Stomping Ground Acquires Y² - Launching Our Year-Round Leadership & Community Service Program
We’re thrilled to share some big news! Camp Stomping Ground has officially acquired Y² (Youth Helping Youth) - a beloved nonprofit with more than 22 years of empowering young people to lead through service, creativity, and community connection.
This milestone marks the launch of Stomping Ground’s new social action arm: a year-round leadership and community service program for youth, building on the shared mission of both organizations to cultivate radically empathetic, responsible, and inspired young changemakers.
A Partnership Rooted in Shared Vision
The story of this partnership began when I first met Bev, Y²’s founder and heart. From our earliest conversations, it was clear that we shared a belief in the power of young people to shape their communities and futures. Bev has spent over two decades nurturing youth leadership, fostering meaningful community service, and inspiring countless lives through her dedication and care.
During the Y² Professional Transition Day, we celebrated Bev’s incredible legacy with a full day of storytelling, laughter, and gratitude. Peter, Bev’s husband, filled the morning with music, and by the afternoon, a four-piece band had the crowd dancing and reminiscing.
MK prepared a delicious, farm-fresh feast featuring kabocha squash soup, bruschetta made with camp-grown tomatoes, and zucchini brownies — a perfect reflection of our shared commitment to sustainability and community nourishment.
One of the most moving moments came when participants added their hopes for the world to a handmade peace pole, which we mounted on a tall wooden staff. Bev then passed the staff to Daniel and me, symbolizing the transition of leadership and the continuation of Y²’s vision.
The Future: Youth Helping Youth
As we move forward, Daniel will be leading the charge in integrating Y² into Stomping Ground’s year-round programming. Together, we’ll build on Bev’s remarkable foundation by:
Expanding leadership opportunities for young people to engage in meaningful service projects
Continuing the Community Service Incentive Award, encouraging youth to give back with purpose
Launching community pop-ups that connect local families and youth around shared causes
Offering micro-grants to support youth-led initiatives that make a real difference
Designing new communication systems that make participation easier for busy teens and young adults
Carrying the Torch Forward
Bev’s vision — youth helping youth — aligns perfectly with everything we believe at Stomping Ground. It’s about trust, creativity, and the belief that young people can lead the way toward a more empathetic world.
We’re deeply honored to carry this legacy forward and to welcome the Y2 community into the Stomping Ground family. Together, we’ll continue to build spaces where young people not only dream about change — they make it happen.
Laura Kriegel, MSW is the founder and Executive Director of Stomping Ground. Laura embodies what it is like to lead a team and business while still nourishing your inner child. She loves painting, being silly, and walking Wendy around the perimeter of camp every day.
Connect with Laura : laura@campstompingground.org
