Building connections at Youth Leadership Camp gives Amy June Rowley fond memories from #YLC1986. #YLC2022 is back IN PERSON in Stayton, Oregon, are you planning to apply as a camper (we call you Leaders there)!?

Apply before February 1st: Link

[Video Description & Transcript: A person is standing in the center, with a white wall behind. Person is wearing a dark blue and gray striped sleeves with light pink glasses.

June: Hi, my name is Amy June Rowely. I went to YLC in 1986.

(YLC logo in green an white appeared on the top left, and a green text box with a white text, “I went to YLC in 1986.”)

I was only 13 years old at that time. My experience at YLC has really made a huge impact on me. I grew up mainstreamed, so I was alone. I went to YLC, and WOW - I spent time with deaf people. There were many people that I met there. Eventually, I went to college, there was a community that I’ve already met through YLC. My most valuable experience from YLC was how much network there was!

(A brown text box with a white text, “Amazing Network!”)

Wow! I feel that YLC has given me the opportunity to unite together and connected with them like a family. (A dark yellow text box with a black text, “We became family”)

There were many things at YLC that I never had before. Being mainstreamed, I didn’t have the opportunity to present on stage, socialize, and learn - everything in ASL! It was amazing! I did several outdoor activities there, which I personally love outdoors! (A green text box with a white text, “I feel connected with people through outdoor activities,”)

I personally love to connect with people through outdoor activities, like camping, hiking, backpacking, cope course, and so on. There were so many different activities. It was amazing. We had a bonfire and chatted away. These simple things that were taken for granted, because when I was with hearing people, they have all the opportunities but me.

Growing up, I went camping with hearing people - as well as backpacking. I was always with an interpreter, - sometimes there was none. At YLC, you didn’t need an interpreter. Everything was through sign language! I really enjoyed it a lot, and I loved watching all the staff and chatting with them. There were so many mentors whom I looked up to. Wow. There are so many same people I still look up to this day - wow. It’s amazing to think that I’ve met them when I was a child.

I feel really good that I can give it back to the community as a leader today.

(Video cuts to an ending slide. It has a green background with white, yellow and dark orange confetti on the top corners. In the top center, a Youth Leadership Camp logo in green and white. Below, a white text, “Are you ready to be a leader? Camper Application is available online! Visit youth.nad.org/ylc and apply by February 1, 2022!)]