HELLO, WORLD CHANGER!
YES, we're talking to YOU!
Welcome to YEA Camp's life-changing social justice leadership activism training!
HEY HEY YEA Camp!*
What if you could spend a week of your summer learning to make a HUGE difference in the world, while also meeting amazing like-minded friends, finding your voice, and having a ridiculously fun time all at once?
*Btw, we pronounce "YEA" to rhyme with "hey," and "hey hey YEA Camp" is how we get your attention at camp, so you may as well start getting used to it!
Are you as concerned about the state of our world as we are?
We think it's up to all of us to do something about the problems we face. What if you could spend a week of your summer learning to make a huge difference in the world, while also meeting amazing like-minded friends, finding your voice, and having a ridiculously fun time all at once?
What if it could launch you towards a future...
where you believe in yourself and know that you are making a real difference on important issues in our world, like racism or the environment, women's rights or LGBTQ equality, bullying or animal rights?
YEA Camp will show you how!
“Words cannot describe how fun and life-changing this experience has been. Before this camp, my dream to end bullying at my school was dead and seemed unreachable. I had no idea how to stop it. Thanks to YEA Camp, I now have the confidence and skills to go out into the world and make a difference and turn my dreams into reality.”
–Paula, 17, California
Youth Empowered Action (YEA) Camp is a summer camp for social change.
Did we mention eating awesome food, being out in nature, (re)discovering how amazing you are, and having something great to add to your college applications?
We help 12-17 year-olds from all over the country (and even other countries!) make a difference on a cause they care about -- all while having one of the best experiences of their life.
If you're concerned about the problems in our world and want to learn how you can help solve them, YEA Camp is meant for you!
See you next summer?
Beautiful, Modern Facilities
YEA Camp 2022 will be held in beautiful, modern facilities in the Berkshire mountains of western Massachusetts, though we attract campers from all over the US and sometimes even other countries! If you are from out of the area, don't let the location stop you! We can help with a ride from the airport.
We have all the basics (like electricity and regular indoor bathrooms and hot showers) and beyond, with beautiful hiking, swimming, kayaking, and other outdoor sports and activities we can play during free time.
Benefits of YEA Camp
- Strengthen your confidence and belief in yourself.
- Develop amazingly close friendships with super nice people who care as much as you do.
- Get tons of ideas and examples of ways you can make a difference.
- Gain individualized mentorship from experienced staff and like-minded peers in our small camp environment.
- Find your voice to speak up about what’s important to you.
- Deepen your understanding of the problems in our world and how to fix them.
- Learn skills you can apply right away to make a difference in your community.
- Improve your people skills while also caring less what others think of you.
- Become part of an inspiring community who will cheer you on long after camp ends.
- Have the best week of your life!*
*That’s seriously how many of our campers describe it.
“I wanted to let you know how wonderful and vital your YEA camp was for our daughter! She not only loved her time there, but she came back with something which I believe will be of lasting value to her, namely a sense that she can make a difference in the world.”
- Mike, dad of Jesse, 13, California
Whether you’ve already done a lot to fix a problem you see, or you don’t even know where to begin, doesn't matter. As long as you want to make the world a better place, you’ll fit right in!
You will leave YEA Camp with new skills, an action plan to make an impact on issues you care about, self-confidence through the roof, and an awesome community of new friends and mentors to root you on for years to come!
More than 1,000 teens have gone to YEA Camp and it so common for them to describe it as one of the best experiences of their life. They go on to do amazing, inspiring things to make a difference -- from starting school environmental clubs that improve recycling at school, to raising funds to help the homeless, to getting an internship with a favorite nonprofit, and so much more.
“I felt extremely welcomed and accepted at YEA. The tight community bond we formed was incredible. The creation of such a tight-knit community in a week is magical. I learned everything and more that I need to be an effective advocate. All aspects of the camp contribute to the best experience of someone’s life. This is the experience of a lifetime.”
– Jaliessa, 17, Oregon
Tuition & Payment
The all-inclusive tuition for YEA Camp’s life-changing leadership camp is $1800.
Included in the cost of tuition is:
comfortable cabin lodging at our beautiful venue for 9 days and 8 nights
nutritious mostly organic vegan food (3 meals a day, 2 healthy snacks, and dessert!) prepared by incredible chefs
highly experienced adult staff supervision and workshops at a phenomenal camper-to-staff-ratio of less than 3:1
leadership experience that many of our campers focus on in college applications
inclusion in our post-camp follow-up community to be able to support campers long after the summer is over
what many of our campers describe as the best week of their life.
Payment Plans and Financial Aid
YEA Camp offers convenient payment plans to make monthly payments toward your tuition.
Unlike most specialty camps, YEA Camp offers financial aid for low-income youth who have not attended YEA Camp before and would not otherwise be able to afford to attend. If your family would need financial aid to attend, once the camper fills out their interest form, the parent or guardian will be directed to the Financial Aid application.
YEA Camp is a nonprofit organization committed to social justice and diversity in our programs. We do not turn eager campers away due to lack of funds. In order to accept campers on scholarship, we rely on an honor code to ensure that each family pays what they can and that funding is available for those who need it. We rely on tax-deductible donations to our scholarship program to continue this policy.
Thanks so much for your interest in YEA Camp! We hope to see you this summer!
YEA Camp Schedule
We'll try not to include any spoilers....
DAY 1
Get settled in and help us create a safe space for everyone.
Play tons of games to the point that you forget to be self conscious or that as of a little while ago you didn’t even know anyone here.
Make amazing new friends you feel closer to than some of your friends at home. Yes, this will happen on the first day.
Recognize that you belong in this inspiring and supportive community of changemakers.
DAY 2
Explore the beautiful hiking trails and natural environment we are staying in.
Learn about past movements and activists who have helped advance social justice.
Deepen your understanding of the most significant social issues of our time and how they are interconnected.
Share about your own passions and be inspired by other people’s passions.
Feel appreciated and proud of yourself for caring so much.
DAY 3
Check in on how camp is going and offer your input so everyone has a great experience.
Strengthen your communication skills to collaborate better and get your message across confidently and effectively even with people who disagree with you.
Learn about what’s wrong with consumerism and go “shopping” at our Really Really Free Market!
Camper Choice Night! Dance party, kareoke, or game night, anyone?
DAY 4
Strengthen your understanding of social justice issues like racism, sexism, and homophobia.
Look deeply bullying and create healing for yourself and others to not believe the hurtful things people have told you.
Choose your IOI (issue of importance) you want to focus on and meet with your staff mentor and small group of campers passionate about the same issues you are.
Do a life-changing activity that will help you find your voice and care less about what others think of you.
DAY 5
Analyze the wide variety of ways to make a difference and tools to help you decide what to do.
Build skills to inspire others to make a difference - things like fundraising, running a school club, and grassroots outreach.
Arts Activism! Use your creativity to make a difference and collaborate on a project of your choice, such as spoken word, song, mural, or dance.
Courageously and safely explore the challenging emotions that we as caring people concerned about our world may feel.
DAY 6
Meet with your small group to start developing your action plan for after camp.
Learn about different organizations working on your cause and ways you can get involved with them.
Confront and move beyond limiting beliefs you have about yourself. (We all have them!)
The YEA Show! This is our version of a talent show. You can do something goofy and hilarious with fellow campers, perform a traditional "talent" or inform us about a cause you care about.
DAY 7
Changemaker Olympics! YEA Camp’s superfun version of color wars, this is your chance to try out applying everything you learned all week.
Create and present your action plan and get the standing ovation you deserve.
Be so inspired by everyone else’s plans your hope for humanity will go through the roof.
Night hike to celebrate and appreciate our special time together.
DAY 8
Promise to keep in touch -- you'd better!
Share with family members about our awesome week and be part of our special YEA Camp graduation.
Try not to cry when it's time to go home! But it’s OK, we all probably will. Plus, there's nothing wrong with crying, It's just proof that you’re human.
Give so many hugs and then text and "friend" everyone from the car on the way home.
Bring your inspiration and positivity home with you and share it freely.