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staff team
Chelsea Lake (she/her/hers)
Executive Director
Chelsea first encountered The YES Camp back in 1999 as a participant in the program. Her profound and transformative experience inspired her to pour her time and energy into The YES. She worked as a volunteer, summer student and administrator before becoming Camp Director in 2009. Having worked with thousands of youth through The YES Camp, classroom workshops and Change it Up! program, Chelsea feels honoured to be able to support and witness the formation of life-changing communities and relationships with The Youth Excellence Society. Her work with the program inspired her to complete her Master of Education in Leadership Studies at the University of Victoria. She brings to The YES a rich history with the organization as well as masterful facilitation skills and a deep knowledge of leadership and education.
Sydney Giesbrecht (she/her/hers)
Program Director
Sydney first joined the program in 2009 as a participant, this formative experience ignited a deep commitment to youth development and leadership. Since 2012 Sydney has been a dedicated member of The YES Camp team contributing in various roles including Creative Director. In addition to Sydney's work with The YES Camp, she is a passionate certified teacher specializing in Careers and Personal Planning as well as Leadership in the Central Okanagan school district. Sydney thrives on creating supportive environments for teenagers, where they can feel valued and empowered. With a rich background in both education and camp leadership, Sydney is dedicated to fostering meaningful connections and guiding young people toward personal and professional growth. Her commitment to nurturing positive, impactful experiences continues to shape the vibrant community at The YES Camp and beyond.
the team
The YES Staff team are an incredible group of over 50 individuals from around BC. While the majority of our staff are YES Camp Alumni, we also welcome other highly skilled individuals with experience in youth leadership, education, empowerment and counselling.
The application process to join the YES Staff team is highly competitive, and the quality of our facilitators is second to none. If you're interested in applying for a volunteer staff position, applications are open every spring.
