Wisconsin Camps Train Pro-Life Teen Leaders.

What do you get when you take 15-30 teenagers and put them together in a room for two or three days in July, without air conditioning? You might assume that "chaos," or "short tempers," would be the answer, but only if you haven't been to Camp Esther or Camp Nehemiah.

When junior high through college-aged young people from around Wisconsin, and a few from out of state, converged last month, they brought with them an eagerness to learn and a determination to make a difference in defending the rights of the unborn and medically vulnerable. When these young pro-lifers left Camp Esther and Camp Nehemiah, they departed better educated and more passionate than ever to take on the death culture--and win.

This all took place when Wisconsin Right to Life (WRL) hosted its third annual summer training camps for teens.

Camp Esther, the "beginner" camp is based on the biblical story of Queen Esther. She was called "for such a time as this" to save an entire group of people from certain destruction. Teens who attend Camp Esther learn that they, too, are called for just such a time, and for an equally noble cause--saving unborn children and vulnerable adults from a culture that says their lives have no value.

Camp Nehemiah, the "advanced" camp is built around the story of Nehemiah. You remember when he learned that the walls of his beloved Jerusalem were in dangerous disrepair, he immediately implemented a strategy to rebuild them. Nehemiah campers learn that they have a stake in rebuilding the "wall" that protects life in America and around the world.

But this bear outline doesn't even begin to convey the entirety of the experience at these camps. Something amazing happens when pro-life teens get together, especially when many of the sessions include pro-life teens doing the training.

Over 3/4 of the speakers at the basic camp are graduates of previous camps. This strategy to turn campers into leaders benefits everyone involved.