ABOUT YES CAMP
YES History
Youth Empowerment Summer Camp (YES) began in 1990 at Fontainebleau State Park on the shore of Lake Ponchartrain near Mandeville, Louisiana. Because of damage sustained by the park during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, our summer camp moved to Chicot State Park located between Lafayette and Alexandria in South Central Louisiana. In 2012, we moved back to the newly built group camp at Fontainbleau State Park.
YES Camp is a non-profit organization. All of our staff are volunteers. Because of the impact camp has had on many of our campers lives, most of our staff were actually campers at one time. We have the capacity to accept registrations for nearly 150 campers. The cost to run two camps each summer is very expensive. Funding for our camp has been provided through corporate grants, donations, sponsorship's and registration fees.
YES Staff
The staff at YES Camp is committed to providing a warm, safe environment where campers can make new friends, learn how to overcome obstacles, develop self-confidence and have a great time.
We have approximately 50 staff members to meet the needs of each of our campers. We carefully select a dedicated and skilled staff of adults, and university, college and high school students who are experienced in working with young people and are committed to Christian values. They have the highest integrity, and personal and spiritual maturity. Medical and nursing care is always on hand. All staff members over the age of 17 undergo a criminal background check.
Our camp director is Brandon J. Antwine, a former educator and school leader in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System from 2009 - 2018. He currently serves as Executive Director for Chick-fil-A and works to develop teams and leaders. He has served in numerous capacities at camp since 2002 and has served as camp director for over a decade. His leadership skills and ability to connect with the youth is a great asset to our camp. His vision is centered around building leaders that will positively impact tomorrow. With over two decades of service, he is committed to the continuation of the mission God created through camp in 1990.
Our former director, Anthony Rice, is now the Facilities Supervisor. His organizational skills as well as his experience are a vital piece to the success of our camp. Anthony Rice has been a pastor with Grace Communion International in Baton Rouge since 1990.
Regional Youth Ministries - Louisiana
Regional Youth Ministries - Louisiana, who sponsors the camp, is a ministry to teens and pre-teens living in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Alabama. Of course, we don't limit our activities to youth from these states only. Anyone living in another state is welcome to join us. The main activities that we sponsor during the year are two YES summer camps and several youth events in the Baton Rouge and Lafayette, LA areas.