Woodleaf 2026 | The Camp Is YOURS
By Lindsay Wilkins, YL Staff
As the end of summer draws near, we are reflecting on the ministry that has taken place in the Beach Cities these past few months. After celebrating our graduating seniors, we kicked off summer with camp (our biggest trip yet!) and loaded a bus with 43 students and leaders to Woodleaf. We were especially excited about this particular group and expectant for what God might do. We had been inviting many of them to camp for 3+ years, and this summer, God finally nudged them to sign up.
Located about an hour and a half north of Sacramento, Woodleaf is one of Young Life’s most historic camps. Many of you on this email know its impact, some of you having met Jesus there for the very first time. We had no idea what to expect since it was our first visit, but we were blown away by the woodsy landscape and perfect climate. Kids jumped right off the bus and into the pool, down the slides, and on the giant swing. For many students, this was their first sleepaway camp ever, and we were thrilled to set them free when the Camp Program team shouted, “The camp is yours!”
Beyond the beautiful property, kids quickly adjusted to life without phones and found unlimited ways to hang out. Knowing that most of our kids were first-timers, we wondered how well they would jump into the surprises of camp. Much to our delight, it took no time for both the girls and boys to dive headfirst into the muddy obstacle course or dress up in biker squad costumes with their cabin. This was largely due to leaders who set the tone from the moment we stepped on the bus.
As most of you know, our leadership team in the Beach Cities is made up of mostly working adults. To say each of these volunteers moved mountains to get to camp would not be an understatement. All took days off of work, and some even put their employment on the line because they “knew God was saying to GO!” Kids may never know the particulars of how their leaders got to camp, but they will remember that their buddy Ricky, their friend Chris, or their bestie Claire showed up for them that week.
As we fondly say, YL camp is a place where kids can really be kids. We saw that on the volleyball court, at the Craft Shack, passing Big Cookie around a family-style dinner table, in Club, and during Cabin Time with their peers and leaders. Our camp program team embodied a variety of characters, but my personal favorites were a spin-off on Southern California lifeguards. You can imagine that kids like Stone and Slater and Luca picked up on their character bits quickly and were shouting shticks back to one another in no time.
Most importantly, the Gospel proclamation at camp was excellent. Our camp speaker, Dave Peterson from YL Santa Barbara, was perhaps the best camp speaker I’ve ever heard (and I’ve got 30+ camp weeks under my belt!!!). He kicked off our week by describing Jesus as the Logos of God and connected with kids using iconic symbols like the Apple or Air Jordan logo to demonstrate his point. And then he explained what it meant to be made in the image of God. “Why should you care?” he asked. “Because this means you matter.”
From there, Dave walked us through the entire Gospel from Jesus to sin and then the good news of the cross and resurrection. After each message, we were released to debrief in our cabins, which is where the deepest work is usually done. Both the girls and guys experienced a closeness that is hard to capture, particularly cultivated through the “shared stories” between the kids. On the girls’ side, we found that many of them have similar home lives where loved ones are battling severe challenges of addiction, displacement or eviction, loss of parents, and broken family dynamics. There are no coincidences with God! The boys connected over the common struggles of being a high school kid, when pressures come from every direction. All of our boy leaders come from a Southern California background and were able to speak from their personal experience. Leaders were there to encourage, listen, and speak truth in love into those precious spaces.
At the end of the week, four kids from the Beach Cities stood up at our Say-So, which comes from Psalm 107:2: “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” There, they publicly professed a new commitment to their walk with Christ.
Here are a few notes or text messages leaders received from kids after camp:
“Being able to connect with all of you guys, just surrounded by God, really hit something in me that hasn’t been hit before.”
“I love you guys and appreciate you being so kind and stable in my life because knowing that someone cares for me has truly made me so happy. I haven’t had much stable things recently and am beyond grateful for you. Love you”
“This Bible is the best gift I’ve ever received.”
“I just wanted to say thank you so much for everything. I absolutely loved camp. Thank you guys for making me feel so seen and safe.”
Following camp, we hosted a summer Campaigners series that was geared at answering the question, “So…what now?” Ministry has continued through lessons in Scripture, conversations in our Cabin Time groups, ice cream outside, pool parties, individual discipleship, lunches at Chicken Maison, and projector movie nights. Leaders have remarked that this feels like the most momentum we have had so far in ministry, and we look forward to continuing to walk with kids as the school year begins.
Heading into fall, please pray for the rising upperclassmen who have the opportunity to bring younger high schoolers into the fold. We believe the Holy Spirit has moved mightily this summer and will continue to do so. We will just keep showing up in faith, knowing that “He who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ever ask or imagine” walks closely with us.
