While we have always had many campers and staff who aren’t vegetarian or vegan, an important feature of YEA Camp since the beginning is putting our food where our mouth is, so to speak, by serving vegan food.

It’s a simple but important choice for us to model living in a way that’s more sustainable, compassionate, and healthy, and a great example of how activists can make a difference through our daily actions in addition to more complex campaigns.

And our food is delicious! We make sure our food is accessible so that even campers and staff who aren’t accustomed to eating vegan love it! Changing the world takes a lot of brain power, so, we need to keep our campers well-fueled with the most amazing vegan food.

It wouldn’t be YEA Camp without Tofurky!

Feeding our campers the best vegan food in the world is possible thanks to the generous support from our sponsors who help make YEA Camp a reality.

Tofurky’s impact on getting vegan products into mainstream supermarkets has also been foundational, and so many new plant-based companies benefit from this work.

Tofurky is a family-owned and values-based company, as exhibited not only through its plant-based products but also by its incredible eco-friendly building and contributions to so many causes and organizations working to make the world a better place — including YEA Camp!

Proof you’ve been to YEA Camp! A yarn bracelet on one wrist and a Tofurky tattoo on the other!

Throughout our entire 10 years, Tofurky has loyally supported our camp, generously donating their delicious products at each and every one of our 29 sessions, helping us to show off to YEA Campers and staff just how tasty vegan food is.

As we reflect back on our 10 years of YEA Camp, one of the things every session has had in common was Tofurky! We have loved showcasing Tofurky foods, which our campers and staff love, and Tofurky tattoos have always been a big hit as well!

We were grateful to have the opportunity to sit down with Rachel Perman, Tofurky’s Director of Charitable Giving, to learn a bit more about their work and why doing business better makes the world a little nicer for all of us.

For those who don’t know, what is Tofurky?

Tofurky is an engine for global change. Our decisions and brand intentions are driven by how we can make the world more delicious, using plant-based ingredients.

Tell me about Tofurky’s decision to become a B-Corp and what that means.

B-Corps are social purposes companies, like fair-trade, for the whole business. They are for-profit companies that operate with many non-profit intentions, working to set a good example for how businesses can succeed in healthy ways for their communities and planet.

Tofurky has really always operated this way, before the practice was recognized in the media. So when B-Corp and its certifying body incorporated, it seemed like a natural fit to be audited for the certification and proudly display it in our corporate communication.

Tell me more about the “A Better World” campaign.

Part of being a B-Corp is being better for the environment. We exhibit this in many ways, from operating out of a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility built to a LEED spec, recycling our food scraps, and producing plant-based foods that reduce our society’s dependence on animal agriculture. If these benefits are wrapped up in the purchase of food that is first and foremost, delicious, we are fulfilling our core tenants.

Why is it so important to advocate for animal and environmental rights?

We operate in a world where CEO Activism is seeing major inroads to editing public policy and perception. Our nation’s business leadership has real power to set intentions with a population hungry for change. If we reduce or eliminate animal products from our diet, we increase animal welfare and environmental sustainability.

So much research is coalescing right now to substantiate plant-based lifestyles; we’re not alone in our vision.  Our brand was one of the first to market almost 40 years ago and has evolved our mission to be first to political action, today.

Why has Tofurky been such a strong supporter of YEA Camp?

Supporting an advocacy group that works to teach, inspire, and empower young (and now also adult) activists seems like a no-brainer!

We are happy to support this important work, and it’s also important to us to make vegan eating tasty and accessible and for activists to feel supported by us. We value your advocacy!

Aww shucks! (We’re blushing.)

What would you say to someone who is trying to go vegan or eat a more plant-based diet but isn’t sure where to begin?

Start small. Pick one item that could be replaced in your regular eating habits. Or pick one meal a week to dedicate to plant-based foods. Tell people your intentions; you’ll find many who are also bringing more plant-based products into their lifestyle and still others who are curious to join. Give that one change 30 days until it becomes an easy habit. Repeat.

Where can people find you?

We’re carried in virtually every store in the nation. Walmart, Target, Publix, Safeway, Kroger and most natural markets. Depending on where you live, you can also buy our products on Amazon Fresh. Yum!

Most importantly, what’s your favorite Tofurky meal?

Tofurky’s Pizza Grilled Cheese OMG!

Oooh – tough one. This pizza grilled cheese sandwich is pretty amazing. A crowd pleaser, for sure!

Wow! Thank you so much, Rachel and Tofurky!

—

We are so grateful to Rachel and team Tofurky for taking the time to talk with us (and for giving us dinner plans – hello pizza grilled cheese sandwich)!

And from everyone here at YEA Camp, thank you so much to Tofurky for your generous support, for your delicious food, and for everything you do to put animals and our planet first!

If you want to try delicious Tofurky products, go out and buy them just about anywhere — or come join us at YEA Camp and try them this summer! Our amazing food is just one of the reasons to attend! If you’re concerned about the state of the world, YEA Camp was designed to help you take your change-making to new heights — and to have the time of your life learning how.

Learn about or sign up for YEA Camp’s teen camp and YEA Camp for Adults here.

The post YEA Camp Celebrates 10 Years of Tofurky Sandwiches appeared first on YEA Camp.

When I first attended YEA Camp New York 2015, my passion for social justice, particularly climate justice, was ignited. Since then, I have worked with lots of groups on social issues, and have discovered a passion in climate justice. Recently, I have been getting connected with other student activists interested in this issue.

It was through these connections that I learned about the Climate Legacy Time Capsule Project and decided to organize an action with this group at my local high school at the end of 2017. This national action is centered around young people across the country gathering together to dedicate time capsules with items that represent why we as young people are fighting for climate change and letters to the future.

The Environmental Action Club writing letters for their time capsule

With the help of a few friends, I reached out to my high school’s newly formed Environmental Action Club, and we planned a time capsule letter-writing activity. We gathered materials, put together a meeting agenda, and wrote letters of our own. When it came to the action, we spoke on the background of the action, how climate change will impact us, and what these letters are going to do. Beforehand, I was unsure as to whether everyone present at our meeting for the letter writing would understand the action, or even want to participate, but all my worries were eased once I heard people’s ideas and saw them write their letters. Everyone genuinely shared an appreciation for nature and our world’s beauty, as well as hope for a future that is safe, clean, and beautiful for future generations. Just like I felt when I first heard about the action, they were really intrigued by the time capsules and excited to be a part of it!

The time capsules we made served as a way to send a message to our world leaders, who were at at the Bonn UN Climate Conference in November 2017. The capsules will be opened in 50 years, 2068, thus giving myself and other student activists a chance to reflect on our hopes and visions for the future world in the context of climate change. The biggest question being asked, to ourselves, to each other, and to our politicians and decision-makers was: How will we be remembered by future generations?

Some of the letters written at Ananya’s school by teen activists

Personally, it is my greatest and most sincere hope that they will look back and see us as the people who really stood up and came together to take action against climate change. At the same time, the very serious and looming threats of global crisis create the potential for a much more bleak and dangerous future world. I am certainly fearful for that future, but I know that I’m not alone in these feelings. So many incredible students and young people have been taking action and really mobilizing to fight these impacts of climate change, and call on our leaders to create change as well! I really wanted to share this message and commit to taking action in my own community– this action came across as a really creative and inspiring way to begin!

One of the letters written for the time capsule project.

At the end, I collected 40 letters and sent them to the time capsule in Philadelphia. Our action wasn’t anything elaborate or locally impactful, but our voices are now a part of the larger movement, and we got to connect with each other as people that really care about climate change and have a foundation for future actions!

Of course, this was not a singular effort! I got a lot of support from the Sierra Student Coalition’s Climate Justice League, where I learned so much about climate justice and community organizing! Three of my friends have also been learning and working with me. Also, through this action, I’ve gotten the chance to work with imatter youth, and connect with other amazing student activists and find even more community and support! I am planning to go forward with all this support that I have found at my area, and continue to organize for climate change.

Ananya Singh is a sophomore at Morris County School of Technology, in New Jersey, where she studies visual and performing arts. She is an activist for environmental and social justice, and attended YEA Camp New York 2015, Massachusetts 2017, and is a YEA Camp Blog Manager!

Do you care about making a difference in the world, like Ananya does, or know someone who might? YEA Camp is for youth 12-17 who want help getting more involved, and we are now offering a summer camp for adults too! Come join us or let us know if you have questions!

The post The Future of Climate Change (Literally!) appeared first on YEA Camp.

As those who have followed us or been to YEA Camp know, YEA Camp has never been about one particular issue. YEA Camp is a summer camp for social change. Our campers and staff are passionate about many important, interconnected causes – from human rights to animal rights, climate change to feminism, bullying to poverty. Each camper chooses an issue they are passionate about it, and at YEA Camp they build knowledge, skills and confidence to make a difference on that cause. You can see almost daily updates on all the activism they’re doing on our Facebook page.

This year, for the first time, in addition to our regular ol’ life-changing sessions, YEA Camp is going to be offering a special session for campers who are all passionate about the same issue – or what we call their IOI, their Issue of Importance. This is a perfect fit for our new venue that we are thrilled to announce to you here!

This summer, YEA Camp will be offering a session specifically for animal advocates. We will be holding this session August 9-16, 2015, at a perfect new location: the Epworth Center in High Falls, NY, which is the new home for Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary! Learn more about this one-of-a-kind session here.

Our regular ol’ life-changing east coast session of YEA Camp for campers passionate about lots of different progressive issues will be held that week at this beautiful new property as well. We are thrilled to be at this amazing new venue! And of course we will still be offering our sessions at beautiful venues in northern California and Oregon.

• YEA Camp Northern California: July 12-19
• YEA Camp Oregon: July 25 – August 1
• YEA Camp Upstate New York: August 9-16
  The NY dates will have 2 sessions:
  -a “regular” YEA Camp and
  -YEA Camp for Animal Advocates

Each session of YEA Camp is small, and space is limited and first-come, first-served. We are also offering last year’s pricing as a significant early bird discount until January 1, so check out the details and session that work best for you, or just go ahead and register! We expect all sessions to sell out, so please share with those who would want to know about us.

Looking forward to another amazing summer! We are already counting the days, and as of this writing the first session of YEA Camp is in just 235…!

The post Announcing Our New Dates, Location, and Some Big Firsts for YEA Camp in 2015! appeared first on YEA Camp.