Summer means Summer Camp here at YES, with many excited campers coming through our door every week. Since the first group of campers departed for the redwoods in June, 171 YES youth have attended camp, including 33 in leadership roles, and ten camp sessions are still to come. From bonding with new friends to night hikes under the stars, these young people are experiencing the fun and power of time spent outdoors.  For many, this means an array of first-time experiences and entry into YES's 10-year Youth Leadership Pathway. Others are making strides as returning campers, Counselors-in-Leadership-Training, and full-time Camp Counselors. Below, you can  share in the excitement of summer through a 45-second video featuring eleven year-old Caleb, who just returned from camp last week.

These experiences are made possible by the generosity of the YES community. Thanks to hundreds of supporters, we exceeded our $50,000 goal for the 2017 Summer Campfire Campaign and raised $57,500. That's 150 campers sponsored! Several matching grants maximized your contributions: every donation to the campaign was doubled, and many were tripled during our bonfire days!

Now, at summer's mid-point, we are also looking ahead. Please Save the Date for our fourth annual Rock in the Redwoods benefit concert: Saturday, September 9th. This year we have early bird ticket prices  through August 5th! Read on to learn more.

Most Sincerely,