<br />Youth Camp Inspires Faith, Leadership and Service Ahead of International

 

​

Days before International Youth Day, 300 young women from across British Columbia united at Camp Barnard on Southern Vancouver Island for a five-day Young Women’s Camp of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints intended to strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ and prepare them to lead in their communities. The gathering aligned with the International Youth Day goal of celebrating youth as changemakers in their communities and beyond.

Participants, aged 11 to 18, travelled from communities as far as Cranbrook and Prince Rupert—covering over a thousand kilometres of the province—to strengthen their faith, build friendships and develop leadership skills. The theme of the camp was “Look Unto Christ.”

Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus, Second Counselor in the General Young Women’s Presidency, addressed the campers with messages on discipleship and the influence of strong women in the scriptures, encouraging the young women to use their faith and skills to bless families, congregations and communities.

“Young women’s camp is a great opportunity for the girls to develop spiritually and socially,” Sister Muñoz Spannaus said. “It’s also a wonderful opportunity to practice other skills that will help them be great leaders in the Church, at work and in the community.”

As International Youth Day emphasizes, youth are powerful agents of change. More than 50 of the participants served as Youth Camp Leaders. These young women, aged 16 and up, helped plan the camp and led their younger peers throughout the week. They practiced diplomacy while delegating assignments, shared daily devotionals, cared for their group members and modeled Christlike leadership in action.

“Serving as a youth camp leader [was] a beautifully unique and perspective-changing experience,” said Amberleigh Mercado (age 16) from Abbotsford, British Columbia. “In the beginning, I felt a sense of responsibility to make this camp a memorable and spiritually uplifting experience [for] the group of girls I was in charge of. This feeling helped me see each one of them as a daughter of God. … I could see, even just a bit, of how the Lord sees us.”

With the support of more than 50 adult leaders, the participants took part in spiritual firesides, devotionals, creative workshops and outdoor activities such as a triathlon, rappelling, rock climbing, hiking and canoeing.

One of those devotionals was led by Canada Vancouver Mission President Jeff Vincent and his wife, Marie-Chantelle Vincent. She recognized immediately the impact of youth leadership and stewardship for one another.

“I was talking with a group where one spoke [Mandarin], one spoke Spanish and another spoke English, and they were all translating for each other and helping each other communicate with me for each other — and there was such a beauty in that camaraderie and love,” said Marie-Chantelle.

Mackenzie Daughton, a 16-year-old Youth Camp Leader from Blind Bay, British Columbia, learned about how to foster that camaraderie as she practiced diplomacy in making decisions and assignments.

“I think organizing people was something I learned this week that is going to help me in the future. Being able to let other people have a voice … while considering what works best for everybody,” Mackenzie said.

The BC Young Women’s Camp also demonstrated how faith-driven leadership at the local level can inspire global impact. A Love for Lesotho booth was a meaningful space where young women could act as global citizens, gathering to paint pictures and write heartfelt messages of support, sympathy and encouragement for survivors of a tragic bus accident that occurred in Lesotho, Africa, in June 2025. The accident, which involved a minibus carrying young women to a youth activity, resulted in at least 10 lives lost and 18 injuries. Through their creative expressions, the young people were able to extend empathy and compassion, bridging continents through their words and acts of service.

One of the camp’s special guests had his own ties to Africa as a former West Africa Area Presidency member. Canada’s new Area President, Elder Vern P. Stanfill (who was joined by his wife, Alicia) shared how the camp experience develops future leaders.

“[Camp] teaches youth how to be compassionate and how to care for one another — how to lift one another. I think that’s the most important thing they can learn at this age.”

Throughout the week, these lessons came to life in small but powerful acts by the youth — comforting homesick friends, encouraging peers to overcome fears on the rappelling wall, or helping a weary hiker reach the summit.

“This extraordinary experience helped these young women to Look Unto Christ in all things and feel of His comforting, strengthening and healing power,” said Elder Wolsey, Area Seventy from British Columbia. “This camp will be a key moment in their discipleship journey.”

As International Youth Day reminds us, young people are powerful agents of change. The BC Young Women’s Camp showed how faith, service and leadership training at the local level can have a lasting impact. Equipped with new skills, deeper faith and stronger connections, these young women are ready to serve and lead in their communities — doubting not, fearing not.