How long has YL been around?
Young Life started in 1940.  In 1952 Young Life started in Naperville at Glenbard High School (now Glenbard West).  After shutting down in the early 80’s, Young Life was restarted in Glen Ellyn in 1993 for kids from Glen Ellyn.  Since then, Young Life programs have started at other schools in town:  Wheaton Warrenville South (1996), Glenbard South (1998), Wheaton North (2001), Glenbard East (2004).  Thanks to new staff, parent, and committee involvement Wheaton schools have recently grown at a rapid enough rate to warrant dividing the area into Wheaton & Glen Ellyn to keep things managable.
 
Where is Young Life active?
Young Life is active in nearly 10% of all U.S. high schools and in 50 countries around the world.  There are over 40 schools with Young Life programs in the Chicagoland area, including many in the Western Suburbs.  These include Glenbard West, Glenbard South, Naperville Central, Naperville North, Neuqua Valley, Waubonsie Valley, East Aurora, Wheaton Warrenville South, Wheaton North, Geneva, St. Charles, Hinsdale Central, Hinsdale South, and York High School.  For more information on Young Life at these schools outside the Glen Ellyn area, check out the national web site at younglife.org
 
How many kids are involved in Young Life?
On average, over 77,000 high school students nationwide attend Young Life meetings each week!  In the Glen Ellyn area, over 900 current students have attended a Young Life meeting and nearly 400 are actively involved (attend at least once per month).
 
What is the difference between Young Life and WyldLife?
Young Life is our high school program and WyldLife is our junior high program specifically designed for 7th & 8th graders.  Each high school has its own Young Life program that meets each week.  WyldLife meets once every other week.
 
What do teachers and administrators think about Young Life?
Although Young Life is not an officially school sponsored club, teachers and administrators are very supportive of Young Life and its work with high school kids.  Many teachers, counselors, and administrators in the area are Young Life supporters and some were involved as high school students themselves.  In addition, some teachers are currently involved as volunteer leaders.  To see what some of these individuals are saying about Young Life, check out the Community Endorsement Page.
 
Who Runs Young Life?
It is a joint effort between Volunteer Committee Members, Staff, Volunteer Leaders, and Donors.  Young Life exists in any community because adults within that community step up to get it started and ensure its long term health.  A group of adults serve on the local Young Life Committee and act as an oversight board while helping to raise funds and support the local staff and volunteer leaders.  There are over 30 adults who currently serve on the Young Life committee in Glen Ellyn.   Three full time staff, five part time staff, and 28 volunteer leaders in the Glen Ellyn area work directly with kids.  An individual staff person and a team of 4-10 volunteer leaders work together to run the Young Life or Wyld Life program at each of the five schools we work with.  Our team of volunteer leaders include college students, young professionals, and teachers.  All of our staff and volunteer leaders have been extensively trained and have passed a background check. 
 
How is Young Life funded?
Young Life is funded exclusively by the donations of individuals, churches, businesses, and service organizations within the Glen Ellyn area.  Donations are tax deductible and can be sent directly to our local office.  For more information about supporting Young Life, please contact our local office at 630-469-5060.
 
What is Young Life’s relationship with local churches?
Young Life hopes to complement not compete with the efforts of churches and youth groups in the area.  There are several churches doing great things with their youth groups.  However, with over 6,000 students in high school in the Glen Ellyn area, there are thousands of kids that are not actively involved in a church.  Our hope is to reach these kids and share what it means to know and follow Christ.  For kids actively involved in a church already, Young Life can be a great complement to their spiritual development.  In addition, these same kids can use Young Life as a tool to reach out to their friends who may not come to a church youth group for one reason or another.  Just as kids who play a sport for their school typically play on a club team as well, there is no reason why kids involved in the church can’t also participate in Young Life and vice versa.
  
Why does Young Life exist?
Young Life exists to help kids understand the Christian faith and how it applies to their lives.  Because over 80% of all high school students are not actively involved in a church, Young Life exists to help reach out to these unreached kids.
 
Do you join Young Life or become a member of Young Life?
Young Life is not something you join and it does not have members.  Some kids never miss a meeting while others float in and out.  Young Life is open to any high school student at any time and there are no charges or dues paid to attend Young Life meetings.  Kids do pay for camp trips and some special events (bowling lock-in, movie nights) to help cover the costs but not to make profit.  Any money that is “made” on camp trips or through special events in put into a camp scholarship fund to enable kids to attend a Young Life camp who would otherwise be unable to attend.