Ladies Leadership Camp 2011

YWAP Smiles, lot's of them!

Each YWAP Leadership camp gets better than the previous camp. It always happens without fail. That's the view that you see when the camp is over and all of the youth have returned home. It is not because the young people are any better than any of the other young people that have come to a YWAP Camp. I think the camps get better because the YWAP Leadership Team of Mentors learns from the young people.

There used to be an old hamburger commercial that asked the question: "Where's the beef?" We never ask that question at camp because there is almost always a 'beef' of some kind amongst the campers. There may be a pre-existing feud caused by "boy friend stealing" or gossip. Sometimes it's gang related. There is always a point at Camp where you feel like this particular camp has more beefs than all of the other camps combined. That perception comes from precedent setting behaviors in previous camps. We always have beefs, so I don't lose sleep over people arguing. I have adopted this philosophy from my Mother: "This too shall pass." They will get over their beef with the help of a Certified Mentor.

Peace on top of Mouw Mountain

 Our job as Mentors is to gently nudge our campers in the direction of becoming compassionate beef-breakers. Conflict resolution at it's best includes empowering the beef holders to solve their own beef. At YWAP, we believe strongly in Pre-Conflict Resolution. I will write much more about that concept in our teaching series but for now it simply means: "Act in a manner that is conducive to fostering mutual respect." If you are trying your best to respect somebody, you will find that many beefs are not worth having. Respecting others means "cutting some slack for their behaviors." No, I'm not talking about complacency and lack of accountability. I'm simply saying: "Don't hit somebody over the head with a silver hammer just because they are in a bad mood."

No, this is not a beef. This is a good old fashioned YWAP Dunk!

I still smile when I recall what happened at about 3am on Sunday morning, June 19, 2011. I was sleeping (or trying to.)  I heard people going up and down the stairs and it sounded like a stampede. When we camp on Mouw Mountain, I sleep in a utility room outside the main entrance of the cabin. I'm kind of like a posted guard outside. I got up thinking that with all of the loud noise that there might be more trouble. I opened the door and found everybody sitting at the kitchen table talking. One of our YWAP Staff Mentors, Silvia was among them and it was peaceful so I went back to my utility room and went to sleep. The next morning, when she finally woke up, I asked Silvia what had happened to create such pleasant conversation? She said they decided to go around the room and tell each other two things; 1. What they liked about each other. 2. What they didn't like about each other.
It seemed like they decided to solve their own beef by being brutally honest with each other. This was Power Moment Mentoring at its best. Sometimes we want to jump in and spew all of our experienced gained wisdom into a situation that only needs people to listen. Silvia, a YWAP Mentor did a great job of listening and facilitating some Power Moment Mentoring.

Silvia said that they didn't go to sleep until the sun came up. I sat outside as they slept. The previous nights campfire still contained enough embers to burn again. I witnessed a beautiful sunrise thanking God for another beautiful YWAP Camp on Mouw Mountain.

Another Bright Spot at our Ladies Leadership Camp was the addition of our newest Relationship Mentor: Jessie Przybysz. She was spectacular and made this camp better because of her presence. She guided the girls up and down the wooded hills and valleys and into the creek beds. She was a great encourager and motivator. The girls had a blast becoming beneficiaries of Jessies's makeup party. Thank you Silvia and Jessie, YWAP would not have been able to have this camp without you. To our other YWAP Mentors Mama and Aitina, we missed you and we can't wait to have you back at our next YWAP event.

This is Jessie leading the way on a YWAP Walk.

If you would like to see the pictures of the 2011 YWAP Ladies Leadership Camp with Buffalo Public School #3, please go to the following link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.234323929928623.69044.111808805513470

For an excellent article and video about YWAP in the Buffalo News, please follow this link:       http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article467690.ece

*Note: The exercise used at camp at 3am will become part of the YWAP Relationship Mentoring Curriculum.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Go do something nice for somebody.

"Find new ways, 

  in as many ways, 

    in more excellent ways, 

      on all of your days, 

        to show love." 

Bob Kuebler
YWAP Director

Youth With A Purpose

In School & After School
In The Mountains & In The Hood

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Buffalo, New York 14204

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