Getting Involved :)

It's really easy to get involved with YL in the QC. I know that many of you who have read my past blogs are saying that YL sounds like a good time, so maybe you should give it a try! Like I said, it's easy to get involved! First of all, whether you know me or not, just come up and ask about YL. It's at 8:08 every Monday night at The Life Center on 41st st. (I know that is a wierd time and I can't tell you why it starts then..)YL is the type of place that any high school student can go and fit in. Don't be shy to show up there. Noone will give you a dirty look and the leaders are very welcoming people. They like to make a fool of themselves at club so don't feel awkward if they come up to you and are acting crazy. All you, as a high school student, need to do is show up. This isn't just my advice. This web page starts off by saying that's the #1 way to get involved. It's ok to just show up to YL. Bring a friend, or better yet, a BUNCH of friends with you. Young Life is ten times more fun when there are a lot of people there! It's always fun when a new group of friends joins YL.
I suggest that any high schooler come and try it out. You don't have to go back if you absolutely don't like it. Being involved has great benefits, though. I have made so many close friends, and this includes leaders. Did I already mention camp? YL camps are the best!! There's another reason right there to go to YL. Also, don't let the religious aspect of Young Life hold you back from going. At club, religion is laid back, easy to understand, and not forced at you. I hope to see new faces at Young Life this year!! :)

YL CAMP

First of all, if you're in high school, you need to go to YL camp! It's SUCH an awesome experience. Forget about the cost.. there are fundraisers for that! There are camps all over the country and your YL area decides what one to attend that summer. Camps are a week long and campers take a charter bus there. (Don't let a loooong ride stop you from going.. I went to Colorado and that took like 19 hours.) I've gone to camps in Michigan, Minnesota, Virginia, and Colorado. At camp you eat the most amazing food! Waitors actually bring it to you, unlike typical camps. The cabins are all super nice and the camp sites are beautiful! At camp you might go tubing, banana boating, parasailing, horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, or rock climbing. Also, the high ropes courses and the big swing are very fun! As you can see, each camp has so many different activities to offer.
Beside all the freetime, there are awesome "clubs" at camp. At club, everyone sings songs and watches skits. Also, an amazing speaker tells life changing things at camp that bring each and everyone closer to God. I always leave feeling changed. I know a lot of people feel "iffy" about the word "changed" but trust me, it's a good change. :) After going to camp in 8th grade, I always made sure to go every summer! Heres the "Timberwolf Lake" site. This is the first YL camp I attended. Whenever I go to camp, I never want the week to be over!

Capernaum

Young Life has many options for involvement. An adult can become a leader and part of the YL staff. A middle school student can start Wyldlife in 7th grade. A high school student can get involved with Young Life. A teen with a disability can go to Capernaum club. Young Life also has camps all over the country! After starting Wyldlife in 8th grade and staying involved with YL all through high school, I decided to become a Jr. leader last year. Now, I could choose to either be a Wyldlife or Capernaum leader, and I stuck with Capernaum. I knew it would be an experience that was something very different from what I was used to. I'm really glad I chose it, too. I get to plan the club themes and activities and run the games. I've built close relationships with many of the kids and have learned that teens with disabilities are just like us. (They just really want to be accepted and it's easier to do than you would think.) Capernaum clubs are held on Thursdays at my school and I look forward to them just as much as YL on Mondays! It requires time and commitment but it's worth it. A site about Capernaum states that "Capernaum clubs give kids and young adults with disabilities a chance to get out and have fun with peers and leaders." The site not only gives info about clubs and being a leader, but it also briefly tells about Capernaum camp. In later blogs, ill share my experiences with going to camp as a leader!

A brief overview

Young Life is an activity anybody should definitely want to get involved with. It's a very casual way to learn about God and get introduced to Him if you haven't had experience with religion. A typical high school YL club starts off with some music and crazy games. (You can't be afraid to get dirty, embarrassed, or to be seen acting like a child). While there, someone might see others getting pied in the face or chugging a liter or pop. Group activities, singing songs, and playing games make club a place to return to. It is something my friends and I look forward to on Monday nights. After some fun, one of the leaders takes the stage and shares a bible message to the group. Young Life helps develop awesome relationships with friends and God. Through my experiences in YL, I have met many amazing people. All of my leaders have become really close friends. They always come to support in school sports and in tough times. This site offers great information on Young Life and how to get involved. Young Life isn't just a high school event. Young Life is offered for middle schoolers and teens with disabilities, which I will be blogging more about later. :)