I don’t have personal experience but am a HS teacher and a lot of my students in a local public talk about YL, are currently involved in meetings and going to the camps this summer. They are all types of kids. None are crazy or in a cult. My kids are older now but it makes me wish I had known about them earlier because they all say good things about the camps.

Honestly, I also had preconceived notions about YL being a religious cult but I have more kids than ever talking about it this year.

You want an ACA camp. There are plenty of ACA religious camps if that is what you want. If it’s that your kid wants to be with friends, don’t send them to this camp - organize something else.

Anonymous wrote:They are evangelical !

‘Nut said.

+1

I went to a Young Life retreat/camping during my sophomore year of high school. I was raised Catholic, had Jewish friends and refused to say they were going to hell during a small group discussion one night in our cabin. Leaders took me out by myself into the woods to tell me I was going to hell if I didn't change what I was saying, and kept on me the entire weekend if I wanted to go to a room where at the end of camp you say you are committing your life to Jesus. There is another room for those unsure of their commitment.

I went to the Jesus room and was considered "born again" per a card they gave me after...it was my 15th birthday and my "born again" day.
I wrote my college essay about the experience and years later as an adult looked into Young Life bc of all this.

They carefully select kids in the school who are accessible and popular and build the program around them. There was an adult who was always around the school, he was a substitute teacher but was "cool" - he was recruiting kids in.

I know people who loved the camp but I would be wary, especially if they don't have the ACA accreditation. I don't think the way they handled adults and kids was above board and I also don't think my parents had any clue I was going to be alone with adults I didn't know who were telling me to condemn non-Christians to hell. I didn't go back after that experience and would not let my DD go. FWIW I'm still Catholic and practicing so not opposed to religion but opposed to that.

They are evangelical !

‘Nut said.

Actual substantive answers aside, OP why did you post this here and not in the DCUM Camps discussion? You'll find way more people focused on which camps are good and which not there, that's what the whole discussion is about.

Anonymous wrote:YoungLife? It's religious, correct? I would not give a religious organization access to my teen for an extended period of time. Too much influence.

+100000000000

Anonymous wrote:What is wrong with YL? Why do people on DCUM not like it? Would love feedback from other Christians that don’t like it

same! my kid did the winter one, nova ultra liberal neighborhood and a bunch of kids go

What is wrong with YL? Why do people on DCUM not like it? Would love feedback from other Christians that don’t like it

Anonymous wrote:Beware, DCUM does not like Young Life.

+1000

You will get a more objective opinion of Young Life from a Satanist convention than from DCUM.

Anonymous wrote:My teen’s school is going to younglife camp this summer and she’s interested in going. Camp isn’t excessively expensive at $1100 and cost is not a factor but safety wise, what have your experiences been? Moreso how do they ensure kids are safe in the water, on zip lines, ect. Also how do they manage safety with the leaders and the kids? It seems like a lot of people are in and out through the summer so wondering how background checks were handled. Also don’t see they are ACA accredited like other camps they have been to but know the format is different for YL.

Only feeling a little paranoid after going down a rabbit hole with the Camp Mystic stuff last summer, and making sure kids are safe especially with ropes course type stuff and weather.

Ensure safety? They think God will save the children. Isn't that what happened during the texas flood?
Manage safety with leaders? They think God will save the children. Isn't that what all those pedo priests are doing?
ACA accreditation? You mean places that value safety, health and operational standards? Why bother! Who needs that?!?!?!

My kids haven't gone there for YoungLife, but have been at one of the area YoungLife camp locations for a church-led camp. The ropes course and similar activities were staffed similar to how they would be at a Calleva or something like that. Of all the things at camp, that would not be my primary concern.

I've been through our church-mandated child safety training often enough that my main freakout with things like this is always, always how good abusers are at infiltrating any place where kids are - and that's even in situations where there are excellent background checks and child safety protocols. They make sure to show you just how easily protocols can be violated in child-safety training to make you extra vigilant. It's really kind of terrifying.

Anonymous wrote:YoungLife? It's religious, correct? I would not give a religious organization access to my teen for an extended period of time. Too much influence.

OP is likely religious and it sounds like kid attends private religious school.
So, it may be a good fit.

YoungLife? It's religious, correct? I would not give a religious organization access to my teen for an extended period of time. Too much influence.

My teen’s school is going to younglife camp this summer and she’s interested in going. Camp isn’t excessively expensive at $1100 and cost is not a factor but safety wise, what have your experiences been? Moreso how do they ensure kids are safe in the water, on zip lines, ect. Also how do they manage safety with the leaders and the kids? It seems like a lot of people are in and out through the summer so wondering how background checks were handled. Also don’t see they are ACA accredited like other camps they have been to but know the format is different for YL.

Only feeling a little paranoid after going down a rabbit hole with the Camp Mystic stuff last summer, and making sure kids are safe especially with ropes course type stuff and weather.