figure out the time where you live and choose which schedule is better for you. If you'd prefer to join the schedule in the other time zone, or if you live in a different time zone, you can let us know on your registration form which schedule you prefer.
Make sense? If not, let us know!
How Will You Change The World?
Each week, we'll be doing CTW projects -- as in Change the World!
In small groups, and alongside an amazing staff member, you will get to:
- EDUCATE yourself and others on the cause you care most about. Create your What Is Your Why, help develop a resource guide on your issue, and learn all you'll need to know to advocate for your cause.
- ADVOCATE for what you care about. You'll get to make calls, write letters, post on social media, make art, and persuade people to take action you believe in.
- DONATE even if you don't have any money! Your small group will raise funds for the organization of your choice to help make an even bigger difference.
- IDEATE 🙂 and PLAN how you will take action on your cause once camp is over.
We can't wait for you to join us for this amazing opportunity to collaborate with other changemakers to get your activism off the ground.
I'm ready! How do I join?
Tuition for Virtual YEA Camp is $300 per session, or $250 per session if you register for more than 1 session, so:
- 1 session = $300
- any 2 sessions = $500
- any 3 sessions = $750
- all 4 sessions = $1,000
We are offering a sibling discount of $100 off for the second sibling. We also offer group discounts for 6 or more kids, if you have a group of friends.
Email us about it and we'll get you set up.
Camp Sessions
World Changing 101 | July 13-17
Build a strong foundation to make a big difference
Exploring the Issues | July 20-24
Deepen your understanding of society's 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
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 one session. We'll announce the schedule when finalized!
Rose Aguilar
Progressive journalist, longtime host of KALW "Your Call" radio show, author of Red Highways
Andina Aste-Nieto
Instructor of Multicultural Education, therapist serving the Native American community, 6x YEA staff member
Leanne Alaman
Anti-racist, inclusive leadership coach, restorative justice facilitator, 7x YEA Camp staff member
Genesis Butler
Animal rights activist, TEDx speaker, Marvel Superhero, PETA Young Animal Activist of the Year
Julia Clark
Former YEA Camper, VP of UNC’s Black Student Movement. Julia succeeded in changing the name of her high school from a confederate general to Justice High School.
Eddie Garza
Celebrity vegan chef, author of Salud! Vegan Mexican Cookbook, Senior Associate of Food & Nutrition for HSUS
Sarah Goody
Former YEA Camper, vegan teen climate activist, Bay Area organizer of Climate Strike and founder of Climate NOW, writer featured in Teen Vogue
Alissa Hauser
Longtime nonprofit professional, philanthropic advisor, fiscal sponsor, former executive director of The Pollination Project
Leah Kelly
2x YEA Camper, PETA2 Activist of the Year. In high school, Leah got Meatless Mondays implemented in her entire school district.
Ana Little-Saña
Former YEA Camper, political activist and organizer. Currently an associate at eStreet Group, where she works on behalf of the country's most progressive leaders.
Toni Okamoto
Founder of the popular website and meal plan Plant-Based on a Budget and author of book by the same name.
Marquis Olison
Political organizer and trainer; ran "Camp Obama" workshops that trained hundreds of volunteers and raise thousands of dollars
Lisa Richardson Hall
Founder of Rays of Hope, which teaches youth in New Jersey community service, leadership, and advocacy.
Ananya Singh
2x YEA Camper and 3x YEA staff member; youth climate activist and former CEO of Greening Forward
Check back for more!
We'll be updating our site shortly with even more amazing guest speakers and staff members!
FAQ
Yes! Each session will have different workshops and variety of activities, so it will not be redundant to do more than 1 session, and each session can stand on its own.
Great question! We are finalizing that and will update the site as soon as we finalize!
While of course we would love for you to join every activity everyday (and we don't think you'll want to miss anything!), it's totally up to you if you skip something or miss a day. We will be recording workshops and free time activities so you can do them later.
YEA Camp is designed to help move you further along on your changemaking journey. We are confident that wherever you are on your path, you will learn a ton, make amazing friends, build your confidence, and have lots of fun.
There is still space available! We don't have a registration deadline as long as space is still available. The earlier you register the more we can make sure to be prepared to help you with the cause you're most passionate about and plan to hire accordingly.
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, 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, 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, founder of Helping Hands for the Homeless club, which has raised thousands of dollars for homeless people in Boston
“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, political organizer.
Ethan was a leader in the successful campaign to get a polling place at his school, Haverford College.
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, 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, 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!