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Endearing, right? How can you not be moved by this kid’s passion for the environment?

At YEA Camp, we know that as a loving parent it warms your heart to see your kid display such enthusiasm for an important cause. We also know that it can be upsetting to see your child feel so helpless over wishing they knew how to make a difference.

Don’t fret, loving parents, at YEA Camp we specialize in empowering children and teenagers to make the world a better place. That’s why we’ve devised a helpful list so you can nurture your courageous kid’s activism.

1. Make It Fun

Look Ma, activism is a blast!

The cause itself may be super serious, but your kid’s fight for the cause doesn’t have to be.

Did someone say delicious vegan cupcakes? How about assisting your child in holding a bake sale to raise money for their cause?

I’ll have three, please! Okay, let’s make that four!

Tapping into their artistic or creative talents, using social media, or getting friends involved are other great ways to make activism fun. Your kid’s much more likely to stick with their activism if they have a good time doing it.

2. Connect With Organizations

Now that your child is inspired to care about a particular cause, it’s important that he or she understands that cause and sees how others are tackling the issue.

The best way to learn is by introducing them to respected organizations that are leading the way on their respective issue.

Don’t have time to do all that research? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a helpful cheat sheet of amazing organizations that are fighting for the environment, LGBT rights, human rights, animal rights and more.

3. Listen To Your Kids… Really Listen

Children are full of wisdom if parents take the time to listen to them, and we’ve got two epic examples of parents who do just that.

In this first video, a young child in Nepal finds out that his parents are taking his beloved goat to be slaughtered, so he does everything in his power to get his parents to spare the animal’s life. His tenacity and kindness are an inspiration to behold. Imagine the trauma if his parents had ignored his pleas.

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In this second viral video, a toddler in Brazil has a heartfelt debate with his mother at the dinner table about the ethics of killing and eating other animals. His points are both innocent and poignant, as only a child can articulate.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrU03da2arE]
These videos aren’t depicting children throwing bratty tantrums. These kids are sensitive souls who realize that the adults around them are harming animals, and it upsets them. The parents are respectful enough to listen to their children’s merciful pleas and agree not to harm the animals. These are beautiful moments of compassion caught on camera.

Whatever issues inspire your kids to express their passion, your support empowers them to think for themselves and to pursue their compassionate nature to be a caring person.

4. Introduce Them To A Mentor

Say hi to Shelby!

A great way to learn about a subject is to seek guidance from someone who specializes in that field. Help your child find an expert who’s willing to advise them on their journey of discovery.

This is an area in which we really pride ourselves at YEA Camp. Our talented staff is comprised of highly qualified professionals with teaching credentials and expertise in youth development, as well as accomplished former campers like Shelby, with much wisdom to impart. We give each camper the counseling they need to get their activism off to the right start.

5. Join Them!

Joyce & her mother Mildred on their way to the People’s Climate March. What an inspiring team!

What better way to encourage your budding activist than to join them in their activism? Not only can this make it more fun (see #1) and double their impact, but it also creates a supportive family culture, where it’s understood that people care about others and stand up for what they believe in. Plus, you’ll definitely have more to talk about at the dinner table than what they learned (or didn’t learn) in school.

6. Well, Join Them… Within Reason

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No kid wants their parent hanging out with them all the time. Give them space to follow their passion independently as well. Sometimes that could mean just giving them a ride somewhere, helping them manage their schedule, or asking if they need any help.

7. Say, “Yes, You Can,” Not “No, You Can’t”

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdCbYflyD68]
See all those demoralizing insults Simon Cowell spewed at aspiring singers on “American Idol”? As a parent, do the opposite.

If your kid tells you that he or she wants to reduce homelessness in your town, don’t discourage them with details about how difficult it’s going to be. Celebrate that they care about such a crucial cause, and help them set goals for bringing about that change. Twelve-year-old Megan has raised thousands of dollars with her school club for homeless people in Boston.

Kids need someone to tell them to dream big, and to help them strive for their goals, not set low expectations.

8. Help Them Believe In Themselves

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All too often our worst enemy is ourselves. Kids can be really hard on themselves, shooting down their own great plans before they’ve even given them a try, because they’re afraid they’re not up to the task. As their parent, you can give them the confidence they need to tackle any undertaking, no matter how impossible it may seem.

Providing a safe and loving home environment, encouragement in their endeavors, as well as support, perspective and understanding when things don’t go as planned.

9. Set A Positive Example

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Be the type of person who rescues a baby elephant who is stuck in a mud hole. Your kids will be better people with a role model like that. Whether it’s rescuing an animal (have you noticed we like animals at YEA Camp?), donating money to a nonprofit or candidate, volunteering, or conserving, the lessons your kids learn from watching you will last a lifetime.

10. Teach Intersectionality

This one’s a Level 5 on the empowerment scale, but it’s important to note that oppressive institutions—racism, sexism and so on—are interconnected and you’ll expand your child’s understanding of the world by helping them make those connections.

Does your child care about the environment? Great! Teach him or her the ways in which pollution disproportionately affects poor people and people of color, or how the environment is negatively impacted by the meat industry.

Does your child want to stop bullying? Fantastic! Teach him or her about how LGBT youth are nearly twice as likely to be bullied than their non-LGBT peers.

We need the next generation of advocates to be aware of the interconnection of the many different issues we face and to be allies for these different causes.

Best Parent Of The Year!

Thank you for being your kid’s greatest champion! We need more brave young change-makers in this world, and the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!

You’ve raised a compassionate kid who wants to make a difference. It would be our great honor at YEA Camp to meet your wonderful young activist (the camp is open to kids ages 12-17) and guide him or her to follow their dreams. At YEA Camp, they’ll be surrounded by like-minded peers and adults who want to help them, and they’ll develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to take action on what really matters to them.

Follow the above tips (and send your kids to YEA Camp or nominate someone who you know would love it!), and they’ll be well on their way to achieving great things, because any parent should support a kid who’d really rather visit a broccoli farm than support animal abuse at the circus.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7yMZGA2lzg]

The post 10 Ways Parents Can Empower Their Courageous Child Activist appeared first on YEA Camp.

• Isabele is gathering pledges and participating in the AIDS Walk Portland with her high school’s Queer-Straight Alliance. She is also starting a project to mentor middle schools who are just beginning to have a GSA/QSA.
• Mehar in NJ is putting on her first ever event to draw attention to issues around the education of girls in Third World countries on October 11th, the International Day of the Girl.
• Sky and Shikha in New Jersey have started the Harry Potter Alliance, a community service club, at their high school.
• CJ in Washington created and completed a school climate survey to gather data about how safe students feel at his high school. He is using this data to launch a club with a goal of implementing school-wide anti-bullying curricula.
• Djuna from New York led 13 high school juniors and seniors on a service trip to New Orleans. They worked and lived on an urban farm in the Lower Ninth Ward. She led workshops to her classmates and teens from the area about social justice issues.
• Destiny in Oregon has been leafletting every two weeks about veganism and last weekend attended a circus protest with several other YEA Campers. She also joined and is growing her high school’s animal rights club.
• Griffin from Oregon has been leafletting to educate Oregonians about Nestle’s plan to bottle water in the Gorge, resulting in environmental destruction. He was joined by several other YEA Campers.
• Danika in Massachusetts created an anti-war flyer when couldn’t find one online that communicated what she wanted to say. She is also working to get more Spanish-language books in her local library, and is developing trainings for other youth activists so they can benefit from the trainings and experiences she has had, such as YEA Camp!
• Many YEA Campers on the east coast volunteered in August at Sunny Meadow Animal Sanctuary together.
• Ramsey in Oregon is beginning an internship at Farm Sanctuary in California.
• Nick in Illinois started a school club for animals that has already had their first meeting. He has been volunteering with Mercy For Animals outside of school.
• Jasmine in Connecticut has been volunteering with the Humane Society of the United States.
• Sarah in New Hampshire is organizing an event for National Primate Liberation Week to draw attention to the plight of primates in labs. She also got a letter to the editor printed about NPLW in her local paper! Way to go, Sarah!
• Fletcher in CA started an anti-bullying group called Delete at his school that now has 44 members!
• Kelley in Tennessee has been collecting cans to donate to the Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County (one pound of cans buys two pounds of dog food!)
• Grace in Ohio joined her school environmental club and is starting a project to remove styrofoam trays from the school cafeteria.
• Anthony in North Carolina attended the DC Vegfest and will be interning with Mercy for Animals.
• Jaliessa in Oregon is volunteering with the Portland VegFest and recently attended her first-ever protest for elephants at the circus.
• Katie in California held her GSA’s first event of the year, a “Chapel of Love” where anyone can get married, complete with ring-pop rings and marriage “certificates” which include information about marriage rights and same-sex marriage. The pictures of the happy couples are posted on Facebook.
• Alex in California is passionate about sexual health education for teens and started a club called the Sex Squad at her school. She is working with UCLA to inform her classmates about safe sex and healthy sexuality. She filmed teens at her school asking them why Health Education is important to them. She plans to make a video and send it to the school board. She is also starting plans for actions on World AIDS Day, and she was recently awarded a $1,000 grant from The Pollination Project to further her efforts.

This is just a small sampling of some of our campers’ accomplishments that we are aware of – and this is only since the camps ended in July and August. We are so proud of their accomplishments and cannot wait to see what they do during this school year and in the years to come!

The post A Dose of Inspiration: What our campers have been up to since camp ended appeared first on YEA Camp.

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YEA Camp is a week-long summer camp for youth 12-17 who are passionate about activism and social change, and by the end of the session every camper creates an action plan for how they will address a social issue of importance to them. This summer, thanks to the committed support of a very generous donor, each and every camper will have the opportunity to apply for and receive a micro grant of $100 toward their efforts. In addition, one camper at each of YEA’s four sessions will receive a $1,000 grant for their project!

At YEA Camp, participants develop their confidence to take action on what they believe in, and they learn skills like planning a campaign, running a school club, communicating effectively, and fundraising, which they can apply to a cause they care about. When they leave, they are ready to take action and make a difference.

Take a look at some of the inspiring young leaders who attend YEA Camp – like Tegan organizing an assembly at her school to raise awareness about human trafficking,  Ramon persuading his high school to institute a recycling program and put recycle bins in every classroom, Bianca working with the school club she started to raise money for her local animal shelter, and Emily initiating an anti-bullying program at her high school. We are thrilled that YEA Campers in 2012 will have well-deserved funds to strengthen their efforts to bring about social change.

If you know any young people passionate about making the world a kinder place, let them know that YEA Camp has spots available at sessions in northern California, Oregon, and New Jersey. Visit www.yeacamp.org for dates, details, and to register.

The post YEA Announces Launch of New Grant Program for All Campers! appeared first on YEA Camp.

Youth who came to the event were interested in making a difference on a lot of different issues. Many campers were interested in getting involved in, or strengthening their schools’ Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) and got resources and ideas from each other, as well as the GSA Network. Fundraising ideas were suggested and decided upon, such as bakesales, movie screenings, and t-shirt sales. Youth also discussed projects and awareness campaigns their GSAs could take on next!

Some of the campers were interested in environmental issues, and several are planning to attend an April training hosted by the Citizens Climate Lobby which is forming a chapter in Portland with the help of Laura Carver, who is YEA’s Assistant Director by day and a climate change and environmental activist…also by day! Several first time participants came up with a plan to have a school fundraiser to buy silverware to replace the disposable sporks currently being used in their middle school cafeteria. Another high school student plans to start a campaign to stop selling bottled water in the school’s student store and to join forces with his school environmental club to launch the campaign to raise awareness about the problems with bottled water. The issue of bottled water came up at a previous YEA Academy, and a short video called “The Story of Bottled Water” explains it well.

Several campers are taking this activist tip and ordering leaflets from organizations such as Mercy for Animals and PETA to spread the word about the benefits of veganism and how animals are mistreated on factory farms. It’s a very easy way to make a big difference! Other campers are involved in building houses with Habitat For Humanity, and volunteering with local organizations like the Blanchett house and the Oregon Food Bank that are working to address poverty and homelessness. Participants discussed ways to step up their fundraising efforts for these programs. YEA! It is inspiring to see so many young people participating in so many different projects.

The feedback from the overnight was an overwhelming “More overnights!” and we are looking forward to offering this program again. The next YEA Academy in Portland, OR, is from 11am-4pm on April 14th, and of course we hold week-long overnights each week-long session of YEA Camp! Camp is fast approaching in July and August in Oregon, northern California, and New Jersey. Visit www.yeacamp.org for dates and details and to register.

The post YEA Overnight Is a Huge Success! appeared first on YEA Camp.

Planning our curriculum for the Overnight was on the one hand super fun, because we spend so much time working on (much) less interesting things for camp at this time of year, but also challenging because we want to include so much and yet we only have one night!

Still, you can accomplish a lot in a night! YEA Overnighters will get a chance to hear and share with each other about the issues they each care about and the activism they have done, to learn about 5 key ways to get involved in activism (volunteering with a local organization; using social media and online campaigns, like through Change.org; running an effective school club; fundraising; and grassroots outreach, like leafleting and tabling), and create an activist plan of action based on what they like to do, what they are good at, and what the issue they care about needs. And they will have fun and play games and make friends and eat delicious vegan food! Pizza with Daiya cheese is on the dinner menu!

We still have a few spots left, so if you’re in Portland, or know a teen who is, register asap for this low-cost program! Check back for photos and an update, and if you wish you could be there, register for YEA Camp this summer in California, Oregon, or New Jersey, or spread the word to others who might be interested!

The post This Weekend’s YEA Overnight in Portland Is a Preview of YEA Camp! appeared first on YEA Camp.