Young Life is a program that Owatonna and 53 other Minnesota cities have. Young Life is a parachurch ministry which is a Christian organization that carries out their mission. Their intention is to reach out to each and every kid. Young Life’s mission is to give high school and middle school students an opportunity to hear about the Christian faith.

Young Life has many camps where kids can hear about faith, but it is most importantly a place to get away and have fun. Senior Dawson Ringhofer has been to a number of Young Life camps as a camper and also volunteered to work a week at Young Life’s Castaway Club in Detroit Lakes. Ringhoffer said, “I like the environment it creates for high school kids. It is all around fun and everyone is able to be involved no matter what.”

The month of January is known as “Young Life University.” During this month, instead of having club, activities take place such as: rock climbing, ultimate frisbee, murder mystery night, ice fishing, going to watch the Timberwolves, cookie baking, go-karting, Zumba, thrift shopping, boot camp, and the Amazing Race.

Owatonna’s Young Life director Lindsay Thompson does a great job reaching out to every kid. Thompson said, “My favorite part is having the opportunity to invest in kids lives. To walk alongside them in life, through the ups and downs and the good and bad. Not to tell them what to do or how to do it but just to walk alongside and be there for them.”

Young Life provides something for all and invites everyone to come and feel welcomed. In Owatonna, Young Life gives an opportunity to students going into their junior year to go to camp Clearwater Cove in Lampe, Missouri. It has plenty of things to keep kids active and full of excitement like ziplining, tubing on the lake, ropes course, etc. Young Life always has a way to keep everyone involved.

Young Life does a lot around Owatonna and has a huge supporting community. Every Monday night during the school year Owatonna high schoolers gather together at 8:01-9:01 in the Young Life’s new location at 602 Hoffman Drive, where everyone can come to sing, dance and play games.