harm.less

Summer camp is the best thing ever. As kids, many of us have amazing memories of days spent swimming, making friends, roasting s’mores, and generally having the time of our lives at lakes, in forests, and on the shore.

But who says this amazing annual experience is just for children? Enter YEA Camp, a specialty vegan summer camp for adult activists that’s all kinds of fun.

And while YEA Camp includes all the awesome stuff you remember about camp (games, dance parties, outdoor excursions) — it’s got even more to offer. It’s also about supporting activists of all kinds who are working to make the world a better place.

Running from June 30th through July 6th at Woodstock Farm Sanctuary (CUTE ANIMALS YOU GUYS) in High Falls, NY, YEA Camp for adults is one of a kind.

Founded by longtime vegan advocate Nora Kramer, the camp is designed to help activists recharge, forge friendships, and kickstart their efforts.

“I started thinking a lot about why humans can become so cynical and apathetic with age, and in many ways I created YEA Camp as an intervention to give people the tools they need to turn their compassion into action rather than to decide they are ‘just one person’ and give up,” says Kramer. “Taking time away during the summer is the perfect opportunity to focus deeply on such an important issue, and mixing this serious purpose with the fun and inspiration of summer camp brings a joy to our activism that can be more sustainable.”

Campers come from across the U.S., and some even fly in from different parts of the world. The camp maxes out at around 35 participants.

While there is a curriculum focused around activism, there’s also tons of fun camp stuff — and a delicious, all-vegan food menu, obviously! Plus the adorable rescued animals of Woodstock Farm Sanctuary are on site. Swoon!

There’s also a teen version of YEA Camp that runs multiple times a year. The camp was originally founded by Kramer a decade ago, but it’s grown and evolved over time.

“I love that we are able to mix silliness with seriousness so well,” says Kramer of the YEA camp experience. “While we do workshops on serious topics, we also play games and have a dance party and get to know each other much more deeply than the superficial relationships that many people are used to.”

It’s a total bonding experience, Kramer explains. Lucky campers get to make art, have deep convos, spend time in nature, and visit with animals.

“By the end of camp, campers have a much stronger understanding of the problems in our world and solutions to them,” says Kramer. “They have built skills that they can use to really make a difference on the cause that care about. They have really improved their self-confidence so that they are willing to be courageous and to get out of their comfort zone to speak up about a cause that’s important to them or take action that they might otherwise have felt too nervous to act on. And they come away knowing they are not alone. They make new friends who care just as much as they do and who will cheer them on, and are connected to an organization that they can collaborate with on their cause.”

Campers have gone on to do incredible, innovative things, she adds, from getting more vegan options on cafeteria menus to raising thousands for the local homeless population.

If you want to make the most of summer vacay, YEA Camp still has slots open! Registration is active and the camp is also hiring for the summer! Go to YEACAmp.org for dates, location info, details, and to register. (All photos courtesy of YEA Camp!)

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