See what some of our campers, parents, and staff have to say about YEA!
"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.
The camp, along with your follow-up encouragement, helped her focus her enthusiasm for her cause of vegetarianism and sustainability into positive action. She wrote to a vegetarian activist organization, obtained literature from them, and spent the better part of a Saturday morning in our local neighborhood merchant district, handing out the pamphlets and talking to people about the problems with factory animal farming. She felt a real sense of accomplishment in this. I don’t know how many people she influenced in her efforts, but the experience opened doors to new methods and thought processes, and I am confident that she will be able to draw from this experience for years to come."
-Mike, dad of 13-year-old Jesse, San Francisco, CA
"I liked this camp a lot. The food was really great. The staff is really cool because they are into the activities and they share their experiences. You get to do what you want to do. This camp is about being yourself and being who you are. If you are thinking about coming, you should definitely come!"
-Marco, 14, San Diego, CA
"My experience was a lot of fun. The very first day we already felt really close. Everyone was really nice. The staff is cool. That was my favorite thing about camp. This is something where we're making a change and that's really special. And I'm really excited to come back next year because it's going to be bigger and better, and everyone will reunite. The food is really good and really good for the environment. I'm going to take a lot of the skills I learned with me. I can share my skills with my friends and it's just going to spread. People should definitely, definitely apply. Every type of person was here -- all different races and backgrounds."
-Marya, 14, San Francisco, CA
"The staff is totally amazing. Really amazing. The games, the food, every little thing they do. Today we were all dancing and having fun. Everyone was super happy and laughing and that's what our world could be. This camp was really awesome. I learned a lot of new things and met great people. You could gain a lot from this camp."
-Rashmi, 14, Berkeley, CA
"Camp was awesome. I really liked being here and I think that it's a really good opportunity for lots of people. Its a great way to meet new people. All the people here are my friends now. When I go home I'm definitely going to follow up on my issue, and I really want to make a difference. It's different --its not just 'let's stay in touch.' You have a mentor during the year to help on your project. I was a little worried about eating vegan food for a week, but it was really good! Everything tasted good!"
-Jesse, 13, San Francisco, CA
"It gives you confidence and makes you want to do something. You want to get it going already. You meet so many cool people here, its awesome. The food was awesome, too!"
- Cheyenne, 14, Vancouver, WA
"I really liked this camp. It was great. I didn't know what to expect in the beginning, but it's really great. There's a continuation and a plan and a honing of your ideas that was really good. It would be really great if more like-minded people my age could come and do this and experience this."
-Zev, 13, Berkeley, CA
"This camp is really great. You can't usually talk about these things in schools. This camp is really peaceful and beautiful; just amazing. The difference between this camp and other camps is you don't have the same connection. I've made really good friends here. The food here is remarkable: it looks good, it tastes good, it is good! The staff here are very nice, pleasant and they listen to you. They are like a mentor."
-John, 13, Berkeley, CA
"I've worked with lots of teens in my career - and it's rare to find a place in the teenage world where there's just absolute and complete acceptance - room for everyone to be who they are, and to be accepted with open arms. There were no cliques, and the campers opened up and shared a lot about their personal hopes, fears, and aspirations. I was rejuvenated, too, by the generosity of spirit and the creativity our campers exhibited on throwing an amazing party for the staff on the last night! We'd planned a fun night for them, and instead they took charge and capped camp off with a truly unforgettable dance party and dinner. I was continually impressed by the thoughtfulness, passion, and integrity of the campers - and look forward to seeing what changes they can now make in the world with the preparation and training from YEA Camp."
-Sharon Smith, Counselor YEA Camp 2009
former Program Director, New Leaders Initiative and Brower Youth Awards, Earth Island Institute