Forty years ago (1984), a vision for youth leadership training took shape in the Salesian Province of USA West. At that time, Fr. Joe Boenzi, SDB, served as the province’s Vocation Director and became aware of young camp counselors needing preparation for summer camp leadership. They were frustrated and did not know how to work with children or collaborate with their peers in a Salesian setting. Working with adult leaders for the next summer camp season, Fr. Joe began planning the groundbreaking Salesian Youth Leadership Camp in 1985.

Their dream became a reality and has served the province every summer for forty years, impacting countless youth leaders formed by this experience. It is now widely known as the Salesian Youth Leadership Conference or SYLC (pronounced ‘silk‘) and draws young leaders from our province parishes, schools, youth centers, and summer camps, as well as some diocesan parishes and schools that seek Salesian formation.

A recent interview with Fr. Joe Boenzi at Don Bosco Hall (Berkeley) reveals the original vision and story that gave momentum to this formative experience for our province’s youth leaders. In response to the interview questions, Fr. Joe conveys the Salesian oratory as a timeless gift for young people and an impetus to discovering their vocation.

You can watch this full interview in the video.