Yorkshire Region Youth Reports

The YDA (Yorkshire District Association) celebrated its 100th year in 2010. This amazing achievement would have been very difficult had it not been for those member’s, who over the years volunteered to invest their time and energy into becoming Youth Leaders, encouraging children and young people of all ages to camp ensuring the continuity of the DA. With this in mind, the YDA decided to acknowledge the contributions made by the Youth to the DA by making 2011 ‘The Year of The Youth’.

Throughout the last year the Junior Youth and Youth members have organised events and taken part in activities including a Car Wash, Casino Night, Burger Bar, Coffee Mornings and Snowtubing.We have also had 2 enterprising youth, who set up a nail bar to raise funds to enable them to attend the FICC Youth International in Croatia at Easter 2012 .

Weekend rallies at Lightwater Valley Theme Park and Aerial Extreme were specifically organised with children and young people in mind. Aerial Extreme was very successful and it was the first time the Camping & Caravanning Club has been allowed to camp in the beautiful grounds of Camp Hill Estate near Bedale where this popular high wire assault course is based. Over 30 Youth and Junior Youth completed the aerial course climbing through the trees and even a few adults managed it too! (Youth member Beth says….”Aerial Extreme was loads of fun, especially doing the leap of faith, off an 80ft tower. I have never been so scared whilst having so much fun in my life”

Throughout the year the Youth Leaders Paul & Judith Allen, who both started their camping days as Junior Youth members over 43 years ago, together with their Youth Leader Assistants, Kim & Wayne Briggs, have coached a record number of Junior Youth, Youth and even adults through the CCY Youth Test.
This culminated in 5 Junior Youth (Freya Ellis, Harvey Ellis, Callum Stephens, Jessica Shipley and Emma Briggs) passing their Junior Youth Test.
4 Youth (Victoria Carr, Jacob Carr, Beth Stephens and Melissa Whitwam) passing their Youth Test. 3 adults (Wayne Briggs, Alison Carr and the YDA Chairman Andy Bannon) were also successfully put through the various aspects of the Youth Test by David Wrigglesworth who was not only a YDA Youth Leader and Tester in his day but is also with his wife Pat are currently the YDA’s longest active members with a combined membership of over an 100 Years.

‘The Year of The Youth’ has given all members of the DA an opportunity to appreciate just how much dedication and hard work the Youth Leaders and their Assistants put into the running of the Youth Sections and also how much the Youth themselves contribute to the success of the YDA whilst always having fun.

These young people are our future!