We are currently gearing up for summer here at YouthWorks. Trevor, one of our Area Directors, is working hard to get everything ready. Here is what Trevor had to say about how he is currently prepping for the YouthWorks summer.

What are you doing to prepare for the summer?

I’m writing this from the Philadelphia Airport, which is pretty indicative of this season. In the past month I’ve been to Minnesota, New York City, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Louisville, and elsewhere maintaining YouthWorks relationships in communities and confirming details for the summer. Once I’m back in our Nashville office, I’ll be juggling finalizing all outstanding logistics regarding service schedule, evening activities, housing, and showers, and preparing some site-specific resources for our summer staff. In my spare time, I’m trying to mentally transition from the year-round Area Director role, to summer role where I’ll be managing three staff teams.

What has been helpful as you prepare?

If I didn’t make it clear above, there are a lot of details in this season. I’m naturally more of a big-picture person, so working closely with so many details can be draining. What has been most helpful has been a mindset change. I know there are a lot of details yet to confirm, but YouthWorks has happened every summer for nearly 22 years, and every year there is incredible life change that happens because Christ is working and moving. That doesn’t relieve me from any attention to detail, but it powerful to know that God will work regardless.

What moment are you looking forward to this summer?

This summer I’ll be supervising three communities in Southern West Virginia—Logan, Mingo County, and McDowell County, and I think I’m looking forward to something different in each place. In McDowell County, I’m looking forward to continuing to building relationships with our phenomenal partners who have been so welcoming to us over the past two years. In Mingo County, I’m looking forward to not just get to know the community members, but the communities themselves—each little town we work in spread across different hollers and mountains with unique (yet intertwined stories). As for Logan, I’ll look forward to going back. I was a summer staff in Logan in 2013 and it was an incredible summer of healing and growth for me personally. I’m very excited to lead staff in that context and see them grow too!

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Trevor brings three summers of site staff experience into his role as Area Director. Having been interested in Youth Ministry since high school, Trevor developed a passion for working in communities during college. His role as Area Director is a perfect intersection of these two passions. Beyond the work he does for YouthWorks, Trevor can be found in a coffee shop, thrift shopping or becoming a world-famous blogger.