Tegan (right) now a counselor-in-training at YEA Camp works with camper Gabbi on on her activism project at camp

We were thrilled to see YEA Camper Tegan Waring get well-deserved media attention from The Oregonian — the largest newspaper in the state — for the inspiring activism she has been doing! Tegan, who was a camper at the Oregon YEA Camp in 2010 and 2011 and a counselor in training in 2012, is one of the most dedicated teens we’ve had the privilege to meet, and we are constantly inspired to learn of the amazing activism she is doing.

Tegan’s issue of importance (IOI as we call it at YEA Camp) is preventing and supporting survivors of sexual assault and trafficking. Tegan volunteers at the Sexual Assault Resource Center in Beaverton and with Stop Child Trafficking Now, and she has done fundraising, spoke at different classes at her school, and even organized a school assembly where she gave a speech that she wrote (and practiced at camp at the 2011 YEA Show!) about this serious issue.

We were so proud that Tegan attributed much of her activism to her time at YEA Camp. In the article she shared that before attending YEA Camp she felt overwhelmed and unsure about how she could make a difference on such a big issue. “I thought, ‘What can I do? I’m just a 15-year-old high school student.” But at camp I learned that I can do something.” It was actually her camp mentor who first connected her with SARC, the organization she has gotten so active with.

Tegan is one of so many inspiring YEA Campers taking action to make the world a better place. YEA Camp is designed for youth like Tegan, who know they want to do something to make the world a kinder place but aren’t quite sure how to go about it or if they can really make a difference. If you know a teen like this, let them know about YEA Camp. Visit www.yeacamp.org to see dates, locations, and other details to register for camp this summer.

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