Wyldlife and Young Life kick off new seasons on DI

Do you ever feel anxious, self conscious or lonely?

While life on Daniel Island would seem to be just short of paradise for many residents, not everyone is feeling happy and carefree. Teens and even pre-teens living on the island may, in fact, be wrestling with a multitude of insecurities as they struggle to fit in with their peers and navigate the unwritten rules of middle school and high school.

What can parents can do to help? One solution: sign them up for weekly Wyldlife or Young Life Clubs right here on Daniel Island! They are among the most popular – and healthy - social events for young people in Charleston.

Every Monday at 7 p.m., the garage of Catherine and Kevin Brookes is transformed into Wyldlife Club. The island’s middle schoolers come together with college-aged or working professional volunteer leaders to sing, dance, and play games as part of a successful ministry dedicated to helping kids knock down emotional and social walls.

As a matter of fact, Wyldlife just kicked off its ninth year on Daniel Island with a typical “wyld” club event, also hosted by the Brookes.

“We had approximately 60 kids,” says Tracey Lengyel Thomas, director of Wyldlife. “Everyone came dressed for our ‘neon’ theme.”

Grinning, Thomas adds, “As you can imagine, the room was full of very bright colors!”

Across the island, the Young Life Club of Daniel Island also recently celebrated the start of its fourth year on the island at the home of Young Life member Anna Kate Gardner. A kick-off party was held, much like Wyldlife Club, with activities appropriately geared to older teens.

Wyldlife, the younger sibling of the more established nationwide Young Life ministry, began thanks to Kevin and Catherine Brookes (and a few other families) who wanted to introduce the same positive, healing experience of Young Life ministry to middle school students on the island – and eventually to their twin sons.

“The Wyldlife kickoff was a great mix of kids – all with very different interests like band, drama, chess, and sports - who tend not to socialize with each other in or outside of school,” said Kevin. “It’s really great to watch them come together at Wyldlife Club. The walls just come crumbling down.”

“At Wyldlife and Young Life, we get to share about our relationship with God and Jesus with many kids who for the first time in their lives are learning that God loves them,” points out Thomas.

The clubs are a fun way to introduce the concept of God’s love, she adds. Members who want to explore a deeper relationship attend a weekly small group known as “Campaigners.”

“At Wyldlife club, we sing all kinds of crazy (but appropriate) songs – even favorite tunes by One Direction and Taylor Swift,” says Thomas. “We even sing the ‘Banana Song.’ Watching sixth graders and eighth graders singing and bopping around together to a song builds a feeling of unity.”

Thomas recalls a favorite moment watching an eighth-grade student sharing a laugh with a sixth grader, and a soccer player arm in arm with a chess wiz as they sang “Lean on Me,” singer Jimmy Cliff’s famous ode to friendship.

A former volunteer club leader during her college years, Thomas’ energy, enthusiasm and empathy made her popular with kids and parents alike. Her time spent in the trenches, helping to shape and grow the Wyldlife ministry earned her a full-time staff position at Charleston Young Life.

Now, as director of Wyldlife, Thomas continues to work directly with middle schoolers. She also trains and supervises volunteer leaders, and nurtures the continuing growth of Wyldlife and Young Life throughout the Charleston area. Thomas lives on Daniel Island with her husband, Pat, and their dog, Maddux.

“There has been so much growth in the past year, with many more kids coming to the clubs and camps,” says Thomas. “Young Life is now virtually all over Charleston. We even started a new ministry for teen moms.”

She adds, “People can look at Wyldlife and say ‘Hey, there’s a room full of people who are really learning how to care for each other.’ And the spreading of that kind of empathy – especially coming from our youth - is lately getting plenty of notice ….and support.”

Thomas points out that both Wyldlife and Young Life are receiving more corporate sponsorships and support from local businesses, like Daniel Island’s Orlando’s Pizza. A favorite hang-out of the Wyldlife Club since the beginning, Orlando’s continues to welcome large groups of spirited (if a bit noisy) Wyldlife participants (and now Young Life members) after club gatherings.

“The staff at Orlando’s have been very gracious to us,” says Thomas. “We really appreciate their support.”

Above all, the Wyldlife ministry depends on the support of Wyldlife and Young Life parents. “We can point to a ton of families on the island who have shown their love and support,” says Thomas. “That in itself lends a lot of credibility to the importance and success of our mission.”

What’s more, parents are helping their children with a show of support.

“Kids in middle school may seem very independent, but they still need their parents,” insists Thomas.

The upcoming Young Life Fall Fundraising Banquet is a great way to learn more about Wyldlife and Young Life. The banquet is set for Tuesday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m., at East Cooper Baptist Church. To RSVP go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/Charleston-young-life-banquet-tickets-37129.... Or contact Tracey Thomas at: tlengyel91@gmail.com. For additional information about the Young Life or Wyldlife ministries, visit www.charleston.younglife.org.