Young Life leaders want to make the most of every opportunity to impact kids.  Here are the cornerstones of our strategy to reach every kid.
 
Contact Work.  Contact Work takes place wherever kids are: at school, at ball games, at the skate park, at local shops and restaurants.  Leaders build relationships with kids, one by one, earning the right to be heard.
 
Clubs.  Young Life Club for high school kids meets weekly at the Young Life Center on Northwood Boulevard.  Saturday Night Wyld for middle school kids meets monthly at Incline Middle School.  Clubs have been described as  “controlled chaos.”  Leaders combine songs, humor, and group interaction to create an hour or more of energetic fun where kids can express that teenage tendency to push the limits - but within a safe environment.  During the last fifteen minutes of club, one Young Life leader talks with kids about the challenges and meaning of life, in terms kids can appreciate, enjoy, and understand.  Building relationships with one another and with God are a key focus of club talks.  Kids listen carefully because their leaders are proven friends.
 
Campaigners.  In the early days, Young Life was called “the Young Life campaign.”  This tradition continues today, where kids meet weekly in small groups with a leader to discuss issues in their life, read together, explore matters of faith, and encourage one another.
 
Camps.  Young Life camps are often described by kids as “the best week of their lives.” It includes fast paced action and adventure that leaves kids on the edge of their seats, wondering what might be waiting around the next bend.  At the same time, camp sweeps away the noise and pressure of daily life at home and puts kids in perfect position to reflect upon their life and strengthen their relationships with God and one another.  Young Life owns 25 properties across North America.  Each property is set in beautiful natural surroundings and is equipped with facilities and tools geared for both high adventure and personal discovery.  At camp, kids and leaders play all day and then end each evening with a Young Life club.  After club, kids return to their cabins and talk openly with leaders and friends about the issues most important to their lives.  "Cabin time" is often the event kids point to as their favorite part of the week.
 
Missions.  Each spring, Young Life sponsors a mission trip to help needy families and communities.  Usually, we build new houses for needy families in Mexico.  In 2006, we rebuilt homes in Mississippi which were damaged by Hurricane Katrina.  About fifty local high school kids and adult volunteers usually join this tradition.  Kids work hard, play hard and camp in primitive conditions.  They are inspired by passionate speakers and energetic music.  Friendships are built across cultural barriers, and both kids and adults discover the joy of giving to others.