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by Jim Sparks –
In January 2010, youth workers from throughout the Western Territory will converge upon Mt. Hermon Camp and Conference Center near Santa Cruz, California, for the third and largest “Boot Camp”—a leadership conference for Western Territorial youth workers.
The inaugural Boot Camp took place in January 2005 at Camp Redwood Glen in the Golden State Division. Two hundred youth workers and instructors gathered for general sessions and nearly 50 workshops. Numerous programs started in corps across the territory following the territory-wide event and attendance in existing programs made a big jump. The success of the first conference led to approval of a second Boot Camp in 2008. Over 460 people attended the second conference.
2010 theme
This Boot Camp will focus on the idea of “Strictly Liberating.” Too many times youth programmers feel like they are pigeonholed into a programming structure, which squashes new ideas. We want delegates to get out of the cage and explore new ways to be relevant within the community and culture.
2010 chaplain
Bart Tarman, a former chaplain of Westmont College, Young Life staff member, and associate pastor, is an ordained Presbyterian minister and holds a Master’s of Divinity. For the past six years, he has worked with members of the U.S. House and Senate prayer groups to encourage friendships in Jesus around the world. He and his wife of 38 years, Linda, help serve as liaisons on behalf of these groups to Latin American nations.
2010 speakers
As always, Boot Camp will include a number of top-notch youth specialists, including:
Mark Oestreicher currently volunteers with young teens at Journey Community Church in La Mesa, California. Previously, he filled a number of notable positions, including president of Youth Specialties, executive pastor at Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena, California, junior high pastor in a few different churches, and he has written curriculum and books for multiple publishers. He regularly blogs at ysmarko.com.
Charles Lee is the lead cultural catalyst and pastor for New Hope in Torrance and Los Angeles, California, and is the vice-president and founding member of JustOne, a non-profit organization committed to addressing issues of poverty, orphans and human trafficking (modern-day slavery). He regularly blogs at charlestlee.com.
2010 workshops
Delegates can select seminars according to their needs from seven categories: basic programming, personal growth, media, advanced programming, how to…, helping hurting kids, culture and forums.
Registration closes January 15, 2009.