Private School Young Life Highlights

by Dawn Keller, PSYL Cabinet Leader

We are well into our 2010/2011 school year and I couldn’t be more pleased with how Private School Young Life (PSYL) is operating. We are seeing God in many places in the ministry and I’d like to share a few highlights:

1) There were over 70 people who attended the PSYL Kick Off Event at Greg and Peggy Mesna’s home on Monday, August 16th. The purpose of the event was to celebrate camp that occurred over the summer, socialize with other families involved in the PSYL ministry, meet the leaders, and listen to a message given by Robby Kiley speaking to the purpose of Young Life and what was planned for the Fall.

2) PSYL ended its 2009/2010 fiscal year on September 30th with a balanced budget, and the 2010/2011 fundraising is off to a healthy start. Our budget for 2010/2011 totals $78,784, a conservative and financially responsible budget. PSYL is entirely funded by individuals from our community and money goes to three primary areas: salary and health benefits, office and program expenses, and dues to Young Life National, which provide us with excellent training, central processing for our financial needs and legal support, among other services. Donations are gladly accepted by sending a check to: PSYL (MN 91), 8700 West 36th Street, Suite 109, St. Louis Park, MN 55426.

3) Robby Kiley celebrated his one year anniversary as PSYL Head Leader on October 11th.

4) We are blessed to have 15 young adult leaders who are dedicating their lives to walk alongside our kids to make a difference, nine with the high school students and six with the 7th and 8th graders. Did you know that Jess Nash invited the sophomore girls over to her house for lunch and conversation on a beautiful Saturday afternoon? Nick Brue is wanting to teach guitar lessons to high school boys so be watching out for more information to come, Laura Brown and Courtney Anderson plan regular social events with our middle school girls, and Christi Lareau plans to take a few senior girls to St. Thomas for a college visit, just to mention a few things that these young adults are doing with our children.

5) With the leadership of Robby Kiley and Christi Lareau, seniors meet every Friday morning at Panera Bread for Senior Breakfast. The purpose of Senior Breakfast is to engage our seniors and walk alongside them as they prepare to transition into college next year. Many of these students have made the commitment to give back to the ministry by taking on the role of assistant leaders for WyldLife Club.

6) Saturday, October 16th was the first Weekend Club. We are piloting a new concept for all high school students with the intent to reach high school students who want to participate but unable to attend Monday Club or Campaigners on Wednesday morning. Encourage your child to attend the next Weekend Club on November 6th from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Ottawa House.

7) Did you know WyldLife Club is happening in a big way at the Ottawa House once a month for 7th and 8th graders? On September 10th, 19 7th and 8th graders joined the WyldLife leadership team for a great night of Western fun and a great message introducing them to our journey with Christ throughout the year. On October 8th, 15 students attended to experience an epic evening of Pirates and Ninjas and heard about the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19). I strongly suggest that you encourage your 7th or 8th grader to find out what is in store for the November 12th Club…Robby tells me it will be full of fun with our friends from the Food Network! Come hungry!

8) I will end with mentioning the PSYL Cabinet, which consists of 14 adults from our community. PSYL would not exist without the Cabinet. Individuals on the Cabinet are passionate about the existence of PSYL and do everything necessary to keep the ministry afloat, which includes: fundraising, opening their homes for events, providing food, sending email communications, and implementing and executing programs to support and love the leaders, just to mention a few. The Cabinet will meet five times this year and anyone is welcome. The Cabinet grows by people stepping up and showing interest in being involved. If you are interested in participating please email me at dkeller@solutran.com.

These examples just touch the surface of what is happening in PSYL. As always, all students are welcome no matter what their religious beliefs are or what school they attend.

Lastly, I’d like to end by requesting feedback from the PSYL community. We welcome your thoughts, opinions, and suggestions for improvement! If you have anything to share with us, please email me at dkeller@solutran.com.

Grace and peace,

Dawn Keller
PSYL Cabinet Leader

Greetings from Private School Young Life

By Dawn Keller, PSYL Cabinet Leader

Camp is the focus of our Winter newsletter and we can’t be more excited about sharing the contents with you. The article written by Robby Kiley, Private School Young Life Head Leader, is intended for parents to read to help them understand why camp is so important. The article written by Will Smith, junior at Breck School, should be shared with your child. Will shares a few of his camp highlights and explains why your child should consider attending camp this summer.

Since both Gabriella and Georgia have been to camp a few times I will share our perspective as parents. The girls come home with statements such as…it was the best camp ever, I had so much fun with my friends, I just loved my leader(s), the food was excellent especially the warm chocolate chip cookie topped with ice cream, that was the biggest hot tub I’ve ever seen, I met some new friends, we played so many fun games, the wakeboarding was awesome, the accommodations were first class, the club talks were amazing and quiet time with leaders really meant a lot, I accepted Christ in my life, I experienced others accepting Christ in their life, and the list goes on.

If you register before January 31st you will receive a $100 discount. Camp spots will fill soon so act quickly by going to the Young Life website: swtc.younglife.org

God bless,

Dawn Keller
Private School Young Life Cabinet Leader
763-416-4860

Connecting Kids to Christ Through the 5 “Cs”

by Dawn Keller, Cabinet Leader

On behalf of the Private School Young Life (PSYL) Cabinet, I want to welcome you to the first edition of our new online newsletter. We’ll be publishing this newsletter three times a year and hope you and your family will see it as a valuable ongoing resource.

In each issue, this portion of the newsletter will be written by Dawn Keller, Cabinet Leader, so I thought it best to use the very first article to “set the stage,” if you will.

PSYL is open to everyone, regardless of school or religious beliefs. Young Life is about connecting Kids to Christ so invite others but make sure they understand there will be a message about Jesus.

There’s an old joke that education boils down to 3 “Rs” – Reading, ‘Riting and ‘Rithmetic. Well at PSYL, we’ve got the 5 “Cs” – Contact Work, Club, Camp, Campaigners and Committee. And look, ours all start with the same letter!

• Contact Work
  It’s all about engagement. Kids don’t care what you think until they know how much you care. Within Young Life, we call the act of engaging kids on their terms and in their world “contact work.” The kids just call it friendship. PYSL leaders can be seen at sporting events, shopping with kids, meeting for bagels and hot chocolate, bowling, chatting online, and many other activities to connect with kids. It’s the foundation of PSYL’s success.
  
• Club
  Think of Club as a “party with a purpose.” This controlled chaos is difficult for kids to describe, but everyone who attends considers it the best night of the week. And before the party ends, we share a simple message about God's love for them. Club meeting times are highlighted in the Fall Calendar.
• Camp – The Best Week of Their Life
  For most, it’s the best week of the summer. For many, it’s the best week of their life. PSYL kids have the opportunity to participate in 20 different Young Life camps all over the USA and Canada. This summer, PSYL had 21 9th-12th graders spend a week at Crooked Creek Camp in Colorado and another 24 7th and 8th graders went to Castaway Camp in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Along with top accommodations, they burn through the week in record time with constant, stimulating, fun activities with their leaders and friends, including a ropes course, mountain biking, rappelling, horseback riding, game rooms, water sports and more.
  
• Campaigners
  If Camp is the time to “let it all out,” then Campaigners is the time for “taking it all in.” It’s a time to more closely examine, and to grow more deeply in, a life of faith. We invite kids to actively follow Jesus Christ – and leaders are with them for the long haul to help them take those steps of faith, with unconditional love. Campaigner meeting times are highlighted in the Fall Calendar.
  
• Committee
  To make a difference, parents need to get involved. PSYL is supported by adults who care about the future of kids in our community. The Mission Community is comprised of a committee of PSYL parents (called Cabinet Members), as well as a Volunteer Leader Team of young adults who have a vested interest in Connecting Kids to Christ. This year’s Cabinet Members are Danis Byrd, Tara Clark, Jim and Nan Corwin, Diane Erickson, Jeff Holker, Emily Joern, Angie Lee, Ethan Otterlei, Carolyn Pierce, Ron and Teresa Sit, and Dawn Keller. Ethan is our newest member and was the very first Volunteer Leader for PSYL, dedicating his time and Godly talents to our kids for more than six years.
  

These 5 “Cs” make up the critical foundation of PSYL’s success, and I hope you’ll take the time to join me in helping make this organization one that acts as a catalyst for Connecting Our Kids to Christ. We need you. If you are interested in knowing how you can play a role in PSYL, please call me at 612-816-2828.

On behalf of the PSYL Cabinet, I wish you and your family a blessed start to the new school year.