About Youth For Freedom
Years Running
Conferences Held
Attendees
Youth For Freedom facilitates the development of Leadership Skills through emotional, mental, and personal freedom.
Youth For Freedom began as a three day youth conference enabling youth ages 12-19 to live exciting and successful lives with a deep and personal freedom constitutional understanding of freedom. Filled with empowering and life changing experiences, Youth For Freedom continues today as a five day summer camp held at Dixie State University in St. George, Utah, among many other locations. Everyone who participates in the conference leaves with knowing themselves on a deeper level, higher levels of trust, love, and value of themselves and for others.
Today, Youth For Freedom hosts 1-5 day events in cities across the United States. Our administrative staff are frequently requested to speak at events worldwide and they share common intentions to change lives internationally. You can request for us to come to your home town and hold a Freedom Extreme, speak to your school, hold a simulation with your class/group, or other events catered to the specifically targeted needs of your youth.
The Youth For Freedom conference is arranged, organized, set up, and run by Sisters-in-law Heather & Erika Ludwig.
Heather and Erika work closely throughout the year with Session Directors Daniel Patterson, Ryker Smith, Benjamin Beals, Caleb Lake, and Daniel Aranda to hire and intensely train the YFF counselors. They carefully select counselors to train to work with the youth effectively, while they plan and schedule all itinerary items and arrange all of the “behind the scenes” preparation work prior to the Youth For Freedom conference. This ensures the attending youth have the most powerful experiences available to them.
~ Frequently Asked Questions ~
There are many questions that surround the attendance of Youth For Freedom. Most answers can be found here. If you have further questions, please contact us HERE
What is Youth For Freedom?
Youth For Freedom (YFF) is an annual Youth Leadership Conference currently held in St. George, Utah at Dixie State University. Prior to being known as Youth For Freedom, the program was called Youth for America. Youth For America was sponsored by the George Wythe University. The conference was established by W. Cleon Skousen and William H. Doughty of the Institute for Constitutional Education in the 1980’s to teach youth about American Government, leadership, education and community service, which values continue to be upheld in Youth For Freedom today.
The conferences were continued by George Wythe College, which the institute had established in 1992.
In 2010, the conference was renamed “Youth for Freedom” to recognize the inclusion of its international attendees.
In 2018, Youth For Freedom partnered with Dixie State University to create the opportunity and capability for larger numbers of youth participants to attend the conference.
How do I choose what session to attend?
What does a YFF Week Schedule look like?
Tuesday
Check in
Meet your counselor
Meet your session
YFF Orientation
Dinner
Group Games
Bedtime
Wednesday through Friday include variations of the following:
Games – Youth play fun, energetic games that build team unity and leadership skills. Each session has a chance to participate and work together and with the participants in the entire conference
Classes/Coaching
Simulation
Service Projects
TED Talk/Article/Book Discussions
Free Time
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner at the Trailblazer’s Cafe
Friday
YFF Self-Empowerment
YFF Dance
Saturday
Counselor Closing
Session Closing
YFF Sessions Showcase
Closing Ceremonies (with participants’ parents/guardians)
Check Out
What are the YFF Conference Dress & Appearance requirements?
In partnering with Dixie State University (DSU), Youth For Freedom (YFF) participants agree to participate in Professional Dress. Professional Dress is outlined HERE. Participants are asked to accept personal responsibility in maintaining professional dress standards. This promotes Leadership Levels at a standard that sets the youth apart from others. The youths’ counselors will remind the youth (as needed) of the professional atmosphere that is maintained and to uphold our collective agreement with DSU prior to leaving the dormitories in the mornings. All youth and staff participants of YFF Conferences are required to uphold these guidelines in order to participate.
What are the Hard Limits & Boundaries?
Involvement in any of the following will result in a youth’s Parent(s)/Guardian(s) being called and the youth being sent home immediately (with no refund).
Please be advised that any and all crimes, incidents, or pranks of a harmful or destructive nature will be reported to local authorities. Consequences resulting from actions taken by local authorities are out of our control, especially while residing on Dixie State University Campus.
Youth and staff participants unwilling to comply with the DSU/YFF Professional Dress Standards Agreement.
Participating in or encouraging any sexual acts or behaviors, including but not limited to lude discussions and/or viewing pornography in any form.
Shoplifting, theft, arson, or vandalism of any kind.
Consumption or possession of any alcohol or illegal substances of any kind.
Possession of weapons or firearms of any kind.
Doing anything harmful to self or others physically, verbally, mentally, or emotionally.
How will meals work?
All meals will be provided by the Trailblazer’s Cafe at Dixie State University. Each meal will follow a theme.
Lunch will not be provided Tuesday following check in, make sure to eat prior to coming to YFF. Youth are encouraged to bring snacks to eat during free time since there will only be 3 meals at each designated time and the occasional treat provided. There will be many additional energetic activities that the youth will be participating in, so the youth may get hungry later. There will be refrigerators in the shared dormitories. Please label all food and snacks clearly. All snacks and food must be kept in ziplock bags/sealed containers.
Any youth participants with dietary restrictions will need to send an email including the youth’s specific individual needs, precautions, guidelines, and remedies/desired protocols to follow if something were to happen.
The youth will be the main responsible party for their dietary accomodations. Their direct counselor(s) and the staff members will be aware and available to assist. (Please send that email to yffleaders@gmail.com) There will be accomodations for those with food food allergies or special food restrictions.
What are the check in/out procedures?
The YFF conference will be contained within the Dixie State University Campus where it is being held. DSU maintains a closed campus – no relatives, friends or other family members may visit the youth during the conference. Youth may not leave the Campus during the conference unless checked out by a parent or pre-authorized/pre-arranged guardian.
The safety of our participants is our highest priority.
To check out early from a Youth For Freedom Conference, either temporarily or permanently (before the regularly scheduled Saturday check-out) the following documents must be presented to one of the Head Staff Members/Session Directors and verified by a second Admin Team Staff Member.
Parent or Legal Guardian:
Driver’s License
Relative or friend (must be 18 years old and have signed authorized consent by the parent or legal guardian)
Driver’s License
Written consent of parent or legal guardian
Photocopy of Driver’s license of parent or legal guardian
YFF will always call the parent or legal guardian listed in the primary or secondary emergency contact information to confirm the request if the youth’s guardian is not present. If the contact information provided is incorrect or the parent or legal guardian is not available by phone, the participant will not be checked out. Any potential changes to these procedures must go through the main YFF Administration. Participants must also check back in with the Administrators/Session Directors that they checked out with, obtaining signatures from the same two staff Admin signing them back in.
Damaged / Lost Keys
Participants are liable and will be billed for any damage to rooms or property.
Lost keys
– When participants check out, they are responsible for returning their dorm keys at the end of the conference. There is no grace period for returning keys.
The charge for missing keys varies from $10 to $150 per key.
What do I need to know about Registration for YFF?
See our Registration FAQ’s HERE
What are important safety protocols to know for YFF?
Obligation to report Abuse and Self-Harm
Consistent with DSU Policy and the requirements of many state laws, YFF personnel report to law enforcement or other applicable state agencies instances in which YFF personnel have reason to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect. YFF personnel may also report to parents, law enforcement, or other applicable state agencies instances where YFF personnel have reason to believe that a participant has engaged in self-harm.
Respect
Youth are expected to show respect for themselves and others. They are to be polite and kind to all campus employees and other youth. Bullying will not be tolerated. Youth represent themselves, YFF, their families, and Leaders.
Safety
Participants’ health and safety is the first priority of YFF. Youth are not allowed to do anything to harm themselves or others, including climbing trees, doing flips or gymnastics, or jumping out of windows. As a general rule, your head needs to stay above your feet.
Tansportation: Parents (or legal guardians) are responsible for transporting youth to and from the conference. In case of an emergency or medical issue that arises, only authorized Head Staff/Administration/Session Directors who are experienced and licensed will be permitted to drive youth on a rare case by case individual basis.
Past Slideshows & YFF Conferences
See our current coaching video content, past YFF Conference Videos, and try out some fun, short simulations with us!
Love Language Quiz
We believe the ideals and concepts described by Dr. John Lund regarding the 3 Love Languages; Visual, Verbal & Physical/Touch. Youth For Freedom teaches that “quality time” and “acts of service” look and are understood differently for each of these 3 Love Languages. Connect more to yourself and others by learning what your love language is!FAMILIES FOR FREEDOM
One of our newer products as of 2017 is Families For Freedom. This is a weekend event with our head staff who create a YFF experience for the whole family to allow learning and growth together. Everyone is presented with an opportunity to recreate their world, take ownership of their lives, and live from a place of power. Families are united and lives are changed.
Our Mission Statement
Meet Our Team
Kameron (Kami) Mitchell
Youth For Freedom Owner, Speaker
Kami has three healthy and happy children. She began working on what was then known as Youth For America in 2001 originally with the assistance of her sisters. Kami has presented over 900 times, has created 16 personal development CD’s and has taught their content through many different conferences and speaking engagements. She was selected as the American Young Mother of Washington County, Utah, for 2013. She is a gifted and powerful mentor, trainer, teacher, mother, friend, and most of all a student. Time spent with Kami will be full of experiences, aha’s, and laughter.
Heather Ludwig
Chief Executive Officer, Speaker
Heather is a master listener. She is committed to empowering individuals in creating opportunities to access and shift into achieving the most powerful results in their lives. Heather obtained her Master’s degree in Professional Mental Counseling and is sought after as both a Life Coach and Licensed Professional Clinical Therapist. Heather has over 15 years of experience of working with youth and absolutely loves them! Heather has an affinity for truly “getting” the people she associates with, and knowing what is going on for them. That gift serves her in all areas of her life. She is non-judgmental and has a talent for helping people see the best in themselves. She loves everyone she comes in contact with, and loves BIG.
Erika Ludwig
Chief Operating Officer, Speaker
Erika currently lives in Las Vegas and, along with her sister-in-law Heather, she enjoys spending time together running Youth For Freedom. Her favorite part is coaching and working intensely with the youth as they become powerful leaders. She is a licensed EMT and enjoys helping people in that role as well. She has worked closely with the youth for over ten years. One of her deepest desires is to help them realize how incredible they truly are. She has had the opportunity to work in many different positions for several youth conferences, programs, and camps. Erika is powerful in assisting others in learning that who they choose to be MATTERS. Everyone has the ability to act powerfully and make a difference in the world. Her personal motto that she chooses to live by is Latin stating, “vixi discrepo audeo” or “dare to live differently”.
Shaina Richardson
Chief Financial Officer, Registrar
Shaina is absolutely incredible and amazingly gifted. If she does not know how to do something or what to do, Shaina will not only figure it out, but she will also master it. Shaina graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Statistics from Brigham Young University. She has worked as a Project Manager for two nationally-funded grants for the BYU Math Department and has been a part of the tremendous growth of Utah Valley University as their Student and Alumni Database Analyst as well as their Donor Prospect Researcher. Currently, Shaina is a stay-at-home mom with three young, red-headed children who often provide her with more than enough work! She is incredibly talented at everything she does. Shaina loves playing games with her family and friends, is very artistically creative and loves to do crafts. Her favorite thing to do is to spend time with her family, especially her husband, David.
Daniel Patterson
Session Director, Simulations Expert
Daniel is a “regular dude”. He likes reading comic books as much as he loves playing sports. Daniel dreams big and encourages others to do the same. Daniel has recently graduated with a double bachelors degree in Psychology and Sociology with an emphasis in Criminology. The past year Daniel has been living in Weihai, China studying to learn Chinese as well as teaching English at an Elementary school. This 2019 year will be his fourth year being involved in YFF. He brings an incredible attitude of possibility, growth and hard work to the program. He has created multiple simulations used in YFF that have helped the youth come to a greater understanding of who they are, build a solid foundation of why they love themselves as they are, and to boldly move forward in life, unashamed, confidently declaring that they are of value. Daniel’s mentality can be summed up in two words “No Shortcuts”. To understand better, you will have to ask him to explain it when you meet him.