“All I want to do is take people on trails and talk to them about Jesus. Adventure camping has always been part of my heartbeat. It’s always been about trails, people, and Jesus. After two summers of guiding at different Young Life adventure camps, in the summer of 2023 God presented an idea to lead a trip in Northern Michigan for people who would otherwise not have the chance for wilderness adventure. That’s where YoungLives came in. We invited young moms who have graduated from the YoungLives program and wanted to grow in their faith.

We decided that this trip would be different from other YoungLives camps by not inviting the children along or providing childcare. This trip was going to be entirely about the moms. We wanted them to focus on their identity in Christ rather than their identity as a mom. Our goal was to provide space for them to disconnect, slow down, catch their breath, be discipled, and have fun playing in God’s creation. The women slept in an off-grid cabin, had campfires under the stars, rode horses, kayaked, hiked, and tried to go fishing. They shared their life stories, cried, laughed, prayed, and studied the Bible together. ​ Most importantly, they heard again that they have a God who loves and pursues them. That He is relentless in his pursuit of them. The women left with a renewed sense of who they are as women.​ They realized that it is alright to step away from their kids and normal life to be with God.”