I had a life-changing experience at the 1966 Kentucky Encampment — the first held in the deep South. Today, I pay that privilege forward by donating each year toward the sponsorship of young people whose families cannot afford the full program fee. We are committed to continuing to give young people the transformative experiences, skills and support to be the leaders we need in this harrowing time.
When I went back to my community, I thought, “If I knew everyone as deeply as I know the people at the Encampment, if everyone put that much effort into listening, then I think everyone would be much happier and more engaged.”
EFC alum Russell Neufeld shared this article with us. He is reflecting on humanism — a timely topic. In addition, since it is an articulate and compassionate exploration of what he learned at the Encampment and its long-term impact on his life, it also a kind of “alum story” so we are sharing with you.
“The Encampment transformed my world view and continues to plant the seeds of justice, resistance and change. To put it simply: We are here to build a better world and we need each other. As you know, the need is especially urgent in these times for all of us to work together to defend and strengthen our democracy and prepare future leaders.
How has the Encampment influenced your life? I’m more connected to social justice movements, for sure. I’m always thinking about the Encampment in the back of my head when I’m involved in movement meetings or protests. I’m very aware of the dynamics and the players. When I see younger folks there, I think it would be really great if they could go to the Encampment. For instance, along with leadership skills, I learned about how to be with conflict — the Encampment prepared me for some of these events by the process where we debated different topics together. It’s important to learn how to address issues – not going for the jugular and not side-stepping issues because you don’t want to confront them, either.
Synthesizing and Sharing the 2024 Encampment: In the last week of the 2024 summer Encampment, the Encampers continued to learn and synthesize the lessons they were taking home. There were some new experiences and deepening of the critical thinking and community-building processes. At the end of the week, they welcomed parents, alums, and supporters to the InterGen Weekend.