The weather is getting warmer, the end of the school year is approaching, and exciting plans are in the works for a timehonored youth tradition - summer camp, courtesy of Marfa Young Life. Young Life is a global, faith-based youth ministry for high school-aged teens, and many don’t even have to be regular churchgoers to attend.

Connor Travis, area director for Young Life in the Big Bend, said non-church going kids are especially welcomed, and that is what Young Life aims for. Travis started Young Life in Marfa, and welcomes Alpine teens as well. He is looking to expand to Presidio in the fall. A native of Boerne, Travis and wife Caroline live in Marfa, but work with youth throughout the Big Bend. “We have had several kids from Alpine over the years come and join us in Marfa for different Young Life events, and they have even gone to summer camp with us,” said Travis.

This year there are plans to trek to Fraser, Colo., for one of Young Life’s properties, Crooked Creek Ranch, a dazzling camp situated in an outdoor environment that has welcomed teens, volunteers, and guests every summer since 1999. It will be held June 7-11.

“At camp, we will have a lot of different activities - horse riding, go karts, zip lines, rope courses, hiking, and pools and rivers for paddle boarding and swimming,” said Travis.

Travis stressed this was also a faith-based program, and he hopes that over the course of a week in a fun environment, teens can get a clear picture of who Jesus Christ is and what He has done. Last year, Young Life summer camps across the U.S. had to cancel due to COVID, but this year safety measures will be implemented to ensure campers stay healthy and safe. Besides social distancing and face masks, numbers of campers will be reduced. Big Bend Young Life campers will join other groups from across Texas and the U.S. Many volunteers will be saddling up horses at the ranch, serving food, and more.

Now that Easter is upon us, Travis offered a message of hope for teens and youth as they have encountered challenging times this year.

“Even in the midst of a time when things aren’t normal, and there is isolation, and there is loneliness, I hope that during Easter and all the time, we might know that when Jesus went to the cross and gave himself up for us, that He did that so He could be with us, so we would not have to be alone,” said Travis. “Jesus did all that for our high school friends in mind, so that they don’t have to do life by themselves.”

The deadline to register for summer camp is Saturday, May 1. For more information or to sign up, call Travis at 210-241-4470, or visit the Big Bend Young Life website at Bigbend.younglife.org.