Speaker and Seminars

YL Women's Weekend Speakers

Our speaker this year is passionate about relationships and adventure – Put them together and you have camp!

Julie Bohni has worked in different roles in Young Life for the past 24 years and has a private counselling practice so she comes to us with relational, scriptural and story-telling experience. She loves people’s stories and walking along-side them to experience how connection with self, others, and a creator produce love and compassion. She also enjoys anything outdoors (hiking, biking, snow shoeing, snowboarding, skiing, rollerblading), cooking, coffee (but only decaf – which may surprise you when you see her energy), and chocolate (especially dark chilli).

Julie has been married to Peter for 18 years and they have 3 kids, ages 14, 13, and 8.

Carola Meerkerk

Bible Study Leader

Carola Meerkerk is a nationally nominated songwriter singer. She is a teacher for the international ministry called Bible Study Fellowship. As with her songs, her speaking from God’s Word is uplifting and encouraging. She is passionate about Jesus and her walk with Him.

Through dark valleys and mountain peaks of life, she has found great joy and peace in her faith, and her Savior, faithful. Carola is involved with Young Life Committee in Burnaby, BC and is a member of the YLWW Planning Team as our Prayer Chair!

Amanda McLean

Navigating Conflict and Stopping Abuse

Amanda McLean is Young Life’s Vice President, Human Resources. A conflict avoider by nature, she has learned skills and strategies that have proven effective in navigating the inevitable conflict in our work and personal lives.

Please join us for a conversation about why we respond the way we do to conflict, and what we can do to navigate it more effectively.

Sarah Wildeman, A Rocha

Stewards of Creation—Our Role and Doing It

Sarah has a BSc. in Forest Sciences, and is trained as a professional Life Coach. She loves that her work with A Rocha integrates her science background with her passion for meaningful relationships and community. She teaches on Creation Care from a faith perspective and helps people seek life giving ways to express Shalom in their daily lives. Sarah and her husband Jesse and their two daughters now live in Coldstream, BC.

Scarlet Cramer

Communication in Relationships

As a professional Marriage and Family Therapist, Scarlet had the privilege of studying under the leadership of Dr. Larry Crabb and Dr. Dan Allender at Grace Theological Seminary. She has discovered wise ways to address many of the communication issues that can tear apart relationships… between friends, families, couples and colleagues.

Scarlet will give insights on reactive vs reflective dialogue, developing a listening heart, ways not to “take it personally” when someone says things that hurt.

Kathy Dubbeldam and Stefanie Wall

Capernaum

Are you comfortable and prepared when a person with “special needs” crosses your path, works with you, or lives next door? This session will discuss simple tools and understandings that will enable you to be a blessing to them and allow them to bless you.

Young Life is all about relationships; ones that start with meeting teens with disabilities “where they are”, caring for them and sharing the Christian faith in simple and understandable terms… all with no strings attached…so they know they are invited, celebrated and needed.

Jaclyn Weidner

Thriving, not just Surviving Your Fears, Anxiety, and Depression

Jaclyn is a part-time high school teacher and full time mom to 3 energetic and talkative little girls. She is married to Brendan, who is the area director for Young Life in Langley and Surrey. She loves to dive deep in conversation to get to the “good stuff,” preferably over a cup of strong coffee!

After God pulled her out of a deep pit of anxiety and depression she has been on a mission to share that freedom with other women. She writes for mommentor.org and her own website jaclynweidner.com where she hopes to give women hope for the journey.for the international ministry called Bible Study Fellowship. As with her songs, her speaking from God’s Word is uplifting and encouraging. She is passionate about Jesus and her walk with Him.

Tracy Fortune and Jen Mitchel

DIY – Jewelry Making

Join Tracy Fortune and Jen Mitchell for a chance to create some of your own jewelry. Learn some tips on designing and making jewelry using a variety of styles and types of beads. Supplies to make a pair of earrings, bracelet or bookmark will be provided. If time and supplies, allow additional items can be made for a small price.

Tracy Fortune: Tracy was raised in Vancouver and got introduced to Young Life through going to Young Life’s Malibu Camp at age 17. After attending UBC and teaching art in Calgary, Abbotsford, Richmond and Monrovia West Africa, she now lives and teaches in Tacoma, WA. She has been making her own jewelry for about 10 years after her friend Jen got her to take a jewelry making class in Tacoma. Tracy misses her wonderful Canadian friends and loves coming to the Rockridge Women’s Retreat each year to hangout with some of them and make new friends.

Jen Mitchell: Jen was raised in Tacoma, WA and San Francisco, CA. After spending eight years in the Army and living all over the world, Jen spent seven years earning advanced degrees in nutrition. She now lives in Olympia, WA and works for the Dept of Health promoting nutrition for at-risk women, infants, and children. She began making her own jewelry in 2008 to explore her creative self and fell in love it! Tracy introduced Jen to Young Life and Rockridge Women’s Retreat three years ago – she can’t imagine life without this wonderful retreat. It’s so amazing!

MORE SESSIONS & PRESENTERS TO BE ANNOUNCED, INCLUDING

Finding Your Passion at Any Age! (Your WHY) with Cathy Leyland

Gender Issues in the Workplace/Church

How to Raise Kids with Healthy World Views with Rebecca Janke

Faith-filled Stewards of Creation—Our Role and Doing It

Communications in Relationships