Why You Should Apply to NAD Youth Leadership Camp

YLC traditional group photo, August 2019.

BY ALANA SMITH AND JACKIE WILLIAMS

We attended the 50th anniversary Youth Leadership Camp (YLC) session, July 17 – August 17, 2019. Jackie was a YLC leader and Alana, a former leader, was a YLC builder. We hope you learn from our experience and see why YOU should apply to the NAD Youth Leadership Camp next summer, either as a leader or a builder!

At YLC, we call our campers “leaders” and our staff members “builders.” All leaders arrive at camp ready to lead and grow and the builders work to guide the leaders in becoming builders.

From a leader’s perspective I heard about YLC from one of my friends who went to YLC 2018. On the first day of school, my friend was wearing the famous YLC sweatshirt and had the biggest smile on his face. Before that, I never thought about YLC at all. Several months later, one of my teachers asked to see me in private. My teacher told me about YLC and how amazing it was. She told me that I was an impressive leader and that I would be a great fit for the camp. The staff at my school supported me to go because of my leadership skills they saw at school. They told me positive things and encouraged me to go. Because of the positive comments from the staff and their encouragement, I realized I should go to YLC.

As a builder, we don’t just supervise the kids. We teach them. We build them into great leaders. We teach them valuable life lessons. We guide them to find their true selves.

On the first day of YLC, I felt homesick and not confident. I was not used to the new environment, new people, and being involved with activities and people. I felt like I was a wilting flower inside. As the days went on, the leaders and builders noticed that I was being apathetic and lacked leadership when it came to activities and socializing. In order for me to break out of my comfort zone, they gave me challenges and tasks -- I did not want to disappoint my fellow leaders and builders. I decided to participate in the assigned activities and tasks. When the end of YLC was approaching, I decided I no longer wanted to be a wilting flower, but to be a flower that blooms. I wanted to be friendly and be more of a leader. I was given the opportunity to improve and thanks to YLC, I found my light. After YLC, my light continued to shine bright. I thank the builders who encouraged me throughout the month. A month after YLC, I realized I needed to be a leader, even after YLC ended. Whether it’s to do a task or help people see the beauty in themselves, I realized I needed to be involved more.

I want to encourage everyone to go to YLC. It doesn’t matter if you are nervous, awkward, or shy – it does not matter. YLC will change your life. People there will have your back and support you. When you feel awkward, just tell them your story – people at YLC will not judge you. Instead, they become your family. Because of my experience, I decided that I want to go back to YLC and give back by volunteering or working there.

From a builder’s perspective Youth Leadership Camp has always been a pure gem, the place where deaf high school kids from all over come and grow their leadership phenomenally. This past summer, I was a Builder for the first time. I hadn’t been here since I was a leader in 2014.

As a high school kid from California School for the Deaf, Riverside, I had seen YLC alumni returning from YLC with a huge sense of growth in them. Those alumni became louder and truer to themselves, and it made me wonder about YLC and what it has to offer. After I went to YLC as a leader, I promised myself that I would return as a builder someday, and I did five years later. My experiences as a leader and as a builder are very similar, yet very different. I came back to YLC because I wanted to give back to the Deaf youth leaders, and I believe it is our duty to ensure our future is in good hands of our young Deaf leaders. After a full exhilarating, fleeting month at YLC, I didn’t just grow with the leaders, we flourished astonishingly together. YLC is often a second home for many, the place where we feel accepted and included for who we are. For many leaders and builders, YLC became family with a sense of belonging.

As a builder, we don’t just supervise the kids. We teach them. We build them into great leaders. We teach them valuable life lessons. We guide them to find their true selves. Indeed, there will be some vulnerable moments, and those moments are most precious where all leaders and builders get to open themselves and see the truth inside of them. For everyone out there, I strongly encourage you to apply YLC as a builder even if you never went as a leader. If you have a passion for leadership and are open to new things, you are already a builder! While you will feel physically, mentally, and emotionally challenged – you will also grow so much by conquering those challenges. It is never too late to apply to work at YLC!

Will you join us next year, July 17 - August 11, 2020, at Camp Taloali, Stayton, Oregon?

YLC Builders at the beach, July 2019.

Alana Smith is a Kindergarten Teaching Assistant at the Rochester School for the Deaf.

Jackie Williams is a junior at the Georgia School for the Deaf.

Leader and Builder applications are now available at nad.org/youth/youth-leadership-camp. Apply and make your influence!