Welcome to the April 2005 edition of Camp Fire USA's Youth Connection! This newsletter is brought to you by members of the National Youth Advisory Cabinet (YAC) and other youth around the country.

We welcome any feedback or thoughts you have about the newsletter because, after all, it is created for youth by youth and we want it to be as useful as possible. If you would like to share feedback or ideas, please contact Youth Connection.

New Online Survey
There is a new addition to the Camp Fire USA teen Web site! The Youth Advisory Cabinet has designed a survey to help us better understand how important some of the issues in today's society are to you. So, if you have some free time, take the survey now. Make your voice heard!

YAC Application Process
Two of the newest members of Camp Fire USA's national Youth Advisory Cabinet (YAC), Hillary U and Lindsey Edens, offer the following insights regarding their experiences with the YAC application process.

Why did you decide to apply to be a member of YAC?
Hillary: I had such a good time at the National Youth Leadership Forum last summer, and it looked like such a fun thing to do. The people on YAC always looked like they were having a good time
Lindsey: I was born and raised in Camp Fire, so it's kind of another rung on the ladder—local YAC to here. Also, I was good friends with Morgan Munro (former YAC chair), and she told me all about it. I didn't think I'd make it because there is already someone from my council on YAC, but it makes me pretty happy that I'm able to get my word out there.

What was the process like?
Hillary: Writing the essay was kind of hard, because I wasn't sure what I wanted to say. Also, waiting to hear about the results was really difficult.
Lindsey: It was really odd, because everyone kept telling me not to apply. Then I went to the National Youth Leadership Forum in San Diego, and it just reminded me how cool YAC really is, and I decided I had to apply. So, I went back home, got a copy of the application from my council's executive director and filled it out. I was really nervous because I was waiting and waiting, but finally I got a call saying I was going to be interviewed.

What was the interview like?
Hillary: Kind of scary; it's kind of intimidating. It was good though, because everyone was really nice. If you're just yourself, it'll be fine.
Lindsey: They ask questions like, "Why do you want to be on YAC? What do you do outside of Camp Fire USA? What would your commitment level be? How much time can you dedicate to YAC?" It was short and quick.

Was there anything difficult about the application?
Hillary: It was hard to pick just one issue that I wanted to be committed to, because there are so many out there that I'm interested in.
Lindsey: It's hard to write the essay about the most pressing issue facing youth today, because there are so many things that are important to youth today. I ended up writing on how youth of today don't really know who they are and their journey to figure out who they want to become. I think Camp Fire USA really helps that, so that's why I wrote about it. That was hard.

Who from your community wrote your recommendation letters?
Hillary: The program director at my home council and two family friends.
Lindsey: It was kind of hard to find people to write my recommendations, because almost everything I do somehow relates back to Camp Fire USA. But, I ended up having one of my teachers, our executive director at my council and the head of the ski patrol that I work for write my recommendations.

Now that you're on YAC what do you think?
Hillary: At first it's really overwhelming because there's no one telling you exactly what to do. But I think I've got it down now: managing my time and getting things done.
Lindsey: I think it's awesome. I love being able to get my point of view out there and make decisions. I want to spread the word of Camp Fire USA. I love it. For me, it's so exciting just to be helping out.

Any last thoughts?
Hillary: YAC is great—definitely something to apply to. Don't worry about the number of slots, for anything can happen.
Lindsey: Everyone should apply to YAC if they'd like to make an impact.

If you have any questions for Hillary or Lindsey, feel free to e-mail them at yac@campfireusa.org … they'd love to hear from you!

If you're ready to start your YAC application, download the YAC application from the Youth Advisory Cabinet page. (Scroll down to the bottom and look under "Application Process."

National Leadership Conference
What? Camp Fire USA's first yearly National Leadership Conference (NLC)
When? October 27-30, 2005
Where? Kansas City, Missouri, home of Camp Fire USA National Headquarters
Who? Youth and adult representatives from all Camp Fire USA councils
Why? If you attend NLC, you will learn more about how to be a leader in your council, you will meet other youth from across the nation, and you will help choose Camp Fire USA's National Youth Campaign topic for 2005-2007. Come join us!

ALSO, the Youth Advisory Cabinet is currently designing training workshops for the youth; if there is something you'd really like to learn more about or have any ideas about workshops, we'd love to hear from you! E-mail yac@campfireusa.org.

Look for NLC resources, fundraising ideas and more on the teen Web site in upcoming months!

Absolutely Incredible Kid Day®
Absolutely Incredible Kid Day® (AIKD) was a success around the country due to the hard work of many dedicated youth and adults involved in Camp Fire USA. Below are some of the amazing things they did for this special day recognizing how cool kids really are, and what a positive impact adults have in their lives.

• "I had members of my college-level child development class write letters to youth in their day care and school programs."
• "Members of my teen group raised money to throw an ice cream party for children at my church."
• "I gave friends at school stationary to write letters to kids they baby sit or their siblings."
• "I worked with my congressman, social workers in our local neonatal care unit and students at school; we ended up writing over 300 letters!"
• "I worked with Circle K, a campus volunteer organization, to write letters to local students in the community."
• "My Camp Fire USA group members and I each wrote five letters to the special kids in our lives."

If your council did something exciting for AIKD, e-mail us at yac@campfireusa.org. We'd love to publish stories of your successes in the upcoming Youth Connection.

Know YOUR Camp Fire USA!
1) How many members reside on the National Youth Advisory Cabinet?
a) 8
b) 10
c) 12
d) 14

2) Which of the following has NOT been a focus of a National Youth Campaign in the past six years?
a) Illiteracy
b) Global Awareness
c) Hunger and Homelessness
d) Youth Violence

3) Which of the following has not been an official name of Camp Fire USA sometime during the history of the organization?
a) Camp Fire Boys and Girls
b) Camp Fire, Inc.
c) Camp Fire International
d) Camp Fire Girls

Answers: 1) c, 2) a, 3) c

Check back next month for the next issue of Camp Fire USA's Youth Connection. If you would like to receive subsequent issues by e-mail, please contact Youth Connection.