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NRL News
Summer …
the Perfect Time to SAVE Some Lives! School is out and it’s time to relax! That is, unless you’re a pro-life teen or college student, in which case summer is an absolutely perfect opportunity to get more involved in the fight for life! While I am far too old to remember my teenage summer vacations in any detail, I did just sit down with my trusty assistant, Amanda, who is a college student recently freed from the confines of lecture halls and labs. She is also a veteran of the teen pro-life movement and has spent the last five summers being an active pro-life advocate. The following are her very helpful recommendations for how pro-life youth can stay active this summer. To make it easy we’re going to call it the Summer SAVE Program because our goal, after all, is to SAVE the lives of the unborn, the elderly, the medically vulnerable, and people with disabilities. Start Groups. Summer is the ideal time of year to lay the groundwork for a new Teens for Life or college pro-life group or to set goals for one that already exists. If you want to hit the ground running when school starts, there is a lot that needs to be done. First of all, find some friends who share your passion for life and enlist their help. Then seek out others of like mind who wish to join you in the planning. Some very helpful information on starting a Teens for Life group is available from Wisconsin Right to Life in the form of a Teens for Life Handbook. National Right to Life offers guidelines for starting a pro-life group on your college campus. Attend Camps and Other Events. Believe it or not, there are a number of pro-life educational events open to youth during the summer months. One such opportunity exists in the form of some really fun, extremely educational, and generally awesome pro-life summer camps held in Wisconsin, which are open to youth from around the nation. Wisconsin Right to Life sponsors Camp Esther and Camp Nehemiah over two weeks during the summer—one in Northern Wisconsin June 24–29 and one in Southern Wisconsin July 22–27. Camp Esther offers the basics on abortion and euthanasia, while Camp Nehemiah gives advanced education on the same topics. Together, they are the ultimate week of pro-life adventure, complete with recreation, games, cookouts, and—best of all—the chance to spend time with other youth who share your passion for the cause of life. Everyone who attends has a great time and most come back again and again. When asked what her favorite part of camp was, our friend Kacie, a camp veteran, came up with this: “Camp itself is my favorite thing about camp. But then there’s the learning—that’s my other favorite part of camp.” We call that a ringing endorsement. Camp is so much fun that you really can’t pick out your favorite part! This year’s guest speakers at camps will include Terri Schiavo’s siblings (Suzanne at North and Bobby at South) along with the Franciscan Brothers of Peace, pro-life doctors, a state senator, longtime pro-life advocates, and even one sitting pro-life district attorney! Check with your NRLC state affiliate for other events happening in your area or ... hey, come join us in Wisconsin for camps! Volunteer. With all of that “extra” time on your hands, summer is a great time to do a little volunteer work. Call the local chapter of the NRLC affiliate in your state and ask how you can get involved, or contact your local pregnancy help center and offer your services. Chapters are always looking for help with their fair booths and other events, and volunteering in this capacity is a great way to build relationships with the adult groups in your area. (Hint: if they know and love you, they will probably help you out with your teen or college group!!) Educate Yourself and Others. Summer is also the perfect time to brush up on your pro-life knowledge. Of course we assume that you are doing this all year long, but with a few free months stretching out ahead of you, you can really dig in! Sign up for the Pro-Life Infonet and search the site for stories on topics that interest you. For college students wanting to be appropriately armed to face off with peers and professors in the fall, focus on stem cells, euthanasia, and abortion’s negative impact on women around the world. In Amanda’s words, “Global things are good. Everyone is thinking globally these days.” So those are just a few of the options you have to stay active and involved in the cause of life over the summer months. Remember, abortionists don’t stop killing babies, and the euthanasia movement doesn’t take a break over the summer, so we can’t afford to rest, either! For more information on any of the programs or resources listed in this article, please contact us at jlittle@wrtl.org or call us at (715) 378-4302. |