We held the second session of YEA Camp for Adults at Woodstock Farm Sanctuary in New Paltz, New York.

Here are some of the highlights from YEA Camp 2019.

Our 11th Summer

This was our 11th summer hosting YEA Camp for teens ages 12 – 17 and we are so grateful for the opportunity to work with these inspiring young people. 

Our first youth camp was held at Nature’s Classroom in Charlton, Massachusetts from July 13 – 20. Our second youth camp was held at Camp Buckhorn in Idyllwild, California from August 3 – 10. 

We had around fifty campers at each youth session representing two dozen states and three countries. 

From June 30 – July 6, 22 campers from 12 states stayed with us at Woodstock Farm Sanctuary in New Paltz, New York for the second ever session of YEA Camp for Adults. From yoga in the morning to meeting with farmed animals after lunch, from workshops on gender and race to trainings on communication and fundraising, our campers had the perfect mix of self-care and reflection while also learning valuable skills to help advance their activism.

We love our YEA Camp Massachusetts staff!

Between the three sessions of camp, we were so blessed to have 35 amazing staff members from 16 different states.

Our Impact

Juan Antonio Nelson is an Iowa college student who flew all the way to New York to attend adult camp. When asked about the experience, he said, “Without YEA Camp, I wouldn’t feel that I could make a difference in my immediate community. I wouldn’t have the courage to stand up for others. If not for YEA Camp, I wouldn’t have met a strong community of activists who are passionately advocating for what they believe in.”

A few months ago, former YEA Camper and current YEA staff member Ananya Singh was featured on the Perennials Podcast. In the podcast, Ananya says, “When I was 12 years old, the summer before eighth grade, I attended this summer camp called Youth Empowered Action and this is a camp for teen activists and it really was a life changing experience for me. It exposes you to so many different social issues that are going on in the world and kind of takes the approach of intersectionality and showing how all of these issues are so interconnected and then really breaking down what is possible for young people to do.”

YEA Camp staff member Ananya Singh in action at the Morristown, New Jersey Climate Strike

We also recently shared the story of former YEA Camper Leah Kelly who FIVE years after attending camp, wrote this blog post where she says, “Five and a half years ago, as a 15-year-old, I attended Youth Empowered Action (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.”

Our Brand New Program

This year, we also launched the first-ever YEA Camp Volunteer-a-thon. The Volunteer-a-thon was created to encourage our community in service and activism while raising money for the YEA Camp Scholarship Fund. 

Dima Bischoff-Hashem created an awesome Volunteer-a-thon project supporting her Issue of Importance, animal rights!

Participants created donor pages, shared what activism they would be working on, and asked their loved ones to “sponsor” them in their work. You can read more about three of our camper’s projects at this link and click here to read what one camper wrote about the experience. 

All funds raised through the Volunteer-a-thon go towards the YEA Camp Scholarship Fund which makes camp accessible for all who want to attend. 

This year, 51 of our 100 participants received financial aid and 17 of those campers were on full scholarships. Overall, we funded $66,400 of financial aid this year.  

Our Gratitude

We cannot say thank you enough to everyone who made camp possible. From our food donors to our staff to our donors, thank you. 

Helping ourselves to vegan pizza with Miyoko’s Cheese and more toppings than we can count!

Thanks to two generous donors, we also have a special opportunity through the end of the year. All donations given before the end of the year will be TRIPLED. Click here to learn more and to donate to our Scholarship Fund. 

Every year at YEA Camp, we have the privilege of meeting passionate and activated changemakers who are taking the world by storm. We feel so grateful to be a part of their story and look forward to supporting you in making a bigger difference on the causes you care most about, too!

See You Next Summer

Do you want to experience YEA Camp for yourself next summer, or know someone who would love to join us? 

We are eagerly preparing for 2020 and are excited to offer an Early Bird special registration for $250 off those who sign up before the end of the year. Do you know someone who would be great for YEA Camp? Nominate them here!

• Youth Camp: in Ventura, California (July 5 – 12) and Charlton, Massachusetts (August 1 – 8)
• Adult Camp: in Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey (July 18 – 24)

See you next summer!

The post Thank You for Another Great Year of YEA appeared first on YEA Camp.

The whole phenomenon reminds us and probably many YEA Campers of a must-see 3-minute viral video and TED talk called “Leadership Lessons from Dancing Guy,” which we have shown at every one of our 32 sessions of YEA Camp in one of our first workshops, Activism 101.

The theory of change posited by the video is that one person’s bold actions become “leadership” when they can get other people to follow them, turning them from a “lone nut” into a leader. “Following is an underappreciated form of leadership.”

And in that context, millions of us followers are taking leadership — even moreso those who are willing to be the “first followers” in launching an event in their area, organizing others, being in front of the mic (and therefore in a position to potentially be ridiculed like Greta and the “shirtless dancing guy” in the video), and bottom-lining the success of the events in their area.

We are so proud of the many YEA Campers who attended climate strikes in their area, who posted on social media and had conversations to inspire their friends to join, and who have been taking action to bring about a more sustainable future.

Check out these 3 videos by 3 amazing YEA Camp leaders — and followers.

Ananya Singh, 16-year-old environmental organizer from New Jersey

Have 13 minutes to be blown away by a speech by one of the most inspiring teenagers on the planet?

Ananya Singh is a 2x YEA Camper, starting when she was 12(!), a 2x YEA staff member, and all-around YEA Camp inspiration. She has told us many times that YEA Camp was her launching point to become an activist, and we couldn’t be more proud (and love her sporting her YEA Camp t-shirt too)!

Don’t have time to watch the whole inspirational speech?

Here’s one of our favorite parts: “How many people have ever listened to a little voice in their head tell them ‘I’m not good enough. I’m not strong enough to make a difference. What can I do?’ Let me tell you something. The demographics of people that is most likely to change someone’s mind about climate change is not scientists, it’s not professors. It’s not people who spend their lives working on environmental issues. It’s teenage girls like me…. You are smarter, stronger, more capable, bolder, braver, and more creative than you have been brought up to believe!”

Elyanna Calle, organizer of Olympia, WA, climate strike

Seventeen-year-old Elyanna Calle, sporting her YEA Camp t-shirt, organized the climate strike in Olympia, WA.

Over 2,000 people attended the stike, including an entire local middle school. “I know that people loved and will be changed by this and that’s the most humbling thing ever.”

We were extra proud when she told us that “I absolutely could not have achieved it without YEA Camp, the skills camp taught me, and the inspiration it gave me.” Eeek!!!

Watch the 3-minute video about the Olympia climate strike here.

San Francisco #ClimateStriker Sarah Goody

YEA Camper Sarah Goody was the “lone nut” in San Francisco, starting climate strikes there in April by herself. She has been continuing to protest every week, and over time has started attracting bigger and bigger crowds, just like Greta! She has also been drawing media attention, including from mainstream media like the local Bay Area ABC station and this amazing feature by Earthjustice (where she gives a shoutout to how YEA Camp helped her — woop woop!)

Seeing her weekly posts from the beginning of just herself or a few other people at the beginning turn into a huge movement turnout culminating in the massive turnout for this week’s international climate strike has been a huge inspiration.

These are just a few of the amazing youth organizing climate strikes around the country, and of course it is all the people standing beside and behind them that, again, turn them like Greta Thunberg, from a “lone nut” into the leaders that we need to bring about the change we need.

To get involved in your local environmental movement, or to look for or start a climate strike in your area, go to FridaysForFuture.com or GlobalClimateStrike.net.

Or, to learn more about activism, connect with other aspiring changemakers (youth and adult), check out our free ebook, The Beginner’s Guide to Changing the World, or join us this summer at YEA Camp!

And follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more updates and inspiring stories of our amazing campers’ activism on climate change and other issues of importance to them.

The post Meet Some of the Youth Leading #ClimateStrikes in the US appeared first on YEA Camp.

Just a few weeks ago, I started an internship with a congressional campaign in my home state of New Jersey. The stakes for this election are so high, which makes me extremely excited to be involved in an impactful way!

This year is critical because we have a chance to flip districts all over the country to take back the power in Congress! It’s going to be extremely close, and in many districts every vote is going to count, which makes everything I’m doing very important. I have a lot of hope because we’ve been seeing people getting engaged in politics at every level.  We have a really incredible slate of candidates, and there’s amazing energy around this election right now!

When I first began, I was incredibly nervous.

I started out by making phone calls and I would rush over my words, trip up when saying the platform positions, and freeze up occasionally.

After a few days, I finally felt myself starting to get comfortable, and after a week or two, I was actually confident when I initiated conversations. It’s really a learning curve, and anyone who has worked on a campaign has probably gone through it. Some of the conversations I’ve had with voters have turned out to be really uplifting! What helped me continue on was the urgency of the election and the supportive encouragement I would get from other volunteers and staff!

One of the best experiences I ever had was this past weekend. I was out canvassing, and we went to the house of an older woman in a nearby town. She was delighted to see a young person out talking about politics! I heard her calling to her husband, “I know it’s hard for you to get up, but you just HAVE to meet this adorable young girl! She’s fifteen and she’s a Democrat!” After meeting her husband and our conversation about the candidate, she told me that their day hadn’t started off that great, that is, until my visit.

Hearing her reflection brightened my day as well! I find it rewarding to be able to positively impact people, introduce them to a great candidate, and spread hope in these times. People are often impressed to see youth so aware and passionate. One of my favorite responses is to share with them how many other young people, like me, are working on this campaign and campaigns all over!

When I’m asked what brings me to politics, I always refer back to my time at YEA Camp. It ignited a passion within me for making the world a better place! After I got home, I researched and learned as much as I could about climate change. The connections between the issues closest to my heart and the political system became clear to me. I’ve never looked back since, and here I am 3 years later, interning for an amazing candidate, speaking at rallies and meetings, and training other people with the skills to get involved!

Not being able to vote will never stop me from making an impact! This is a historical moment, so get engaged!

The entire U.S. House of Representatives is up for re-election, so find out what’s going on in your district! If it is a swing district (meaning if the election will be close), get plugged in locally! If you are not in a swing district or are not sure if you are, check out Sister District or Swing Left to find a district near you that you can get involved with! If you’re able to vote, make sure you are registered, and help get others registered here.

If you’re new to politics, so was I! YEA Camp has a whole guide of 10 ways for young people to get involved in politics here to help you figure out what to do.

If you’re not happy with those in power, now is your chance to do something about it! When you look back at this election, what kind of difference do you want to have made?

Ananya Singh is a high school junior from New Jersey with a passion for climate justice, political engagement, and the arts. She has attended YEA Camp twice as a camper, and this summer was her first as a Counselor In Training.

To find out more about what you can do to make a difference in politics, go to our blog post on that topic. And if you’d like to spend your summer learning more about how you can make a bigger difference on a cause you care about, check out YEA Camp.

The post Too Young To Vote But Not Too Young For Politics appeared first on YEA Camp.

Happy Earth Day! Each year, as this time rolls around, people gather to celebrate the beauty of nature and our environment. It is the perfect time to learn more about the biggest environmental issues that we are facing and work on taking action!

I’ve gone vegan, learned about climate change, joined organizations to push for environmental action in politics, and worked on a school-wide campaign for stronger recycling. I’ve started making a difference in my own community, and now it’s your turn!

Being an environmental activist can often seem daunting, and the issues themselves seem hugely overwhelming, but once you get active it can be incredibly inspiring and even uplifting to see how many people really care!

Environmental activism is not just about protecting trees or animals. It is also about how people are impacted. We often take it for granted, but humans depend on our environment for clean air, water, and food, which we, of course, cannot live without. There is no way to separate the future of our planet from the future of humanity.

Communities that have been systematically disadvantaged by other injustices, like poverty and racism, are going to be disproportionately impacted by environmental issues like pollution and climate change, and we must organize for justice!

There is no shortage of opportunities to get involved and make a difference, but it can be hard to know where to start! Here’s a helpful list of 5 tips for getting more involved with environmental activism.

1. Go green in your daily life. Individual actions add up and it’s important to start with making changes yourself, like reducing your plastic use or eating plant-based. Be on the lookout for ways to reduce your personal carbon footprint, like driving less, buying less stuff, and making other eco-friendly swaps.

While we want to start with ourselves, we have to address large systemic environmental problems and the impacts of corporations and industries that have a far bigger impact.

2. Green your school or workplace. How could you help make your school or workplace more eco-friendly? Think of ways the school or office could help you and others take the daily actions above, like by having recycle bins, vegan options in the cafeteria, and no styrofoam or disposable trays. Anyplace you see something bad for the environment, think about a possible solution you could help bring about. You can organize with the support of friends or coworkers, and together tackle an important issue. It will take effort, but you will be more likely to see the change right in front of you and it is incredibly rewarding!  

3. Green your community. There are unique ways that environmental issues are going to impact your community, and it’s a lot easier to create a visible change on a local level than on a federal level. Maybe there’s a lake nearby that needs to be cleaned up, and you could do community service. Or you could advocate for improved recycling or composting if they are not available in your town. Are there eco-friendly businesses in your town that you can support or is there a business in your town that is really polluting and that you can try to have held accountable? Another option is to work to pass a local climate action plan.

4. Get involved in politics. Learn about your elected officials and your political candidates’ platforms on climate change and environmental policy. It’s critical to get legislation and laws enacted to enforce climate action and transitions to clean energy. The 2018 midterm elections coming up are a great opportunity to make sure we elect people to Congress who will represent our concerns and interests. Support and vote for candidates that will take action and not accept money from the fossil fuel industry! Check out YEA Camp’s guide to how youth too young to vote can impact an election.

5. Do what you love! When tackling a huge issue like this, it’s important to focus on the aspects that you are called to. There is a role for everyone in environmental activism, whether it is through science and innovating tech solutions or creating art and media to tell powerful stories and messages. There are always ways to link up what you love doing to what is important to you. While activism isn’t always fun, and we need to pursue those ways where we can be most effective even when it’s challenging, it is important that we find ways to enjoy taking action so that we can stay involved for the long run!

All life relies on us having a livable planet, and it is up to all of us to work to protect our environment. How will you make a difference this Earth Day?

Ananya Singh is a high school sophomore in New Jersey, where she studies visual and performing arts. She is an activist for environmental and social justice, and attended YEA Camp in New York 2015, Massachusetts 2017, and is currentlyYEA Camp’s Blog Manager.

If you’d like to get more involved in activism for the environment or another social justice issue, and would like some community support and training to help you on your change-making path, join us this summer at YEA Camp! We have sessions for youth 12-17 and our first ever YEA Camp for Adults!

The post This High School Sophomore Is Urging You to Get Serious On Earth Day appeared first on YEA Camp.