In week two of the 2026 Encampment, Encampers delved into “How Did We Get Here,” starting by looking at their home communities. They then traced their families’ stories of migration/movement and the societal factors involved. Thursday brought a unique opportunity to travel to Limuw Island with members of the Chumash community. Encampers also began a series of youth-led workshops, starting with the issue of gun violence.
In the first week of the 2026 Encampment, the Encampers began to share their personal and community stories in the circle and in conversations. They explored what it means to live in community and created their own community agreements. They developed their leadership skills, including facilitation, communication and finding their voices, and storytelling and much more.
Near the conclusion of the 2026 Encampment, we will come together to share current and past reflections, inspirations, and strategies. Join us July 17–19 in-person in Thousand Oaks, CA. You can also participate virtually for two sessions.
We interviewed Belinda who told us about her Encampment experiences (as an Encamper and intern and beyond) and summed up what she learned by saying, “I learned the importance of staying curious and seeking truth through the lives of other people who experience it in different corners of the nation…. I’ve stayed connected with the Encampment since I started. I learned that community is the way forward and worthwhile as I continue to do public service work.”
We are writing today to ask for your help with a core part of the EFC’s mission. Each summer, we bring together young people (ages 15–18) of different ethnic, religious, gender orientation, geographic, and economic backgrounds for a living experience of participatory democracy and skills building. Your support is the reason that we are able to bring young people from different backgrounds together from across the country and beyond who want to work toward creating a more just world.
We interviewed Peter Neufeld, Encampment alum and co-founder of the Innocence Project. He told us about his lifelong work for justice and how “the Encampment was one of the most defining experiences of my youth.” My summer in Kentucky played a significant role in my expanding involvement in social and racial justice work in high school, college, and beyond. I had to confront a lot of things about my own upbringing — race, gender, and relative affluence — and it committed me much more to wanting change.